How to drive a manual Z smoothly?

NCSUPACK09 · 02-26-2010, 03:01 PM

I've notice that when the car is still cold, putting it into 1st gear at a stop is really difficult to get through the gate. Once the car warms up, its like butter. Anyone else experience this?

Slynky · 02-26-2010, 03:32 PM

Mine hardly ever shifts smooth, most especially if it's cold. And the pull on the thing, jeez ! It's like someone is underneath holding the shifter so it's hard to move around.

tonybui · 02-26-2010, 03:54 PM

It's like 35 degree right now but the 40mph wind makes it a very cold day today. Maybe that's the problem.

NCSUPACK09 · 02-26-2010, 07:23 PM

^^ Yeah that sounds like what happens to me...not a complete stop but very very slow and its really hard to throw into first.

kevr6 · 02-26-2010, 10:44 PM

I will say this, I'd rather drive a tough to drive manual then an automatic any day!!!
Even in Grid lock, rush hour, traffic!!

drisko · 02-26-2010, 10:55 PM

One thing that helped me get smoother shifts is putting slight "pressure" on the shift knob in the direction you want to shift. The transmission will not let you shift until the clutch disengages. Do not use force, just light pressure.

Doing this will ensure that the shift lever starts moving into the next gear as soon as it is mechanically possible. It seems to make less noise when I do it this way, not sure why (maybe because the revs drop cleanly as the next gear engages).

KillerBee370 · 02-26-2010, 11:05 PM

I keep seeing this thread in passing and thought I would just come in and chime in...

I don't seem to have this apparent problem.

The BlueMax · 02-27-2010, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

I keep seeing this thread in passing and thought I would just come in and chime in...

I don't seem to have this apparent problem.

Here is my second reply, when cold I take a second or two when shifting from 1st to 2nd to give the cold syncro time to smoothly accept the next gear. I have had pretty good success with this, especially slow speeds. When its warmer and higher rpms come into play I can shift faster without it cliping something on its way into the next gear.

MeetJoeAsian · 02-27-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

it's pretty easy to drive a manual z smoothly if you have driven a manual transmission german car (i.e. they are tougher to drive smoothly, imo)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NCSUPACK09

^ I'm gonna disagree on that one. I've driven an E92 335i 6MT several times and it seems a lot more refined and easier to shift smoothly than the Z.

I agree with all the other guys on here that it just takes time to find that "sweet spot".

The E92 335i and E46 M3 6MT's clutches are not the average German sports car clutch (I haven't driven an E92 M6 6MT yet, so I can't comment on that)...I have sold several E92 6MT, and I gotta say, their clutch is too soft...too much like the Toyota Corollas and Camrys clutches I think....it has too much give...it's way too buttery

if you want to feel the clutch of a German car, try a Porsche...I think that if you can master the clutch of a Porsche 911 Turbo, you can drive any stick...I had my 350Z 6MT back when and I had perfected clutching and shifting the 350Z, I was able to "race" the car off the line perfectly from a dead stop without over or under -revving and you couldn't feel my shifting...however, when I jumped a 911 Turbo, I thought it was gonna be the same, it took me awhile to perfect that clucth....now that's how you perfect clutching, by perfecting cluthing a Porsche...

Personally, I liked the 350's clutch much more than the 370's...I think the 350's clutch was shorter and firmer...I don't like the slight softness in the 370'z clutch...

AutoX Z · 02-27-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisko

One thing that helped me get smoother shifts is putting slight "pressure" on the shift knob in the direction you want to shift. The transmission will not let you shift until the clutch disengages. Do not use force, just light pressure.

Doing this will ensure that the shift lever starts moving into the next gear as soon as it is mechanically possible. It seems to make less noise when I do it this way, not sure why (maybe because the revs drop cleanly as the next gear engages).

Please don't do this. Even putting slight pressure on the knob like that while in gear can cause excessive wear in the synchros. Just take your time when shifting with cold trans fluid and give the car time to make the shift.

normal · 02-28-2010, 09:36 AM

I think he means after the car is in neutral, in order to go into the next gear, apply the pressure, not when the car is already in gear. I have found the same thing, especially the first couple of 1-2 shifts. Just pushing toward the 2nd gear gate you can feel the moment when everything matches up right and it slots into gear, without any crunch/grind that you can get from trying to force it in.

blackflag · 02-28-2010, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drisko

One thing that helped me get smoother shifts is putting slight "pressure" on the shift knob in the direction you want to shift. The transmission will not let you shift until the clutch disengages. Do not use force, just light pressure.

