1st to 2nd shift
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Originally Posted by VQdriver
it's not just how smoothly you engage disengage the clutch, it's also how smooth throttle is applied and released. the way i try to shift smoothly into 2nd is this: no matter how much or little throttle you're giving there will always be a point where the engine won't pull the chassis anymore. that plateau is where your body's senses come in. once you sense it, quickly shift from first to second before the chassis has a chance to shift weight or nosedive. make sure the clutch is fully depressed and then the clutch release is quick, but smooth (not a clutchkick). i also consciously let off a little on the accel maybe like 2-5% it's not really noticeable to a passenger right before i depress the clutch. this will allow the chassis to settle down so when i depress the clutch there won't be a huge kickback. it's nowhere near a granny shift, but it's a step or two below a true drag racing shift (for me anyways). it sounds kind of elementary, but make sure you feel the chassis. weight is shifted towards the rear on acceleration. once the motor won't pull anymore (doesn't matter how much throttle) thats when you want to lightly release pressure on the throttle, then perform a quick, but smooth shift. someone mentioned pulling the shifter slightly towards you at the same time down and that helps prevent me from missing 2nd. make sure the clutch is fully depressed and car is completely in 2nd before releasing the clutch. lastly, try doing that with a cup of water or a soda with the lid on. if you hear the ice knock around real hard, adjust your driving. i know it sounds wordy, but i thought it was completely necessary to breakdown the mechanics of shifting because we all do it unconsciously. to me, that's the secret to shifting smootly on the G35C. hope this helps. 
The point you are making is to try to minimize the amount of torque going through your tranny while shifting. You can drive a manual more smoothly than an automatic this way.
The problem we are trying to deal with is the actual motion of moving the stick from neutral into 2nd gear. The synchros don't mesh up fast enough...
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: St.Pete, FL
Originally Posted by cloud
I'd really like someone to show me how to exactly shift normally(not granny, not racing) on the G. I fall beyond other cars from a stop in traffic light all the time because of the 1-2 shift. Not like I'm racing them but c'mon, SUVs and beaters go faster. I did an experiment with my friends' 06 accord coupe was shifting at less than 2k rpms and still was faster. Unless I shift at 4k rpm I don't see myself going faster than the accord.(only within the 1-2 gear range)
I usually run my 6mt close to 5k in first gear during nornal or slightly spirited driving. I don't necessarily floor the gas pedal, but I just run it up that high as a normal way to drive. I usually run second to 4k... third to probably a bit less.
You should push the clutch pedal in the same amount every time you shift. That will help gain consistency in shifting. If you were racing you would limit the amount of clutch travel so that you pressed the pedal to the floor every time you shifted.
I'm not sure how smooth you're trying to drive, but I don't ever feather the clutch when I release it after changing gears. I push it in, change gears, and release it all the way... about as fast as you read this.
I always check my mileage when I fill up with gas. I've been getting between 19 and 19.5 miles per gallon in the city, so I'm not wasting gas. Have fun, dude...
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From: St.Pete, FL
Originally Posted by cloud
5k in first gear ? The engine gets pretty loud at that point which gets alot of attention.
First gear is pretty low... Ya got to rev it up a bit to get going.
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From: St.Pete, FL
Maybe you guys are thinking about this too much... 
Rev it up to 4500 or so in first, push the clutch pedal to the floor and as you push the clutch pedal in let off the gas a bit, pull the gearshift back into second, let the clutch pedal out and bring up the revs again.
Practice that... do that in all the gears... You might be a bit jerky in the beginning, so try it alone... you'll get used to it.
Rev it up to 4500 or so in first, push the clutch pedal to the floor and as you push the clutch pedal in let off the gas a bit, pull the gearshift back into second, let the clutch pedal out and bring up the revs again.
Practice that... do that in all the gears... You might be a bit jerky in the beginning, so try it alone... you'll get used to it.
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
Originally Posted by cloud
5k in first gear ? The engine gets pretty loud at that point which gets alot of attention.
