I bought a G35 sedan in February of 2003 and little did I know at that time, that within a year I'll have a .... coupe too !

My wife liked the red color, I voted for the CB and the ... CB it was ! However, she ended up driving it most of the time. It came the time when I had to get a car (gave my 98 Pontiac GTP to my parents ... still like that car !) and I chose .... the G again, but this time it had to be a coupe with manual. I got it on Friday, the day after Christmas and the color was ... CB again ! So now, we have a sedan and a coupe with the same color (I feel like I'm running in a commercial for Infiniti !!!).

One problem: before I ordered it, I test-drove it and I wasn't quite impressed with the manual (I guess I expected too much ...). I still ordered the car with the manual hoping that when I get it I will get used to it and like it. Well, it's been a week since I got it (already put 600 miles on it) and I'm barely getting used to it. It's true that I haven't driven manual for 5-6 years but I had a friend of mine drive it (who currently drives manual) and the engine stopped on him twice within a mile. I can't shift smooth (unless I do it very slowly), the car hick-ups whenever I try to shift normal (especially the first and second) and I could probably lose to somebody walking in a 0-60mph race ! I like the car very much, but I'm somewhat pissed on how this car shifts (the shifter shakes a lot too) or rather, on how I shift the car !

I know you'll say that I need to learn how to drive stick, but this is like learning to ride a bike: once you got it, it stays with you and I have to say that I did my share of driving stick for a good number of years. I couldn't race this thing to save my life .... my wife will most likely kick my butt with the sedan !

My only hope right now is that somehow, by magic, things will turn around and I'll be able to drive this car like I should (there have already been improvements since last week when I got it, so I'm still keeping the hope ....).

Has any of you experienced anything similar to my problem of shifting ?

Anyway, I do like the car, I intend to keep it (despite some advices of trading it for an automatic) and I'm interested in any comments that anybody may have on how to shift this damn thing !

Happy New Year, everybody !

 

I'm experiencing some of what you describe. The short throw shifter is suposedly race inspired but I definitely ain't beating anyone off the line yet. For me it's the difference between my 4 speed deisel 1981 Mercedes manual style and the short throw. I've experienced the same thing before going from one manual to another and it just takes time. Get good and precise at normal driving to get comfortable then a month from now (when your car has 1200mi per manual) start experimenting with fast starts off the line. Get out of first fast and stay in second only slightly longer. When your driving around town or on a winding road, downshifting without thinking about it, your going to love the feel more than an automatic. I'm on ownership day 5 so no expert but I'm taking my own advice and already feel tons more comfortable. Good luck and let us now how it's going. I would be interested to know what some of the 1/4 mile 6MT people have to say.

Drew

04' 6MT Silver/Willow, Prem, 4 pc Aero, XM.
Very Happy New Owner

 

Don't be frustrated. I've owned and driven a variety of stick shift cars for 23 years, and 3 of my 4 current cars are stick (including a '95 G20t and a '67 Alfa Romeo 5 speed). When I first drove the G35, I kept stalling when engaging first because the take-up on the clutch is unusually high. The car also jerked when shifting in higher gears because of the late take-up. The tranny also felt unusually notchy and stiff, causing me to grind once. I quickly adjusted to the clutch by adjusting the seat position farther back, so that the jerkiness is gone. I've compensated for the shifter with deliberate throws without being too aggressive and over-running the syncros.

Keep adjusting your driving style and position until you find a method that promotes smoothness. It'll pay dividends by promoting proper bedding-in of the clutch and brake, and prolong the car's mechanicals (I managed 55k miles on my G20t before changing the front brake pads, and that's with 40% city driving). You'll also become a faster driver. The most successful race car drivers (Jackie Stewart, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna) were well known for their ability to conserve wear and tear on tires and brakes. Good luck!

RainMeister
'04 G35C 6MT, diamond graphite, premium, nav, aero

 

Don't worry about it, most likely it's the clutch that's playing on you. The problem with the clutch in this car, is that it is too high, therefore you need to you use your whole leg to engage/disengage it, rather than just using your heel. Look at this thread over at FreshAlloy.com for a quick fix that is guaranteed to make your shifting much easier and more important - smoother.

http://forums.freshalloy.com/ubbthre...=&fpart=1&vc=1

I did it, and it's like night and day. Even my fastest shifts are smooth now.
Give this fix a try, worst comes to worst, you just set it back to the factory setting.

2004 G35C 6MT DG/Gr/Prem/NAV/A.Pedals/C.Corners/C.Bra/PIAA [img]/w3timages/icons/cool.gif[/img]

 

I agree. I did above adjustment and it made a huge difference. I made 4 full turns and it engages perfectly. Now I'm no longer hittting my chin with my kneee

 

Dude, dont worry about. I had only driven stick off and on with my friends cars, and after getting my G coupe MT i was a little frustrated, shifting slow, hiccupping. Now after 1 month and 1800 miles I can shift like a pro, so smooth and fast. i really did not think i was going to get this good because of how frustrated i was at first. Youll get there.

 

Thats odd cuz when i got the car, i got used to the clutch almost immediately. I think its really easy to get smooth shifts in this car. This is my first stick car too. I usually just tried my friend's car every now and then. Maybe you just got a little rusty, but you'll get it eventually.

2004 G35c Twilight Blue/black 6MT
Aero Package -- Splash Guards -- Premium -- Trunk Mat

 

I've been in a few 6mt's and the clutches have felt a little different in a them, for some reason the few i've felt are not all quite the same. They're all VERY weird at first for some reason, but after a while you get used to the weirdness and it'll become normal =)
If you have the ability to adjust it and play with it a bit I'm sure you can find your sweet spot. You guys are lucky too, the adjuster on my G20 is in the engine bay and it's always like 500 degrees and burns me when i go to adjust it again after testing it... :-P

Justin McClanahan
Heavily Modified 95 Infiniti G20
Working on a G35 Coupe
www.InfinitiPartsUSA.com

 

Thank you very much to all of you for the advice and encouragement (I'm not mechanically inclined so I don't think I'll try the clutch adjustment by myself, but I may take it to the dealer and have them do it).

I just hope I'll get adjusted to this soon !