How to drive a manual Z smoothly?

tonybui

I just bought a 09 Z and no matter how slow I release the clutch, 1 to 2nd for me is always "rough" also there is this clunky noise everytime I shift even though I alwyas depress the clutch all the way in. How do you guys drive the Z smoothly? Please share your ways of driving, thanks

vipor

slow and easy. takes a lot of practice. i still lurch from time to time and i'm creepin towards 10k. i usually just blip the throttle at first and feather the clutch as much as possible

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Lloydy

I found turning the SynchroRev Match off made for smoother upshifts, but I missed it on the downshifts, so I ended up turning it back on. Like Vipor says, practice makes perfect.

Though I still maitain, for a $40,000 car, I expected a better gearbox.

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Hugoneus

But is this a problem with the gear box or simply that sport's car clutches are sensitive in general?

I have just learned to drive manual, about a month ago and then bought MT 370z a few days ago. I am getting better, but I find that ever-so-gentle clutch release helps me.

Modshack

Neither really. Every car is different and it takes some time to learn it's idiosyncrasies. I've had 57 cars and all have been different. Some are harder to drive smoothly. I'd put the 370 in that category.

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Cjanik

As stated, time is the answer. Every car has a different point of contact when letting the clutch go so you have to train yourself where that spot is and as stated, time!

I've got the engagement down well but releasing it, I kind of nodge the car so now I'm working on that.

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)

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".

MeetJoeAsian

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...

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Jeffblue

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

KillerBee370

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

cab83_750

I can drive my German car as if it is automatic. The Z? I am about ready to give up even though I have almost 700,000+ miles for experience.

mick

i probably can't drive the z super fast and smooth but I can drive it at normal acceleration speed very smooth -- as smooth as an automatic

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.

The BlueMax

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.