People your thinking way tooo much. You just have to practice. Remember these cars werent built to be drivin like grandma would... if u wanted that then buy a 5at..
Wanted to let everyone know what just happened to me. I've got an 05 6MT Sedan(I know, this is the coupe section). I took my car to the dealer about two weeks ago to have some rattles checked out. They had it for 3 days, waiting on parts to arrive, when I asked if I could get my car back and just bring it back in when the parts came in. I took the car back yesterday, and among the 4 items they addressed the dealer replaced my shifter.
I had been having a vibration coming from the shifter since just after I got the car through the break-in procedure. It would rattle, audibly, under WOT after about 4k rpms. At first the dealer tried to tell me it was because of my crawford cats, but when I told them it's been doing it since it was new, they actually tried to solve the problem; nice, that. The rattle had gotten so bad that the place where the shifter boot meets the shift **** was completely loose; I could move the boot almost 360 degrees around the shifter shaft.
So I picked my car up yesterday, talked to the service guy, and was told they replaced the shifter and the guide plate. Let me say, driving home last night was almost like driving a new car. I was able to reproduce the rattle in the shifter only once(and wasn't able to do so this morning on the way to work). Much of the tranny vibration has been muted now as well. But the most significant change was the ease of the 1/2 shift. There's still a tad bit of resistance entering the 2 gate, but must less so. It's like a completely new transmission.
So, I don't know if any of you guys that report excessive notchiness actually need new shifters or not, but it's at least worth a call to the dealer to see if it can be done.
I had been having a vibration coming from the shifter since just after I got the car through the break-in procedure. It would rattle, audibly, under WOT after about 4k rpms. At first the dealer tried to tell me it was because of my crawford cats, but when I told them it's been doing it since it was new, they actually tried to solve the problem; nice, that. The rattle had gotten so bad that the place where the shifter boot meets the shift **** was completely loose; I could move the boot almost 360 degrees around the shifter shaft.
So I picked my car up yesterday, talked to the service guy, and was told they replaced the shifter and the guide plate. Let me say, driving home last night was almost like driving a new car. I was able to reproduce the rattle in the shifter only once(and wasn't able to do so this morning on the way to work). Much of the tranny vibration has been muted now as well. But the most significant change was the ease of the 1/2 shift. There's still a tad bit of resistance entering the 2 gate, but must less so. It's like a completely new transmission.
So, I don't know if any of you guys that report excessive notchiness actually need new shifters or not, but it's at least worth a call to the dealer to see if it can be done.
This is quite interesting to read. When I bought my first G, I wanted a 6MT but when I test drove it, I couldn't stand the vibration and rattles from the stick shift. Like some of you, I could literally feel the tranny in my hand. Before the G I drove a BMW and shifting was so smooth and effortless and no vibration at all. So I ended up getting the G in AT. I heard this problem was fixed in the '06 models. Maybe someone can chime in on this.
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Uh, no. Feeling the tranny in your hand is a result of direct connection of the shifter to the tranny. My 06 does it... and two other 6mts i test drove at the dealer do it. It is normal and I actually prefer it over the gearshifts that are connected by cable or otherwise artificially "cushioned"
That said.. I have no "rattles" in my shifter. Only vibration directly related to the engine RPM, just as it should be.
As for BMWs.. my friend has an e46 M3 and drove my car and said he really liked the G tranny (shifter and clutch) and said it felt more like his dad's 911. Said his almost felt sloppy by comparison. That said I'd still take his M3 over my G any day
That said.. I have no "rattles" in my shifter. Only vibration directly related to the engine RPM, just as it should be.
As for BMWs.. my friend has an e46 M3 and drove my car and said he really liked the G tranny (shifter and clutch) and said it felt more like his dad's 911. Said his almost felt sloppy by comparison. That said I'd still take his M3 over my G any day
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Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Virginia Beach, VA
Originally Posted by mal_TX
As for BMWs.. my friend has an e46 M3 and drove my car and said he really liked the G tranny (shifter and clutch) and said it felt more like his dad's 911. Said his almost felt sloppy by comparison. That said I'd still take his M3 over my G any day
