I also engage higher out of 1st.

Also, It too took me nearly 2 months to get smooth shifts in my Z.

Thanks to all for the feedback. I actually got pretty smooth shifts today between 1 and 2 when I took the rpms to about 3500 in 1, hit the clutch a bit quicker, and maintained a slight bit of throttle with some subtle accelerator pedal pressure and a slower release of the clutch. The other gears are no problem...smooth and silky. By the way, I am trying to abide by the break-in period set forth in the Owners Manual by keeping the rpms down through all gears during this period. I will get used to it...1 to 2 is just a bit sensitive in this car.

Yeah, I've had the car for almost 2 months now and sometimes when I rush that 1st to 2nd shift, I still get a nice CLUNK! Just gotta' keep it slow and smooth to start and after a while muscle memory will work its magic.

I dont get that clunk when I shift from 1st to 2nd. Its all smooth as silk.

I've had my 370Z for just over a year and a 350Z almost two years directly prior - I've still not gotten a smooth 1-2 gear shift 100% :P I also don't leave the house much since I work from home a lot ;) So not too much practice. But all the advice here I've tried myself and various combinations will work for your own personal driving style.

And yea, that *clunk* is so annoying, but it's just another thing you learn to live with. Only happens now and again for me

i thought you drove an auto? why would there be any clunk?

:stirthepot:

you and that pot stirring!

and pot smoking

The gears are far apart or something. You have to let the rpm's drop more than you would normally for the other gears. If you shift to fast from first to second its not smooth.

Let go of the clutch slowly.

I find that too many people slam the clutch all the way to the floor when they need to only press it slightly to shift gears. The clutch makes a smoother transition when the RPM's are between 3 and 4K. I suggest getting a feel for your particular clutch when it engages. Driving a manual is an art form that always needs to be perfected.

The earlier posts in this thread conclude that for the reasons stated, throttle float etc., the rpms do not drop quickly enough after releasing the clutch in first gear. That would mean the clunk is caused by the rpms being too high for the smooth transition to second. This is supported by those who say going from first to third works smoothly. Later posts say increase the rpms before shifting, which would seem to make the problem worse.

Because the car has 6 speeds, the gearing is close together, so the cars momentum together with the rpms not dropping quickly enough contributes to second being too low a gear for the car in that situation - third works better. Under hard acceleration the car "needs" second and the problem goes away. The car has so much power it doesn't "need" 6 gears for slow, in traffic, driving.

I think if you tried to drive a formula one car in heavy traffic, the same thing would happen ( if they had manual transmissions).

Maybe the first to third in slow traffic is the answer??

good to hear. yah, usually take 1st gear to near 4K rpm on all my cars for "normal" acceleration. :tup: :p

the slight bit of throttle does help. :)

:icon14: i dont skip gears.