I was driving my friend's STI the other day and earlier today I drove another friend's Mazdaspeed3 (both were manual) and it was REALLY easy to shift quickly yet smoothly in both cars. However, for my G35, I somehow can almost never get it to shift smoothly when shifting quickly (in normal city driving applications, not racing... Somewhere between granny shifting and WOT)... I always have to push the clutch, shift, then hold down the clutch for a second or so before letting off of it for a smooth gear shift whereas both the other cars I could just push in the clutch and let it out while equalizing the gas and the shift is flawless, first time and every subsequent time, in one swift movement...


Does anyone else have this issue (having to hold the clutch in longer than normal/ slip the clutch for a smooth shift)? Am I right to assume it's because our flywheel is so much heavier than most other cars? I've driven a stick before I got my G so it's not like I'm new at it.. And I don't "suck" at it because I can shift perfectly in my friends' cars... I'm just wondering because most people said G's are really different and it takes a lot longer to get smooth, but it's been a while and sometimes I still "jerk" the car especially from 1st to 2nd... I just don't want it to be some kind of problem that my car is having.

 

Believe me, it's not you, it's the transmission. Nissan has never really been able to put a truely "smooth" manual in their cars. They've always been a bit jerky and hard to drive smoothly. All three of the 6MT Gs I test drove had the same shift action. The clutch take up was too quick and inconsistent. I swear the clutch never caught in the same place twice. I probably could have looked past the vibrating shifter/clutch pedal and quirky around-town shifting IF the tranny would have shifted better during a race situation. What I found shocking, and completely disappointing, was that the 6MT doesn't like quick shifts at full throttle. Especially the 1-2 and 2-3. My 5MT Maxima had quirky shifting during normal driving, but at full throttle with fast and hard shifts, it begged for more and more. It was perfect. The 6MT in the G/Z resists you during normal driving and downright fights during hard driving. I'm not talking about powershifting either. Just fast, full throttle shifts. Numerous mags have noted the same things in lots of Gs and Zs. I just couldn't rationalize the purchase. Luckily Nissan puts a really nice auto in the G or else I would have looked elsewhere.

Apparently the Aisin/Warner-built 6MT used in the G/Z (also used in the CTS and Genesis Coupe) has improved quite a bit in the last 2 years.

 

I always had the same thought in my head to,but thank you for answering the question now i dont have to worry.

 

Yep, noticed the same thing as well.

My friend has a 2005 TL and it shifts much better.

After 2nd or 3rd gear though I love the shifting on the G. Also, there is no perfect car (at least in this price range) so for me this wouldn't be a critical factor when considering everything else I like about the G over the competitors.

 

Thanks Dave for that explanation. I really didn't realize the G's had that problem... I heard a lot of people talking about how it was "different" and it just took time getting used to compared to other cars, but what you've said has been news to me. I don't really mind that it's a problem, nor would it have changed my decision to get one, I was just trying to figure out why or if it was something I was doing wrong... Now that I think of it, the clutch engagement is indeed rather "hit or miss." When I first got the car, I had to actually take it to a parking lot to practice smoother shifting like I did when I first started manual, but I could never really get it perfectly more than a few times in a row, despite how consistent I was. Driving around town, I would sometimes be able to make it really smooth, and other times it wouldn't be.
Would an aftermarket clutch/flywheel fix the problem at all?

 

hondas have to be the smoothest shifting cars for the price. it's hard to mess up a shift with one.

the G isn't great, but over time you will learn the best way to make use of it. i'm on my 2nd tranny (under warranty) but there is not a real diff between the new & old tranny, neither are great.

i had no problem at the drag strip with quick shifts, however. nor did my friend in his '03 Z.

as for the clutch - try to stay off it as much as possible. i rarely exceed 1k rpms when engaging 1st gear. and i often skip shifts & rev match. of course i don't HAVE to do this, it's just a habit of mine. saves wear & tear i suppose. perhaps if the G tranny was like my wife's CRV i would want to row the gears more.

i'll tell you one thing though, the G 6mt is light years ahead of my first car: a 1984 Jetta GLI (as it should be). that was like trying to move a rod through a bucket of nuts & bolts, with 1' shifter throws!

 

^Agreed

Also I just hit the clutch in slightly to early, before releasing the gas. Seems to shift better, but i also have jwt flwywheel and clutch. But what i really hate on these trannys is the cold shift to second. Seems like when i first drive my G for the Day the first couple shifts to second seem like trying to put the shifter into a wall. Im always like WTF! go in your hole!! and finally it does.

 

My 08' Honda Si shifts like butter, the G, like chopping wood.

 

i have the same problem with my 06.. granted i need a new clutch but every time i drive people they ask if its the first time i have driven manual. i had an 07 si and that thing shifted so smooth (after i got the 3rd/4th gear replaced). now i think sometimes i just suck at driving but i really dont i am also curious if a new clutch and lighter flywheel will help this situation any? and how heavy is the stock flywheel? if anyone knows off hand that would be great.. thanks

 

Nah I have no problem shifting, you just need to get used to it, and have some finesse to your control, like golf or basketball.

The clutch reminds me heavily of my 2006 rsx base that I had, high clutch point etc. Although the G grabs a tiny bit earlier than the rsx. The rsx was like a light switch as far as shifting.

 

I hated the tranny in my RSX-S. Second and third were always a PITA to engage. And one out over every couple hundred shifts, third would just pop out while driving normally.

Although the G/Z tranny is a little weird and inconsistent, I like it a lot more than my Honda. Also putting in a JWT clutch and flywheel made a huge improvement.