I've been looking for a replacement for the TL, if I find a sedan I like better, and have been testing various cars.
I test drove a G37 6M today. The one thing that was annoying was the vibration of the shifter-- is that normal on the G37?
It vibrated steadily at rest and in every gear; the car had 35 miles on it at the end of the drive. I tend to drive with my hand on the gear lever of manuals and have not encountered steady vibration like that with any other manual.

Otherwise, the car seemed pretty nice (Journey trim w/Navigation-- everything but Tech package), and preferable to the 335i stick shift. The G37 has a much improved clutch and shifter compared to the G35.

 

I seem to remember seeing quite a few complaints about that in reviews.

 

I noticed this in my cousins older 6mt G35 sedan... AFAIK its a common problem, but rumors said the vibrations in the new generation were less than the last generation.

 

I test drove a G35 Sedan in 06 and I noticed the same thing. I saw a G37S sedan and coupe at a car show and both had flimsy center consoles that didn't close correctly and both were missing trim pieces beneath the steering wheel I test drove a different G35 sedan in 07 (it was pre-owned with 30K miles on it) and it had a sagging headliner! I like the G, but I don't think I would be able to buy one after those experiences

 

my 350z was like that too. annoying.

 

yes

 

Very common, which is one of the reasons I went with an auto when I bought a G.

 

This is the biggest complaint about the G's. "Unrefined" is the universal descriptor for these cars, in all generations.

 

think of it as a wild beast you gotta tame

 

As others mentioned, yes. My G35 was no different.

 

Lol!

 

Mine does that and it doesn't bother me at all. I like the feel of the engine coming through the shifter....

 

The shifter vibration did annoy/distract me during the test drive-- I don't think I can live with it on a daily driver.
My wife is not insisting that I get an auto trans this time-- but it looks like a manual trans sedan may not be in my future this time around, either.

Maybe it's time to stop dropping the kids off at school on the way to work and get a pure sports car.

Or give up and get the Escalade my daughter liked so much when I was looking at the CTS...

 

Get the CTS......but make it a V.

 

yeah, my friend's 350z does it. but i always assumed it was because he has a built transmission with his racing clutch/flywheel set up.

 

I've noticed it on 350Zs. Its not even that bad, you're not supposed to rest your hand on the shifter anyway. My car does it too but I don't mind. This is also an inherent side effect of lightweight shift knobs.... you either choose between shift feel or NVH isolation. I'll take the former.

This reminds me of some people I know who've driven Toyotas their whole life. They drive other cars and the feedback from the steering wheel bothers them

 

I don't have enough $$$.

I tested the car around Santa Monica, so it wasn't even possible to remove my hand from the shifter while driving on the streets due to shifting for lights, traffic, turns, etc. I was also upshifting and downshifting using gears 4-6 while on the freeway, so I couldn't let go of the shifter for more than a few seconds.

It's interesting-- I haven't run across a similar shifter vibration (like that from an electric razor or hair clipper, but slower) in any modern car, and don't remember shifter vibration being an issue in the G35 I tested in '05, or the Mustang GT, 335i, RX-8, TSX, A4, etc.

 

shift feel? lol! steering wheel feedback is helpful, shifter vibration is not. my 335i has zero vibration and although i don't rest my hand on the shifter, it's feels much better than the 350z on acceleration. Unless of course you enjoy the vibrating dildo in your hand thing.

 

Well, certainly not in my hand silly goose.

 

I don't enjoy the vibrating dildo in my hand.......





I LOVE it :gheylaugh:

Shift feel not helpful? Haven't driven a 335i but newer BMWs tend to feel soft going through the gates. Its actually a good thing (in a luxury car) but in the case of my Integra it was bad because I could never tell if the damn thing was in gear all the way so I just had to shove it to avoid it popping out of gear. I think shift feel helps when you're shifting fast.... its a split second but I notice it. My shifter right now isn't notchy, but it feels precise. I actually tried out a weighted shift knob (1 lb+) that I couldn't stand.... It was so vague feeling that it seriously bothered me

And I don't rest my hand on my shifter. My fingertips barely come in contact with it so when it is time to change gears, its done.

 

Both of my 350Z's had it and I actually liked it. It was a tiny bit too much, but as a few others mentioned, it made me feel more connected with the car. I actually like the shifter all around far better than the one in my M3 which has long throws and overall feels a bit sloppy.

 

I have a 350Z and I really don't know what the deal is with the "shifter vibration" complaint. My 325Ci had vibration come through shifter just the same, which makes perfect sense considering the shifter is directly connected to the transmission, which is bolted to the engine.

 

Try a 6MT in one of these. And with the money you save, you can get a short throw STI kit.




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I've never not been able to tell exactly when my bmw is in gear at the moment it engages and I shift very rapidly. I'm still confused as to how a vibrating stick shift gives you more shift feel?

 

yeah.......the accord shifts like butter. i can tell exactly what gear it is in and when its in gear
my friend's Z vibrates even if its not in gear.

 

I had the shifter vibration in my G35 too. I never got used to it, it was like my one major complaint about that car.

 

my GTO is f'ing obnoxious when it comes to this

 

I know it sounds silly. I just sort of liked the more raw feel of it in the Z. If the G37 has the same issue I can see how it's unrefined, but my Z was loud (had an intake and exhaust) and bumpy so it just felt more raw. Hard to explain but I actually didn't mind it at all.

 

In all honesty, it probably doesn't really help all that much, just like steering feel. I could and have driven many Toyotas hard, and the lack of steering feel doesn't really count much. But its something that really makes a difference, whether for better or worse. Steering feel is great, but you can still tell what the front wheels are doing regardless of whether its there or not. Its just like clutch pedal feel, something that's highly underrated.

I like steering with feel, or at least some heft to it. I like a clutch pedal with consistent travel throughout, medium stiffness with an obvious catch point. And while I don't particularly look for shifter vibration, I do like having a shifter with a nice, positive action to it, and I don't mind the vibration in the G/Z at all. Its just preference.

 

I just don't understand why a numb shifter is supposed to be better? Who decided that the shift knob must not vibrate for a car to be refined. Some journalist? You BMW guys just read what ever Car & Driver says about any car thts not a BMW and then spout it in the forums like its the gospel. Who cares if the shift knob vibrates, seriously?

 

someone is a little defensive.

 

that's nothing.... try bashing on the GT-R

 

completely normal, and completely annoying every z and g ive driven in has had it...

 

Something tells me you 'd be happy if your seat vibrated also. I didn't read this anywhere, I experienced it first hand.

In many 350z's the shifter vibrated so much it would make an audible noise. Mine was not intolerable on my 350z, but it was annoying. Especially at high revs. It was certainly not confidence inspiring or translating any information of value to me as I drove. Again, if you enjoy a large vibrating shaft in your hand, to each is own.

 

That's what she said.

 

dont really care... had so many G35/G37 they r all the same. I dont hold on to the shifter while driving with 1 hand on the steering wheel with seat all the way back. Used to do that when i was in HS.


My S2000 's shifter does the same thing.. in fact the whole car viberates when in idle.

If you want smooth ride with super quiet interior and super refinement, try Lexus.

I personally like it raw...

 

 

 

so what you're telling us is that you enjoy grabbing a raw vibrating shaft. not grabbing it and holding it, but kind of tugging at it when the urge strikes?

 

you guys are sick.