[rilagan]

Most like, what I'm experiencing has nothing to do with the car, but my poor driving skills. Be that as it may, here's what I've noticed so far...

- I can't accelerate as smoothly and as fast as I'd like from a dead stop in first gear. I find myself riding the clutch too much for comfort.
- 2nd gear is too sensitive. When city driving, seems like I just shift to 2nd and release the clutch with no throttle. I give it even a smidgen of gas and the car JUMPS. This is significant to me because I pass through a 15mph school road everyday...
- too little travel from N to 1st. I have embarrassingly stalled a few times because I thought I was in 1st, but was in 3rd. Not an issue from N to 5th or 6th.
- I don't hate it, but not a fan of how the Reverse is set up.

 

[pandaVT]

all i can say is you'll get use to it. switching from a mini s to an x-runner was weird for me at first.

 

[FFEEkY]

riding the clutch isnt always a bad thing, unless you have high rpm at the same time. Low rpm short clutch riding doesnt do any more damage than dropping it too early.

I cruise through a school zone on my way to work too, I just always think for cruising, 10km/h for each gear, eg, you should be in 2nd for 20, 3rd for 30, 4 for 40 etc. This car is more than capable of sitting at 1200rpm in a gear and pulling away smoothly when you get out of the school zone. Often if im too lazy ill leave it in 6th when i slow down to 40 lol. remember peak torque is at only 1750rpm, so it will all be starting from 1200ish.

The travel into first gear, don't be afraid to accidentally put it into reverse, slam it all the way left before you push up to first. you wont get reverse without the safety switch, thats why its there. I think once you realise this you will understand why reverse is setup how it is for a reason.

 

[kmart7606]

I actually just posted about the very same thing. 1st to 2nd is slightly arbitrary. I think we need to give gas sooner on releasing the clutch out of first. You can also turn off traction controll which may help

 

[kidrocking79]

I posted this same thing on *****... and I got a response that said that it sounded like "inexperienced" manual transmission drivers. Hmmm... kinda ironic coming from a poster who bought the Auto version of the Turbo!!!

 

[dplight]

I've driven manuals since 1978 and find the VT to be easiest I've had to get used to. They are all a bit different feeling. The VT M/T is very forgiving and would be a good car to learn on. I was offered several A/T VT's and passed. I waited for the M/T.

 

[semajhan]

I've driven manuals since 1978 and find the VT to be easiest I've had to get used to. They are all a bit different feeling. The VT M/T is very forgiving and would be a good car to learn on. I was offered several A/T VT's and passed. I waited for the M/T.

Oh thank god.
Once I get my VT M/T, that's what i'll be learning with.

 

[Joe O]

I've driven manuals since 1978 and find the VT to be easiest I've had to get used to. They are all a bit different feeling. The VT M/T is very forgiving and would be a good car to learn on. I was offered several A/T VT's and passed. I waited for the M/T.

Good to hear.The last M/T I had, was 80,so looking forward to driving a sporty manual in my golden years.The dealer looked surprised when I asked if he had a Turbo M/T.I'll wait for one no matter the time.

 

[Stone Axe]

You are not alone. I still occasionally mistake 1st for 3rd. The shifter is really short. It would be helpful if the dash told you what gear you were in instead of what gear you were supposed to be in - wouldn't it?

I've owned about 8 manual transmission cars and have rode the clutch on all of them and have never replaced a clutch. The only time I just release the clutch is when I'm rednecking.

The VT is quirky because you can't always tell how much power you have on tap by looking at the tach. Sometimes it is a 1.6l and has no guts and needs some gentle clutch work and throttle for the next gear. Other times it is snarling and the turbo is spooling and you need to shift quick and just release the clutch. But most of the time I need to ride the clutch a little and keeps the revs up in order to keep it smooth.

 

[rilagan]

You are not alone. I still occasionally mistake 1st for 3rd. The shifter is really short. It would be helpful if the dash told you what gear you were in instead of what gear you were supposed to be in - wouldn't it?

I've owned about 8 manual transmission cars and have rode the clutch on all of them and have never replaced a clutch. The only time I just release the clutch is when I'm rednecking.

The VT is quirky because you can't always tell how much power you have on tap by looking at the tach. Sometimes it is a 1.6l and has no guts and needs some gentle clutch work and throttle for the next gear. Other times it is snarling and the turbo is spooling and you need to shift quick and just release the clutch. But most of the time I need to ride the clutch a little and keeps the revs up in order to keep it smooth.

