6 speed shifting tips

[Juelze]

Hi there,

I own a Versa S model with the 6 speed manual and just looking for tips in shifting it. My previous car of 6 years was a 96 Pontiac Grand Am 2.4 4cyl with a 5 speed manual. The clutch pedal wasn't as light as the Versa's and also the RPM dropped a lot faster then Versa. Needless to say it's taking me awhile to get used to the new feel of the Versa's manual transmission.

My biggest problem is going from 1st to 2nd. Here's what is happening, as soon as I depress the clutch shift into 2nd and slowly release the clutch while apply throttle 2 things will happen. Either I feel like the clutch is fully engaged and let out the clutch only to be jerked forward OR I end up applying the throttle and not letting the clutch out enough so the engine is basically revving and I'm not going. I'm no expert when it comes to shifting and I'm definitely not a novice. I have 6 years of shifting experience in my Grand Am which I had no problems with and 4 years of shifting (no problems here either) on an 84 Kawasaki 454 LTD and a 2002 Suzuki Marauder 800.

So, any tips for people who are used to these touchy foreign clutches? Also, the RPMs not falling as fast as my Grand Am is throwing me off a bit. Aside form that I love my Versa. It's so night hitting 60mph in 4th gear because I still have 2 more gears to play with.

So anyone else find 1st to 2nd a bit touchy? Maybe I need to turn my radio off to hear the engine better. Or maybe with the revs staying up I should be shifting a lot faster.

-Ryan

[Ever Victorious]

Really there's just one thing to say... practice. The clutch isn't light because it's "foreign"... my Subaru has a clutch almost as heavy as a pickup truck's.

It's light because it's a very small, light car and doesn't need a gargantuan clutch.

For me, getting used to starting up in 1st gear is my biggest problem, especially with some of the hills I drive on (James St. is an 18% grade with a stoplight in the middle!!)

anyway... I think I half-clutch some of the gears... I don't go all the way to the floor.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Nissan's in general are known for light, touchy clutches...I guess the Versa is no exception. It takes some adjusting, but I prefer them to heavier ones, like my old Ford (though I'd much rather learn to drive a stick on something heavier and more forgiving like my Ford than on any of the Nissans I've driven). It certainly makes uphill starts a little more interesting, though.

[philmcneal]

how easy is it to launch with your 6spd? on a mild hill can you just clutch out in 1st without giving gas and the engine won't rumble? I"m the kinda guy that likes to finish his clutch work first before giving any gas in 1st gear.

with that high gear and massive torque I assume it should be much easier than any civic i've driven!

[Ever Victorious]

how easy is it to launch with your 6spd? on a mild hill can you just clutch out in 1st without giving gas and the engine won't rumble? I"m the kinda guy that likes to finish his clutch work first before giving any gas in 1st gear.

with that high gear and massive torque I assume it should be much easier than any civic i've driven!

remember, however, what they say about assumptions.

James is NOT a "mild hill". 18% grade is not an exaggeration... it is the warning sign posted at the bottom of the hill by the city of Seattle.By comparison, the grade leading up to our mountain passes here varies between 6 and 10%.

Plus, the tires on the Versa are narrower than most people are accustomed to (part of its fuel-economy nature... narrower tires = less traction but more economy)... and this makes it easy to break traction up hills.

So far, out of 3 tries in 1st gear, I have stalled it once and peeled out twice. And the one try in 2nd gear, I stalled it. And the pavement was bone dry every time. The rain will likely make me need to find an alternate route.

[XterraVersa]

The hand brake makes getting going up hill very easy in those situations.

[Ever Victorious]

No, actually, it doesn't. The handbrake will keep me from rolling backwards, yes, but does not help one iota with starting up. I still spin the wheels.

I know quite well how to drive manuals, I've been doing so before I could even legally drive. And you have to know how to drive on hills around here. I'm not trashing the Versa and its ability to move about, either.

The street I am referring to is just that bloody steep. Semis and 10-wheelers don't drive on it, and the city primarily uses electric buses on that hill because the diesels can't hack it. When it gets cold in the winter, it's often closed because it's too steep even for AWD vehicles with studs. You have to take a 4-mile detour down to Olive and Boren to get up in those cases.

