starting from stop? (first time manual owner)
 

Hey guys, 370z is my first manual car and I have some questions about shifting from stop.

Some of my friends told me that for DD its easier to just start from 2nd gear, instead of starting from 1st gear, unless im racing or needing fast start.

Is it ok? my guess is ill have a bit more clutch wear than starting from 1st.

Also on slippery conditions, such as raining day or snow, is it easier to start moving from 2nd gear? rather than 1st?

Its my first manual car... so I just have many questions from what i heard from ppl about driving manual car.

Regular dry driving, start the car in 1st gear, its a 6 speed so your going to be shifting alot more often then if you had a 5 speed before obviously. For slippery/wet conditions you can try starting in 2nd gear but with VDC it would catch the wheel spin before it would get away from you unless your flooring it. Save your clutch, start in 1st gear.

Well when I learned I never tried from 2nd gear. If you can find some areas with slopes or inclines and learn to slowly take off from stops at those points. Learn not to burn the clutch or grind gears, stalling is fine.

As long as you're not bringing up the RPM's it doesn't matter than you're starting from first.

As for downshifting, try not to downshift into first unless you're going slow, like 10mph or less.

Driving in slippery/cold conditions, you could try 1st gear, again as long as you baby it you're fine. It wouldn't hurt to start in 2nd, but you could get away with 1st probably fine.

And since you have summer tires I would advise getting a set of all season tires if temperatures get really cold, like 40F or below. And cold temps+water/snow is even worse.

For an all season tire Nitto's have great all season's, the Neogen's and Invo's.

hmmm.., i dont agree with learning stick for the first time in our cars,

I am planning to get winter tires. Thx

Its not first time with manual, I had plenty of practice with friends cars for past 2 years, but I guess Im still learning, since i stall at least once everyday...

IMO, don't bother downshifting to first unless you're at a stop. 800-1000 rpm in second gear is around 4-6 mph.

yea i dont really think about downshifting to 1st... either 2nd and neutral for stop or 2nd it is.

Unless your car is rolling or on ice use 1st gear. I've yet to stall my Z. It has so much torque unless you have no left foot control you can't stall this car.

well... i guess that makes me noob.... i notice it has so much torque, its just im not use to this clutch and clutch itself, that i let the clutch out too fast.

Its okay, when I drive AT I accidentally slam the brake with my left foot while I brainfart and think its the clutch... :icon14:

I dont suggest you start from 2nd cuz that will get your clutch worked up a bit....unless your car is at a roll or a downhill. 1st gear is perfectly fine with me. Just gotta get used to it. 370z isnt a easy car to drive or get used to it on manual. It'll be rough the first few weeks but you'll eventually get the hang of it.

If Nissan wanted you to start in 2nd, they'd have called it 1st.

:iagree:

:iagree:x2

:iagree: x2


If you could leave a gear out, you wouldn't have a 6spd.


Use 1st gear to take off... unless you want to burn the hell out of your clutch.

The only time I'd start in 2nd is in snow.

If you're doing a rolling start/jersey curtsey at a stop sign, 2nd is fine. I would get used to marching through the gears though. Start in first when possible.

I only start from 2nd if I know I'm going to grab the next gear right away e.g. downhill or some stop and go traffic, also if you're still rolling, leave it in 2nd. For the most part I always start from 1st. This is just my opinion, but it doesn't make sense to start from 2nd as a DD....does anyone really do that on a daily basis?!

From a full stop start in first, if still rolling you can start in second.

If you're rolling, you're not stopped.

Thank you John Madden. :iagree:

"Usually the team that scores the most points wins the game."
"The point of the game is to win."

When you are new use the tach. Say 2000 rpm's then slowly let out clutch. You will get the feel soon enough then you can forget about looking.

^disagree. This was my first manual, and although it took me quite a few tries, I do everything nice and smooth now and I feel like I could drive ANY manual on any other car now that I can drive this one..

good luck driving a dog box. :D

my 1st 6 speed is a Z
 

I'm still mulling that over.

I guess I'd get out in the open-a parking lot or somewhere and practice.

You'll be fine within a couple hundred miles, but Wow

Well, congrats on the ride!

Spring is coming soon

I tried. It was ... different.

so i think the main problem you have is that you're not used to a high revving, loud *** car (as was my case). you're used to revving low at 1500-2000... don't. (most automatics never rev high).

get used to the loudness, rev high and slowly let the clutch out, hold it halfway down until the car starts to go, then let it all the way out. (be careful, if you rev high and drop the clutch, you're in for a doozy).

if you slow down fast or dip below 4-5mph, have your foot on the clutch and/or feather it. only use the foot rest when cruising. lol

Note: Don't be scared to burn the clutch a little... burning the clutch is better than having the car behind you plow into you.

The owners manual also has the suggested shift points. One chart for everyday driving and another for more aggressive. For daily driving im usually in 6th by 30 or so. Ive been keeping mine below 3-3.5 for the break in. The only thing im adjusting to is first to second and remembering to push down for reverse, 2-6 is smooth as an augusta green. :tiphat:

My Zs on order (please come soon) but I been reading the manuals online. I still cant believe the chart says 6th gear at 33mph.........

6th gear at 33mph are you serious?!?!?

Wtf...call me crazy, but at 40MPH I still keep it in 5th. 6th just feels like a dog at that speed, absolutely no torque to speak of that low in the band. With the frequent stop signs here (one on every block) I never go higher than 3rd around town. Every block where I live is short, probably no longer than 70-80 yards, or so.