Bad Driving Habits (M/T)

djpathfinder · 05-13-2011, 09:55 PM

Another bad habit is keeping your hand on the shifter when not shifting, thus holding the steering wheel with one hand. Keeping both hands on the steering wheel (3:00 and 9:00) ensures it won't slip out of your hand and you're ready to make an emergency move should the need arises.

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.

christian370z · 05-13-2011, 09:58 PM

The Z is my first car with a manual transmission and even though I had driven MTs before, the Z is not the easiest car to start out with due to the high clutch engagement and pretty short window from where it starts grabbing to full engagement. The biggest factor in perfecting your shifting is just to keep driving, granted you need to follow the basics that others have mentioned.

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!

Rone · 05-14-2011, 06:59 AM

Wow, Thanks guys. My technique was a little more off than I though. I'm guilty of holding the clutch down at red lights, even though I know the cycle and when the light will turn green. If anyone else has more to add please feel free. This will help me and maybe other keep our Zs healthy lol.

brado · 05-14-2011, 10:30 AM

i had no idea that u wasnt supposed to keep the clutch pushed in when u was at a red light haha. ive never rode with anyone that put it in neutral at a red light. and im a little skeptical that its hard on the throwout bearing and that it wastes fuel. my car has 23.2 avg mpg. ive always owned m/t's and the only clutch ive ever had to replace was with my first car when i was fifteen because i would ride the clutch so much. i agree that the Z is not a good choice to learn to drive m/t on.

SP00LN · 05-14-2011, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brado

i had no idea that u wasnt supposed to keep the clutch pushed in when u was at a red light haha. ive never rode with anyone that put it in neutral at a red light. and im a little skeptical that its hard on the throwout bearing and that it wastes fuel. my car has 23.2 avg mpg. ive always owned m/t's and the only clutch ive ever had to replace was with my first car when i was fifteen because i would ride the clutch so much. i agree that the Z is not a good choice to learn to drive m/t on.

I'm with him. I'm usually always clutched in and in gear at a red light just in case I have to move fast in an emergency.

This is also my fifth M/T vehicle and I've never had to replace a throw out bearing (just jinxed myself). Only clutch I replaced was due to going bigger snail.

Not sayin whats right or wrong, just my technique.

djpathfinder · 05-14-2011, 11:44 AM

I'm clutched in too unless I'm at the bank or Starbuck's drive-thru.

Mt Tam I am · 05-14-2011, 11:45 AM

If it's a long light I am in neutral. If I think it is about to change I have the clutch in and car in gear.

Re: coasting downhill: I keep it in gear and use the gas pedal more than the brakes.

SP00LN · 05-14-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djpathfinder

I'm clutched in too unless I'm at the bank or Starbuck's drive-thru.

Ah yes, in that case +1

brado · 05-14-2011, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mt Tam I am

If it's a long light I am in neutral. If I think it is about to change I have the clutch in and car in gear.

Re: coasting downhill: I keep it in gear and use the gas pedal more than the brakes.

i didnt think of this before but i would imagine that most people do put it in neutral at long longs such as if u were city driving. i rarely do that so i always leave it in gear.

Nitrouz · 05-14-2011, 12:37 PM

My bad habit is that from a dead stop, I throw in first gear, rev up slightly and disengage the clutch when the rev is on the way DOWN. Kind of weird I know, but this habit was formed when I was DD'ing on carbon clutches before. Easier to engage and not jump forward with those on/off switches we call carbon clutches.

roplusbee · 05-14-2011, 06:55 PM

Haha....aftermarket clutches can be a pain after a while, especially unsprung types. I have only had 2 upgraded clutches on previous cars. Both of them on S13 Fastbacks. One was OS GIken and the other was a Euro brand sprung 6-puck (on the car when I got it). Both on CA18DETs.

But back on topic, I always coast in gear so that I am not on the clutch and not using the brake. When I learned to drive, it was on a MT and the guy told me to get on the clutch....put it in gear....and get off the clutch. So basically, to stay off the pedal as much as possible.