[Juelze]

It sounds like 18% grade is pretty steep. Whenever I tackle a hill I simply let out the clutch and give it gas pretty quick. I'll roll back but just a few inches. Otherwise you can put your foot on the brake and let out the clutch just til you see the RPM's drop. Now if you let off the brake the car shouldn't roll backwards. Apply some gas and there you go!

[ggunners]

Launching is a bit tough because the clutch point (point of first friction) is almost exactly at the clutch pedal return spring's strongest point. That means you'll have the most spring resistance right when you need it least. <smile>

I started shifting between 2500 and 3500 RPM and the Versa is quite spirited at those revs but the MPG suffered a bit.

So know I'm shifting with max RPMs at about 2200 - 2500. You'll get an RPM drop of about 500 when shifting normally and about 800 or so when skipping gears.

I've found a shift pattern of 1-2-4-6 to be quite adequate on level surfaces and down hills.

I also find that I can usually run in 5th gear at 30mph and 6th gear at 40mph unless climbing hills or accelerating into fast moving traffic. YMMV.

I've also found pausing for a heartbeat at neutral helps a lot with the revs dropping to a normal shift point and 2 heartbeats if skipping a gear.

All-in-all, it's a fun little car to drive and I'm getting quite used to my "best" way to drive the beast.

-- ggunners

[Willerton]

I asked the dealer about the RPM not dropping during shifting. Helooked at it and said it was normal. I've never seen such behavior before.I wonder if that clutch return spring can be switched. I'm going to checkinto it.

[loudmax20]

I have also found a 1-2-4-6 to be just fine in everyday driving and I think that's how I manage to achieve better millage around town than on the interstate. I mean 2k RPM in 6th at 40 is plenty to get you MPG and still be able to accelerate if needed. I rarely ever use 5th gear.But, starting off got some getting used to, I learned to drive on my dad's '86 4Runner, so i was used to having to give it a lot of gas to get moving in 1st so when I test drove the thing i reved to around 3k to take off peeled out of the dealers lot onto a busy street, and since i have been driving an automatic since for 3 years now forgot to take my foot off the gas before shifting and manged to get another squawk out in 2nd, not really a fun experience with the sales person in the car with you. But, I quickly got used to little to no gas until the clutch is released. I try to not get it above 3k before the cold light goes off, and I try to not go about 5k before shifting to the next gear. All in all I love it. Took some getting used to after driving an auto for a while, but I think I would have hated a CVT, when I drove one of those it didn't seem to want to move at all, it took foot to the floor for what seemed like forever to get up to 75 to merge on the interstate I am much happier with the 6spd, only complaint is 4k RPM at 90mph, it gets a little noisy up there.

[Papercarz]

I absolutely love my 6sp. I must say it does require some finesse! I also "half clutch" after 1st and it seems to work really well. To shift, I feel like the clutch is only depressed 2 1/2 inches Considering after first.... if you just wait for the rpm's to drop like 2 or 300rpm.... you can shift without the clutch!

Ive had it for 3 months, and im finally getting the stick down on this car. Goodluck!

[ADOversa]

I asked the dealer about the RPM not dropping during shifting. Helooked at it and said it was normal. I've never seen such behavior before.I wonder if that clutch return spring can be switched. I'm going to checkinto it.

Mine also does this, I have never seen a car that takes so long for the revs to come down. I find Half clutching helps.

[Red Devil]

Mine also does this, I have never seen a car that takes so long for the revs to come down. I find Half clutching helps.

From what I've seen, the Versa actually adds RPM when you shift. And no, my foot isn't near the gas pedal at all. The easiest thing to do is, as far as my experience, take revs to 2500rpm, clutch in and wait a second or a half, then shift into the next gear.

[feloniousmonk]

Mine also does this, I have never seen a car that takes so long for the revs to come down. I find Half clutching helps.

From what I've seen, the Versa actually adds RPM when you shift. And no, my foot isn't near the gas pedal at all. The easiest thing to do is, as far as my experience, take revs to 2500rpm, clutch in and wait a second or a half, then shift into the next gear.

