NOOB question for brand new cars.

TARDCORE · 01-06-2010, 12:22 AM

Today I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2010 solid red sport touring without the nav pkg. I have test drove Z's before back in may and back in september. I always thought the transmission was very clunky but I can live with that. My problem is the clutch. It seems like banging megan fox ontop of mount everest would be easier. I swear from 1st to 2nd it releases the fly wheel early and from 3rd to 4th it releases it late. Is it because it is a brand new car? My rsx was as smooth as butter but I bought the car with 12 miles on it and it currently has 143 on it and I don't feel any better than i did when I drove it off the lot.

dalparadise · 01-06-2010, 12:40 AM

Clutch is definitely "on/off" early in its life. Give it a little time. I test drove both a brand new and well broken-in (5000+ miles car) and noticed much smoother, more uniform clutch operation in the one with more miles.

SilverBullet · 01-06-2010, 01:04 AM

I have the same thing in my G37. I still have clunky/ jerky 1-2 shifts at 17k.

TARDCORE · 01-06-2010, 01:23 AM

thanks guys. I figured it may have been because it was a brand new car. I have never had a new car before so I am not used to this. Not too mention I don't even want to drive it. I am so afraid to put a scatch on it.

OldGuy · 01-06-2010, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TARDCORE

thanks guys. I figured it may have been because it was a brand new car. I have never had a new car before so I am not used to this. Not too mention I don't even want to drive it. I am so afraid to put a scatch on it.

I'm always tense when I take mine out, too, worrying about some careless or drunken driver who may damage it. That's a problem when you own a beautiful car and take pride in it like we do. I guess all you can do is to "drive defensively."

vipor · 01-06-2010, 08:24 AM

even at 6700 miles i still get a little jerky/bouncy accelerating in 1st gear at times. once it's warm it's better, but it was definitely worse early-on.

370Zsteve · 01-06-2010, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vipor

even at 6700 miles i still get a little jerky/bouncy accelerating in 1st gear at times. once it's warm it's better, but it was definitely worse early-on.

It's just a tough clutch to master, no doubt about it. 1st & 2nd is very difficult for me unless I'm either babying it or flooring it. Smooth is the word for this clutch..you gotta be smooooth.

CBRich · 01-06-2010, 09:53 AM

The clutch does get better but is still difficult to manage. Of course coming from a Honda you are spoiled. They have some of the best clutch and shifter feel at any price.

370Zsteve · 01-06-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRich

The clutch does get better but is still difficult to manage. Of course coming from a Honda you are spoiled. They have some of the best clutch and shifter feel at any price.

Very true. Of course this clutch is built for a powerful engine so I expected something like this when I bought it. The flywheel is something like 23 lbs, I believe. 1200 miles now on mine and I'm getting used to it, but I laugh when I let one of my buddies drive it around the block, heh.

vipor · 01-06-2010, 10:00 AM

yeah you end up with a very jerky drive. although my mom picked it up with very little issue. brother did alright too, but he's used to performance clutches.

i'm DREADING teaching my gf to drive a stick on my car. been putting it off as long as possible.

TARDCORE · 01-06-2010, 10:53 AM

Well thats good to know. I i guess time will tell. Good to hear to that the clutch is more difficult. So what does a dual stage clutch feel like? Can you feel when the first stage begins to slip and the second backs it up?

pulpz · 01-06-2010, 11:20 AM

Going back and forth between my TSX and my 370Z is a real adjustment. But I appreciate and love both styles.

My 350Z really loosened up and settled out after about 10K miles - but I also think it was matter of adjusting my driving style. My buddies that drove S2000's hated the clutch/shifter combo in the 350Z. And I thought the input resistance betweeen the clutch pedal and the the throttle was very mismatched.

When I first started dating my wife, she asked to drive my 350Z and I kinda' laughed and said OK. She was used to driving a manual 01' VW Beetle so I thought she would make a real circus out of it. turns out she had no problem at all.

But I do like the feel of the 370Z better than the 350Z.

kenchan · 01-06-2010, 12:49 PM

my shifts 1-2 are smooth on my Z... MT ofcourse. try engaging more gently.