The BlueMax · 05-14-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tonybui

Please xcuse my low knowledge on this but why is this a bad habit?

Its not

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, 09:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	Another bad habit is keeping your hand on the shifter when not shifting, thus holding the steering wheel with one hand. Keeping both hands on the steering wheel (3:00 and 9:00) ensures it won't slip out of your hand and you're ready to make an emergency move should the need arises. __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

05-13-2011, 09:58 PM	#18 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 431	The Z is my first car with a manual transmission and even though I had driven MTs before, the Z is not the easiest car to start out with due to the high clutch engagement and pretty short window from where it starts grabbing to full engagement. The biggest factor in perfecting your shifting is just to keep driving, granted you need to follow the basics that others have mentioned. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

05-14-2011, 11:44 AM	#23 (permalink)
djpathfinder A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 12,910 Drives: 2012 GT-R BE Rep Power: 733	I'm clutched in too unless I'm at the bank or Starbuck's drive-thru. __________________ 2012 GT-R Black Edition Jet Black 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary // SOLD

05-14-2011, 11:45 AM	#24 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3842	If it's a long light I am in neutral. If I think it is about to change I have the clutch in and car in gear. Re: coasting downhill: I keep it in gear and use the gas pedal more than the brakes. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

05-14-2011, 12:37 PM	#27 (permalink)
Nitrouz Track Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 934 Drives: 40th Z, GTR, 420z-tt Rep Power: 15	My bad habit is that from a dead stop, I throw in first gear, rev up slightly and disengage the clutch when the rev is on the way DOWN. Kind of weird I know, but this habit was formed when I was DD'ing on carbon clutches before. Easier to engage and not jump forward with those on/off switches we call carbon clutches. __________________ 2010 370Z 40th Anniversary - Anastasia VENACI / AERO JACKET / HKS USA / MXP / NISMO / FALKEN / STILLEN / T1R / MR WORKS / CARBON SIGNAL / EVO-R / BLUE BATMOBILE

05-14-2011, 06:59 AM	#20 (permalink)
Rone Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 326 Drives: PW Sport/Touring 6MT Rep Power: 14	Wow, Thanks guys. My technique was a little more off than I though. I'm guilty of holding the clutch down at red lights, even though I know the cycle and when the light will turn green. If anyone else has more to add please feel free. This will help me and maybe other keep our Zs healthy lol.

05-14-2011, 10:30 AM	#21 (permalink)
brado Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 216 Drives: 09 touring w/ sport Rep Power: 14	i had no idea that u wasnt supposed to keep the clutch pushed in when u was at a red light haha. ive never rode with anyone that put it in neutral at a red light. and im a little skeptical that its hard on the throwout bearing and that it wastes fuel. my car has 23.2 avg mpg. ive always owned m/t's and the only clutch ive ever had to replace was with my first car when i was fifteen because i would ride the clutch so much. i agree that the Z is not a good choice to learn to drive m/t on.

05-14-2011, 06:55 PM	#28 (permalink)
roplusbee A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Killeen, TX Posts: 2,360 Drives: 2007 350Z NISMO Rep Power: 22	Haha....aftermarket clutches can be a pain after a while, especially unsprung types. I have only had 2 upgraded clutches on previous cars. Both of them on S13 Fastbacks. One was OS GIken and the other was a Euro brand sprung 6-puck (on the car when I got it). Both on CA18DETs. But back on topic, I always coast in gear so that I am not on the clutch and not using the brake. When I learned to drive, it was on a MT and the guy told me to get on the clutch....put it in gear....and get off the clutch. So basically, to stay off the pedal as much as possible. __________________ 2007 350Z NISMO #0618: Zerolift \| UPREV \| F.I. \| Greddy \| Competition Clutch \| Injector Dynamics \| Aeromotive \| Pioneer \| JL

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