Bad Driving Habits (M/T)

EazyD · 05-13-2011, 09:40 PM

370Z was my first M/T I owned also. Worst habit I learned to break: don't freak out if someone is behind you and you think you're going to roll back and hit them. They're farther away than you think. Maybe as you get used to the friction point and how much gas to apply, you can learn to do a hillstart in the meantime.

--Come to a stop. set the handbrake, go in neutral, relax...you can take your foot off the brake and the handbrake will hold you.
--Light turns green, put it in 1st, start to give gas + slip clutch. When the car feels like it wants to move forward, let the handbrake off and go. No rolling back.

So...what I'm trying to say is don't freak out (you're going to) it will just make you burn the clutch with your reactions hehe. Try not to look in the rearview when you're at a red light.

Z_ealot · 05-13-2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EazyD

370Z was my first M/T I owned also. Worst habit I learned to break: don't freak out if someone is behind you and you think you're going to roll back and hit them. They're farther away than you think. Maybe as you get used to the friction point and how much gas to apply, you can learn to do a hillstart in the meantime.

--Come to a stop. set the handbrake, go in neutral, relax...you can take your foot off the brake and the handbrake will hold you.
--Light turns green, put it in 1st, start to give gas + slip clutch. When the car feels like it wants to move forward, let the handbrake off and go. No rolling back.

So...what I'm trying to say is don't freak out (you're going to) it will just make you burn the clutch with your reactions hehe. Try not to look in the rearview when you're at a red light.

Good info D, also just wanted to make note that something i noticed when test driving a Z back in October, the clutch tends to engage a little on the high side when letting go of the pedal so might want to keep that in mind when driving the MT Z...of course this is from someone who is used to the clutch on an older 96 civic so your experiences may differ lol

EazyD · 05-13-2011, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z_ealot

Good info D, also just wanted to make note that something i noticed when test driving a Z back in October, the clutch tends to engage a little on the high side when letting go of the pedal so might want to keep that in mind when driving the MT Z...of course this is from someone who is used to the clutch on an older 96 civic so your experiences may differ lol

Find a comfortable spot on the floor to plant your clutch foot's heel. I think I started off hovering my foot because I wasn't used to how strong it was pushing back - but that made me do crazy things when the car mvoed forward and my foot came off the clutch fast.

Also make sure the clutch is ALL the way in before you shift.

Z_ealot · 05-13-2011, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EazyD

Find a comfortable spot on the floor to plant your clutch foot's heel. I think I started off hovering my foot because I wasn't used to how strong it was pushing back - but that made me do crazy things when the car mvoed forward and my foot came off the clutch fast.

Also make sure the clutch is ALL the way in before you shift.

Now that is funny as heck cause i kept mentioning to the sales guy i was riding with that i wasnt used to how much the clutch was pushing my foot back, i never let my foot slip but i did stall the car once just before taking off at a red light, but other than that at highway speeds the Z's clutch felt amazing!

TheGreatOne · 05-15-2011, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EazyD

370Z was my first M/T I owned also. Worst habit I learned to break: don't freak out if someone is behind you and you think you're going to roll back and hit them. They're farther away than you think. Maybe as you get used to the friction point and how much gas to apply, you can learn to do a hillstart in the meantime.

--Come to a stop. set the handbrake, go in neutral, relax...you can take your foot off the brake and the handbrake will hold you.
--Light turns green, put it in 1st, start to give gas + slip clutch. When the car feels like it wants to move forward, let the handbrake off and go. No rolling back.

So...what I'm trying to say is don't freak out (you're going to) it will just make you burn the clutch with your reactions hehe. Try not to look in the rearview when you're at a red light.

Good tip, I think I still have anxiety on really steep hills...even though I've been driving stick for 4 yrs or so. I should really just take my Z out one of these late nights and practice that....

05-13-2011, 09:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
EazyD A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 1,211 Drives: 2010 6MT Sport pkg. Rep Power: 27	370Z was my first M/T I owned also. Worst habit I learned to break: don't freak out if someone is behind you and you think you're going to roll back and hit them. They're farther away than you think. Maybe as you get used to the friction point and how much gas to apply, you can learn to do a hillstart in the meantime. --Come to a stop. set the handbrake, go in neutral, relax...you can take your foot off the brake and the handbrake will hold you. --Light turns green, put it in 1st, start to give gas + slip clutch. When the car feels like it wants to move forward, let the handbrake off and go. No rolling back. So...what I'm trying to say is don't freak out (you're going to) it will just make you burn the clutch with your reactions hehe. Try not to look in the rearview when you're at a red light. __________________ Pearl White 2010 370Z Sport, Stillen CBE, tint, K&N drop-in filters, GT-R start button, Kenwood DNX-6980 with backup cam, LED bulbs, Raceseng shift knob.

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