Is this why we need a ECU tune?

 

[vinhtvu2]

I dont have a problem for 1st/3rd... but I do have a problem coming from 4th into 5th. It's the least smooth out of all the shifts.

Also, 2nd is a little short, so I have to shift in and out of it too often. Other than that, the M/T is very forgiving and fun to drive.

I taught my GF yesterday, and she didn't stall at all!

From the reviews of the A/T paddle shifts and how well it work, I wish I got the AT instead though... just for the Bluelink remote start.

 

[semajhan]

I dont have a problem for 1st/3rd... but I do have a problem coming from 4th into 5th. It's the least smooth out of all the shifts.

Also, 2nd is a little short, so I have to shift in and out of it too often. Other than that, the M/T is very forgiving and fun to drive.

I taught my GF yesterday, and she didn't stall at all!

From the reviews of the A/T paddle shifts and how well it work, I wish I got the AT instead though... just for the Bluelink remote start.

This makes me feel like I suck at driving.
I stalled a lot more on my first try T_T.

 

[vinhtvu2]

This makes me feel like I suck at driving.
I stalled a lot more on my first try T_T.

Haha, I stalled once when I drove it home from the dealer pulling into my driveway. I blame that on the inclined driveway and me thinking I can pull in in second gear.

My main ride is a Kawasaki Z1000, so I'm familar with 6-speed. My previous ride is a 5-speed Nissan Frontier. My GF also ride motorcycles... so it was quick for her to pick up this car.

Dont feel bad Also, you're not too far away! We need a SW-Tri-state meet or something!

 

[EnchinsuOcha]

I haven't stalled in 1st yet... I did stall from 3rd gear a few times over the first 2 days I had the car. I'm used to driving manual trucks and jeeps, so the short throws are taking some time to get used to....

 

[TwoToneWyvern]

Reassuring to see I wasn't the only one who would mistake 3rd for 1st. I learned stick on a '97 sunfire, which had some longer throws. Overall, I'm loving how this car drives, though first is quite finnicky, second to a lesser extent.

 

[rhinolord]

i have drove a 07 350z as a daily driver,let me tell you that car will test your patience as a manual driver. you think you are going into 5th...nope..how about 3rd the z will say.....then you are doing 100mph....As for the VT, it is a dream for daily driving. The clutch is softer than the snuggles the bear. Thus ensuring that my left calf is not 2x the size of my right. Everyone has woes in the beginning driving a new car and getting use to the gearbox etc....Im just glad to say i have not stalled it....but i have had a few close calls...worst one was leaving the dealership...left the car on an incline...almost like they were waiting to see if i would kill it....nothing a little clutch burning wouldn't fix..

 

[Dcannon203]

Its hard to dump the clutch or buck like a bronco with this M/T. The same can not be said for other cars I have driven like the Jeep, Subaru, and toyota. Just dont have wet shoes on the rubber pedal inserts and your golden.

Oh thank god.
Once I get my VT M/T, that's what i'll be learning with.

 

[Stone Axe]

I've never stalled it in 1st - but I have stalled it in 3rd a few times thinking that I am in 1st!

Now I can tell if I'm mistakenly in 3rd just by how the clutch feels and I just shift it in to 1st real quick. But the shifter doesn't feel any different when I put it back in 1st.

My last 2 M/Ts were a Subaru Legacy and a BMW 535is. They both had a light clutch spring but had more torque and obvious long-throw shifters.

The VTs small block turbo and 6 speed presents some unique challenges. During normal operation you just go through the gears. But if you hammer the throttle you can skip to the top gears. And then there are 5th and 6th which are so closely spaced. 6th isn't as tall as you would think and you can easily pass on the highway by just flooring it and not downshifting. 5th is good for the city but I'm not used to using 5th in the city.

 

[anticmos]

Stalled in 1st at a light coming in to work today! I've had it for just over a month now I hate that I have to look at the RPM gauge to tell if it's running or not... need my exhaust upgrade :/

 

[Stone Axe]

You were probably in 3rd. The VT tries to recover from a stall if you have even 1 rpm left - which can be confusing. When it does happen it is also a new thing to reach for the on/off button.