my 09 vert manual feels slow..i know thers more weight cuz of the hardtop system but i got a g37x as a loaner and man was this thing fast for a auto..also the manual clutch lets out right near the top not like the average clutch..am i driving this car wrong? i only push the clutch in about halfway to obtain smooth shifts but it seems slow..i dunno.. i love my car but it seems like its underachieving in the performance for a manual with 325hp. feels more like 280hp.

 

First off - welcome. That is quite a first post.

A few comments:
1 - Speed is relative so if the car feels slow, you need to quantify it. Get yourself a GTech Pro or a radar gun and perform a few 0-60 runs to see if the car is actually slow or just feels slow. Until I performed this experiment, I also thought that the car was slower than it actually turned out to be. You will be surprised.
2 - I hope that you have gone through the "break-in" period (no flames required regarding proper break-in needed) and you are not pushing the car too hard prior to its first 1,000 miles or so.
3 - The manual is actually a little slower than auto. The 7 speed auto trans is awesome but I too enjoy the control of a manual trans.
4 - NEVER engage the clutch only half way - this is not the proper way to shift and you will encounter premature wear. Work on your timing and coordination to ensure a smooth transition from clutch let out to throttle position. It will take practice but the result is worth it. May I also suggest taking some driving classes like Skip Barber or similar - it will greatly improve your skills.

Post up some 0-60 times and lets see the details.
Good luck
-B

 

I'm not sure what an average clutch feels like - every manufacturer has a different feel and older clutches tend to engage closer to the bottom of their travel. I had a camry with a manual before an Audi A6 2.7T - the Camry clutch pedal had to be pressed all the way to the floor - the Audi started working way up in the air. I learned to really love the Audi manual and the manual on my BMW convertible which felt the same. On the German cars I was very aware of lifting my foot high to work the clutch - over time this felt more and more natural. I've got the 7AT - excellent deal that made it not worth my while to wait for the 6MT.

Regarding where I shift, I will usually go full in when pressing the clutch pedal but will feather a little on the way out as I'm matching revs. If you are matching well the shift will be smooth and the time will be very short. On BMW's we'd talk about the "death shift" - going from 5th to 2nd by mistake at speed and blowing your engine. Although I'm quick on the clutch, I make sure I'd be able to catch the revving before completing a "death shift". I would not only go half way in unless you want to get a new clutch at 60k miles.

I have noted on my vert a sort of throttle lag between gas and response when starting from a stop - no screaming spinning tires. The car does accelerate *very* quickly.

Peter

 

The Nissan clutch is a little strange on the uptake and its' been complained about since the 350Z. So yes it will feel strange. MT will feel slower because you actually drive less aggressively than the computer.

Throttle "tip in" is the minimum throttle the computer gives the engine off the line and AT are set to have a much higher minimum...which if I remember is like 20%,where the MT is 0% (because you control it)...so you'll feel slower in MT because you're not using it the same way the AT does.

I test drove an MT and went with AT because I wanted red. I'm die-hard MT but this time I chose looking at the car over shifting, but the MT was far better than earlier clutch versions (I had an 04 350Z).

The AT is nice and feels quicker because of that throttle profile.

I have an 07 335 MT and the clutch is light and not awkward like the Nissan can feel.

 

i've noticed a big variation if a car is broken in with the engine. Yes, the extra weight you do feel in the vert, but that is the same as the BMW vert since both are hardtops.

the new hydraulic clutches with the softer grabbing feel are definitely more mainstream and making it easier for clients. at least it is a lot less vibration than the 1st gen cars. Nothing that an aftermarket clutch will help in the grabbign feel

 

Any simple way to change the throttle profile? Or not so simple? I've got the 7AT in my car and it feels "quicker" when I start in the "manual" automatic mode where I command the shifts myself. Not sure though.

Peter

 

They have had hydraulic clutches forever.

 

IT will be faster in DS (or manual) because it changes from economy to performance. But if you push the throttle all the way to the floor it should click into a DS mode..most cars I've driven with a "sport" mode do that at about 80% throttle

A few companies do make electronic throttle boosters, but I think they just trick the car to start at a higher % (by voltage).

If you want to accelerate like you stole the car everyt ime...just keep it in DS...or push your right foot down more

 

I tried driving in DS mode today (throw shifter to the left) - big difference in acceleration! I hate to think about my mileage but this feels a lot more like it.

Peter

 

Also realize most modern cars are "adaptive" so if you drive "economy" the car starts to learn to drive like that. Not sure how "learned" the Infiniti is but lots of times a battery disconnect resets the memory and the car will feel faster.

 

For the first few weeks/gas tanks when I got my replacement "G" for my R.I.P'd G it felt like a turtle. I'm not sure if it was crappy gas that the dealer put in and retarded timing because of that, or if the computer was "calibrating" but it just felt really slow compared to my old one (both 09 6MT's that were "exactly" the same except for the 4WAS which i had on the first one).

It gradually dialed itself in after a few weeks and drives just like the old one, nice and peppy...

 

found this thread on d.i.y! tell me what u guys think..https://www.myg37.com/forums/d-i-y-i...t+top+problems

 

it is just the extra weight that makes you feel different... the 7AT has a very nice 1st gear which helps launch the convertible compared with the 6mt.