For some reason it's hard for me to shift smooth and quick since the month I've owned the coupe. It feels like the clutch is a little too high for me and I just can't get used to the way it engages. I've driven many other japanese cars with no problems shifting smoothly. Also in traffic, does your coupe ever feel jerky at crawing speeds?

2003 G35 Coupe 6mt Diamond Graphite

 

The clutch definitely takes a little getting used to and some feel it's a bit stiff. I recently drove a Boxter and my friend's 330i with PP and both were a lot easier to drive smoothly but somehow felt less satisfying.

 

yo buddy try not pushing the pedal all the way down, try just a bit past fricion point a bit just enough for you car to be able to take out of gear safely. then let it in after u shifted and boom. smooth a vaseline . do yah thang boi

Quick Robin... TO THE BATMOBILE.

 

if u let the clutch in all the way the rpms drop like a [censored] rock, but do it a little past friction and they drop just a bit for the next gear to come. Now i know some people are going to say im messing up the clutch or something. But no im not, no grinding no nothing, just smoothness.

Quick Robin... TO THE BATMOBILE.

 

Smooth as Buttah Baybee,
The 6MT engages smoothly and with out much pedal effort. Try driving a 93' Civic Coupe with a 2.2 Prelude VTEC conversion with an ACT 4 puck clutch, Super Heavy duty Pressure Plate, And Lightened Flywheel with Fully built Head and NOS 100 shot in Stop and Go Los Angeles traffic...... Aw the Smooth Joys of the 6MT........

NismoCPV-35

77407-eek5.gif

 

its just different. different clutch and shifter feel, you will get used to it.

6MT red/willow, premium, aero

 

I have had this experience too, but you have to remember that this is a high performance car which is not intended to shift around 2000 or 2500 rpm, especially at slow speeds in low gears. This car wants to be above 3500 rpm in the low gears, which means accelerating quickly. I have found that when I accelerate, I shift above 3500 rpm and I engage the clutch and shift gears very quickly as not to let the rpm's drop. The shifting is smooth as "buttah" (sorry for stealing the phrase, but so true). I LOVE THIS CAR!

Hope that helps. Just get through the break-in period.

Jaime

People who say that money cannot bring happiness never drove a G35 Sport Coupe!

 

It does have a high point of engagement but the joy is well worth the adjustment stage. You just have to drive it more and you will become a pro. Took me a couple of days.

 

You made a good point 6mt_coupe. The car is easier to shift above 3000.

2003 G35 Coupe 6mt Diamond Graphite

 

Sloneek,
You might want to rethink your method my man. According to Infiniti service manager here In Northern California. The last big meeting that was held by Nissan for Service personnel involved discussion about why Americans were burning out the Infiniti/Nissan Clutches and syncros was because Americans tend not to depress the clutch all the way. Lazy? Probably that or just ill informed. i.e. 20 something and they know it all? So don't tell these people that NOT pressing the clutch al the way in won't hurt your car, that's just BS!
And yes, this clutch was set-up this way, as more of a "racing"/"sport" application.....word from the dealer is that Nissan Corp. is considering changing to a different clutch for the North American Consumer base.

"Use the Forced Induction Luke!"
-Jedi
2003 G35C, 6MT, Navi, Black Obsidian/Graphite

 

this is my first manual so i cant tell the difference between the clutch on this one and , for example, a bmw 3 series.. are they really that much different?

 

i said just a bit past friciton point the car will hold rpms with the gear not in place and in neutral giving u a safe shift and if u press the clutch in all the way it drops too quickly thats all i said. and to be careful not to do it too close to friciton or you'll grind and burn ur clutch. It just gives it a smooth shift at low rpms. but at high do whatever you want for a smooth shift

Quick Robin... TO THE BATMOBILE.

 

I would NOT recommend shifting without pushing the clutch in all the way unless you are ready to replace your clutch disk ahead of schedule.

Yes, the RPM drops once you push in the clutch and let off the gas, but that's what the gas pedal is for. Use the gas pedal to maintain engine RPM to where you can engage the clutch smoothly. Slip the clutch a bit if necessary and the gear change will be smooth as glass without the burnt smell of a fried clutch disk. It really is something that's harder to explain than it is to do. Start by paying attention to where the clutch starts to engage, then experiment a bit with letting the clutch pedal up smoothly until you find the right combination.

The G35's assisted clutch feels a little different, but it's not hard to get used to.

 

Unless you want a new clutch @ 30k miles; I recommend you push in your clutch all the way down before shifting. If you don't want your RPM's to drop because its fully depressed do the "heel toe" method that racers use to keep up the rpm from dropping while saving your clutch, tranny, and LSD life. Remember now if you F**K up I hope u got money for a new tranny and that expensive LSD, not to mention your clutch kit.

 

Actually, "heel and toe" shifting is only necessary if you are downshifting for a corner while under full braking. If you are just upshifting normally, you only have to use the gas pedal to keep RPM up.