01-06-2010, 12:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
TARDCORE Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 410 Drives: 2010 Solid Red 370Z Rep Power: 15	NOOB question for brand new cars. Today I pulled the trigger and purchased a 2010 solid red sport touring without the nav pkg. I have test drove Z's before back in may and back in september. I always thought the transmission was very clunky but I can live with that. My problem is the clutch. It seems like banging megan fox ontop of mount everest would be easier. I swear from 1st to 2nd it releases the fly wheel early and from 3rd to 4th it releases it late. Is it because it is a brand new car? My rsx was as smooth as butter but I bought the car with 12 miles on it and it currently has 143 on it and I don't feel any better than i did when I drove it off the lot. __________________ XBL:EVENTYDE

01-06-2010, 12:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
dalparadise The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston Posts: 354 Drives: 2010 Z Roadster T/S Rep Power: 16	Clutch is definitely "on/off" early in its life. Give it a little time. I test drove both a brand new and well broken-in (5000+ miles car) and noticed much smoother, more uniform clutch operation in the one with more miles. __________________ 2010 Platinum Graphite Roadster - Tour/Sport/6MT/GReddy SE catback/B&M short shift If the top is up, it must be parked.

01-06-2010, 01:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
TARDCORE Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 410 Drives: 2010 Solid Red 370Z Rep Power: 15	thanks guys. I figured it may have been because it was a brand new car. I have never had a new car before so I am not used to this. Not too mention I don't even want to drive it. I am so afraid to put a scatch on it. __________________ XBL:EVENTYDE

01-06-2010, 08:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 41 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 48	even at 6700 miles i still get a little jerky/bouncy accelerating in 1st gear at times. once it's warm it's better, but it was definitely worse early-on. __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

01-06-2010, 10:00 AM	#10 (permalink)
vipor A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Euless, TX [ DFW ] Age: 41 Posts: 13,531 Drives: Nismo 09-0183 QAB Rep Power: 48	yeah you end up with a very jerky drive. although my mom picked it up with very little issue. brother did alright too, but he's used to performance clutches. i'm DREADING teaching my gf to drive a stick on my car. been putting it off as long as possible. __________________ 2009 NISMO # 0193 \| QAB \| Albums! \| 05.04.10 (Dynojet) 291.94hp/248.28tq Oil Cooler (DIY) \| Custom Headlights \| GTSPEC Braces \| F.I. Long Tube Headers

01-06-2010, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
SilverBullet Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 873 Drives: 2008 G37 Rep Power: 16	I have the same thing in my G37. I still have clunky/ jerky 1-2 shifts at 17k.

01-06-2010, 09:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
CBRich A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: SC Posts: 2,464 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 544	The clutch does get better but is still difficult to manage. Of course coming from a Honda you are spoiled. They have some of the best clutch and shifter feel at any price.

01-06-2010, 10:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
TARDCORE Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 410 Drives: 2010 Solid Red 370Z Rep Power: 15	Well thats good to know. I i guess time will tell. Good to hear to that the clutch is more difficult. So what does a dual stage clutch feel like? Can you feel when the first stage begins to slip and the second backs it up? __________________ XBL:EVENTYDE

01-06-2010, 11:20 AM	#12 (permalink)
pulpz Enthusiast Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 281 Drives: 09 PG 370Z Sport 6MT Rep Power: 15	Going back and forth between my TSX and my 370Z is a real adjustment. But I appreciate and love both styles. My 350Z really loosened up and settled out after about 10K miles - but I also think it was matter of adjusting my driving style. My buddies that drove S2000's hated the clutch/shifter combo in the 350Z. And I thought the input resistance betweeen the clutch pedal and the the throttle was very mismatched. When I first started dating my wife, she asked to drive my 350Z and I kinda' laughed and said OK. She was used to driving a manual 01' VW Beetle so I thought she would make a real circus out of it. turns out she had no problem at all. But I do like the feel of the 370Z better than the 350Z. __________________ 2016 Cayman GTS 6MT / 2017 Q60 Sport / 2012 Acura TL SH-AWD / 2015 Lexus IS 350 AWD F-Sport (Sold) / 2009 PG 370Z Sport 6MT, (Sold) / 2003 SS 350Z Enthusiast 6MT (Sold)

01-06-2010, 12:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141520	my shifts 1-2 are smooth on my Z... MT ofcourse. try engaging more gently.