The gearbox in our car is just really notchy in general.

Practice for about 5hrs of driving or like 300 miles. You'll get it.

If still an issue, check for throw out bearing rattling. If not issue in sound, ask dealer for courtesy clutch, flywheel, tob ...etc check.

practice practice
practice practice
practice practice
practice practice
practice practice
practice practice

Yes.

2 methods.

1. Shift over 3K. The 1-2 shift is easier at higher RPMs. So you will be focusing less on trying to get it into gear and better modulating your revs as you wait for them to fall and match 2nd gear.

2. Slip the clutch. The instant you hear it thunk into gear lift your foot to the engagement point, you will probably feel a little tug because the engine speed is higher and that force is then being put to the wheels. At the same time you need to roll onto the throttle so that you match or increase the rate of the forward motion caused by slipping the clutch. You can then dump the clutch while you are depressing the throttle and carry on about your business. This makes for smooth and fast shifts into 2nd. Not good for your clutch, but honesty, it is a wear item ;P

Im having the same problem as OP. It's not my first manual and my daily is a manual.

Contrary to what many have said, I find it shifts smoother (without the jerk) at lower RPMS such as 1,500 to 2000. Odd, I know!

If i want to be smooth at RPMS higher than 2000, I have to let clutch out very slowly and roll on the gas sooner to compensate for drops in RPM.

In my Miata: Clutch in, shift into gear, clutch out COMPLETeLY, THEN get on gas.

In my 86: Clutch in, shift into gear, start letting clutch out slowly WHILE getting on gas.

Yep I prefer the miata tranny ANY day.

Wow just noticed this thread on the front page and still going after 3 years since I've first posted it haha. Thanks for all the help and I can safely say I can get it to from 1st to 2nd without a hitch now. It's weird tho. I can heel-toe flying into a corner or rev-match and downshift while doing 60 on a highway, but I still mess up going from 1st to 2nd every once in a while.

I realize OP is resolved - congratulations :)
Thought I'd add my comments for others who might come along with same question and see this thread.

I drove a stick growing up in the flat farmlands of mid Ohio. Ten years later, me and manual shift Betsy (pos Ford Escort) moved to the lovely hills of San Francisco. Felt like a noob all over again.

Here's my tip for new manual transmission drivers. Learn how to ride the clutch. When you can sit rock still in 1st on a 45 degree uphill using nothing but clutch and gas you'll feel like a fearless master.

New clutches will grip and "bite hard" when they engage. This fades with the miles as clutch wears. But it is intimidating on top of everything else for new pilots.

After have a little practice in a flat parking lot...

Find an empty parking garage.
.. Preferably with no cars or pillars to hit or absent walls where you might plummet straight to heaven.
.. Also, you can turn into a parking space if become overwhelmed.

Start at bottom of a ramp.
Put it in first.
Give a small but steady amount of gas.
.. On Fr-s like 1-2k revs... Steady. Clutch still in.

Let the clutch out until you feel it about to grip.
As the car rolls forward (and upward) ease off and ease on the clutch learning right where it begins to engage and where it is fully engaged.

As it engages, revs will drop as engine takes the load. At first, keep gas steady but push in the clutch to tease the engagement point.

Once you get the hang of it, ease off (clutch out) a bit more as you give it a bit more gas to counter the load and you're fully in first gear.

When you're feeling confident, aim to sit still, on the incline (as if at a stop light), with shifter in first gear, using only clutch and accelerator.

Just feather the clutch around the engagement point. Steady low revs. Ease on. Ease off. Until you are just sitting still balancing the clutch with the drive train.

It's a "feel" thing.
You will suddenly just know, in the seat of your pants, just how your mistress likes to be touched and handled.

You were doing OK, till your last sentence, which you got all twisted up.

The idea is for your mistress to know how YOU like to be touched and handled ...... :popcorn:


humfrz

:grin: