Compared to other cars this one is not easy to drive. I test drove a S2000 and an RX8 and didn't have any problem at all shifting them smoothly. I bought the G35 for the luxury and the torque of the VQ but let's face it the transmission stinks. And the fact that a lot of people (me included) are getting detonation kind of like a 1980's K car stinks too!

 

It's a Nissan thing. The transmissions they source are typically a rough to drive with around town. They're jerky, notchy, and the clutch has an on/off take up; however, in a race, the tranny seems to be very responsive and takes on different character.

 

And even if it were, some of us ARE rocket scientists you know.

 

LOL, awesome. I cannot even tell you how many times I bitched about the 1 to 2 shift when I first got my G. Glad to see I'm not the only one.

 

My G35 coupe 6MT has ~500 mi. on it. Like others, I find the clutch not very forgiving as to smooth takeoff. Maybe its engagement point is too short. In any case, I enjoy the tranny and I don't consider it a problem.

Two questions:

1) has anyone tried another tranny fluid, like Redline synthetic?

2) Are any aftermarket clutches any better?

I just ordered Stillen's Stage 2 blower and that will change things for sure.

 

i agree. im having a hard time shifting the car between 1-2. my passengers look at me funny thinking i cant drive stick.. but odd thing is, i had an old s13 MT and i never encountered problems like, same w/ my integ gsr, a4.

im thinking the G is just meant to be driven hard. as someone mentioned, you have to feather and leave the clutch opened longer vs dumping it early. but this may cause pre-mature wear.

 

Yes, I have learned that feathering the clutch makes a world of difference. Like many have posted but this is a concern for me also. There are a million clutch warranty concerns posted on here and I DON'T want to add to that number.

I like the idea of switching transmission fluids, has anyone tried this?

I know I will get it down better with practice and aclimation it just buggs me that every other manual have driven is easier to shift.

 

Maybe it has something to do with this hydraulic clutch? My friends STI shift way smoother. My .02

 

I used to grind every once in awhile when driving hard with the oem fluid. I switched to amsoil about 5k miles ago.. so far it's a little better.. no grinds yet during aggressive shifting. still notchy but not as notchy as before.

http://www.amsoil.com/StoreFront/mtg.aspx

 

I have not yet had a problem with grinding. It's more like the synchros are working aginst you in the 1-2 shift.

 

I also shift smoothest when I'm not thinking about it and just driving naturally

 

See I noticed that the clutch in my '03 is completely different from the '06. The reason (I think anyway) that so many people have problems with the manual in the G is the travel of the clutch pedal. The G is a horrendous amount of travel all the way down, and then all the way back up.

I've driven a fair share of other sticks lately including a 99 M3 and 06 Tiburon and those clutches feel identical, yet completely different from the G. I had a seat in an 06 Z and it feels like the M3 and Tibi. I posted the question on here a while ago and someone posted back that there was a change to the clutch to the Z and G that reduced travel.

Just my .02, but 6 or 7 different cars from 99-06 are not anything like the 03 G.

 

Isnt the 6MT a getrag or based on the getrag?

 

you wish...those transmissions are awesome...ours is something else

 

Having raced motorcycles for more than 25 years, powerband characteristics are everything on a bike, just as they are in a sports car.

"Over-rev": the characteristics of the torque, and thus hp curves from peak to red-line (KISS definition). The VW previously mentioned has great over-rev. Power continues and gently tapers to redline (relatively speaking). The G's power falls off a cliff past peak.

Suggested solution- short shift. Take a few revs off whatever you're doing, and see if this improves the shift at all. Sure, there could be a hundred other solutions, but try it. If it works, great, if not, nothing lost.

hope this helps.

Cheers,
Derek