Typical of cars with very heavy flywheel. More weight = more momentum = spin longer and lose momentum slower with clutch depressed. Get a lightened flywheel and it well rev up and spin down a lot quicker. Heavy flywheel makes for easier operation. They have to build cars to accommodate those less skilled.

[HasteTheMoment]

I hate 1-2nd. Its almost impossible to hit it just right without it rocking.

[Codelicious]

The hand brake makes getting going up hill very easy in those situations.

If you want to launch while stopped on an incline on a hill or whatever your going up. The best thing to learn is to balance the clutch and the gas just enough to where you will stay still! That way when you start to release the clutch and give it some gas you won't even roll back.

It's not too hard to get used to really. I have been able to do it in all of my previous cars because my Versa is a SL (CVT Auto) so I unfortunately don't have a stick shift (which I would LOVE to have).

Heres how to practice: -Find a hill thats not to steep (to get the hang of it) -Make sure it's not busy and you can play around. -Hold the clutch about half way and just play with the gas till it feels "balanced" -Once you get it right your Versa will be stopped completely on the incline! -Thank release clutch and press on gas. You'll find that if done right you won't even roll backwards!

Good luck!

[billymalone]

The hand brake makes getting going up hill very easy in those situations.

I agree, it's failsafe. I use it only on a steep hills when someone is on my back bumper.

[no3rdseat]

Nevermind...

Modified by no3rdseat at 9:17 PM 8/9/2009
Modified by no3rdseat at 6:40 AM 8/10/2009

[jaminlogic]

Picked up my 6-speed versa hatchback 2 days ago. New to the board...hello. Glad I read this forum since I do notice the rpm barely dropping when shifting. First time I've driven a car like this and I've had many manual cars in the past. My one question to all the replies I've seen concerning pausing before shifting to get the rpm down...won't that wear the clutch sooner?

[NODES]

That James St. Hill sounds interesting, may have to go up or down it next time I am around.

[Cash_22]

No, actually, it doesn't. The handbrake will keep me from rolling backwards, yes, but does not help one iota with starting up. I still spin the wheels.

Maybe your RPM is a little too high if those wheels are spinning. What I do on steep hills when I drive a manual is to pull the handbrake, give it some gas till my RPM is between 2 to 3k and let the clutch slowly catch to slow down the engine until the car moves forward. Give it more gas if the car hesitates to go. It's a pain though cause you know you're burning your clutch way more than you would on level streets.

[Cash_22]

Picked up my 6-speed versa hatchback 2 days ago. New to the board...hello. Glad I read this forum since I do notice the rpm barely dropping when shifting. First time I've driven a car like this and I've had many manual cars in the past. My one question to all the replies I've seen concerning pausing before shifting to get the rpm down...won't that wear the clutch sooner?

Welcome. No, I don't think that will wear down your clutch sooner. If anything, letting the RPM down before releasing the clutch to 2nd gear may actually prolong its life.

I'm speculating that the Versa's high RPM between 1st and 2nd gear may be due to its electronic (drive-by-wire) accelerator/throttle system. The system may be designed for automatics and CVT's and not manuals. Correct me if I'm wrong anyone.

[Cash_22]

Hi there,

So, any tips for people who are used to these touchy foreign clutches? Also, the RPMs not falling as fast as my Grand Am is throwing me off a bit. Aside form that I love my Versa. It's so night hitting 60mph in 4th gear because I still have 2 more gears to play with.

So anyone else find 1st to 2nd a bit touchy? Maybe I need to turn my radio off to hear the engine better. Or maybe with the revs staying up I should be shifting a lot faster.

-Ryan

It will not solve your 1st to 2nd gear shifting problem, but have you ever tried starting slowly from 2nd gear on flat terrain? It may save you some gas too. The Versa's 1st gear ratio is a high 3.73. Its 2nd gear is 2.10, which is closer to the CVT's lowest gear ratio of 2.37. The automatic's 1st gear ratio is 2.86. The Versa's low-end torque should be able to handle 2nd gear starts, but you have to be gentle with the RPM.