Doing this will ensure that the shift lever starts moving into the next gear as soon as it is mechanically possible. It seems to make less noise when I do it this way, not sure why (maybe because the revs drop cleanly as the next gear engages).

The only problem with doing that is that you'll wear out the synchronizers quicker.

jeffreyfranz · 03-01-2010, 11:13 AM

Glad I'm not the only one finding this 6MT a bit challenging to drive smoothly. At least I'm not alone. Is that what they mean by, "Cold Comfort?"

Jeffblue · 03-01-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeetJoeAsian

....now that's how you perfect clutching, by perfecting cluthing a Porsche...

I think I'm gonna go buy A 911 so when I get my z I can drive it no problem.

KillerBee370 · 03-01-2010, 10:21 PM

Just point it downhill and keep it in neutral. Problem solved.

02-26-2010, 03:32 PM	#47 (permalink)
Slynky Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: McDonough, GA Posts: 595 Drives: 2010 Red 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 16	Mine hardly ever shifts smooth, most especially if it's cold. And the pull on the thing, jeez ! It's like someone is underneath holding the shifter so it's hard to move around. __________________ A veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America," for an amount of "up to and including my life."

02-26-2010, 10:44 PM	#50 (permalink)
kevr6 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N.W. Atlanta Posts: 1,515 Drives: '09 Graphite 370Z 6M Rep Power: 666	I will say this, I'd rather drive a tough to drive manual then an automatic any day!!! Even in Grid lock, rush hour, traffic!! __________________ *Beware...* Daily Sliding In My ZLED!

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02-26-2010, 03:01 PM	#46 (permalink)
NCSUPACK09 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somewhere Posts: 407 Drives: '10 370Z MB 6MT SP Rep Power: 15	I've notice that when the car is still cold, putting it into 1st gear at a stop is really difficult to get through the gate. Once the car warms up, its like butter. Anyone else experience this?

02-26-2010, 03:54 PM	#48 (permalink)
tonybui A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,397 Drives: 09 Sports 6 Speed Rep Power: 426	It's like 35 degree right now but the 40mph wind makes it a very cold day today. Maybe that's the problem.

02-26-2010, 07:23 PM	#49 (permalink)
NCSUPACK09 Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Somewhere Posts: 407 Drives: '10 370Z MB 6MT SP Rep Power: 15	^^ Yeah that sounds like what happens to me...not a complete stop but very very slow and its really hard to throw into first.

02-26-2010, 10:55 PM	#51 (permalink)
drisko Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Age: 43 Posts: 160 Drives: 09 370Z PW Tour S 6M Rep Power: 16	One thing that helped me get smoother shifts is putting slight "pressure" on the shift knob in the direction you want to shift. The transmission will not let you shift until the clutch disengages. Do not use force, just light pressure. Doing this will ensure that the shift lever starts moving into the next gear as soon as it is mechanically possible. It seems to make less noise when I do it this way, not sure why (maybe because the revs drop cleanly as the next gear engages).

02-26-2010, 11:05 PM	#52 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	I keep seeing this thread in passing and thought I would just come in and chime in... I don't seem to have this apparent problem.

02-28-2010, 09:36 AM	#56 (permalink)
normal Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: UT Posts: 19 Drives: 14 Hyundai Santa Fe Rep Power: 15	I think he means after the car is in neutral, in order to go into the next gear, apply the pressure, not when the car is already in gear. I have found the same thing, especially the first couple of 1-2 shifts. Just pushing toward the 2nd gear gate you can feel the moment when everything matches up right and it slots into gear, without any crunch/grind that you can get from trying to force it in.

03-01-2010, 11:13 AM	#58 (permalink)
jeffreyfranz Base Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 139 Drives: '10 370Z PG M6 Rep Power: 15	Glad I'm not the only one finding this 6MT a bit challenging to drive smoothly. At least I'm not alone. Is that what they mean by, "Cold Comfort?"

03-01-2010, 10:21 PM	#60 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	Just point it downhill and keep it in neutral. Problem solved.