hard to shift into 1st gear?
 

Not sure why but it seems very hard/impossible to shift into first gear without the car almost coming to a complete stop. Today, I tried to shift into 1st gear at 40 km/h while approaching a stop sign coasting with the clutch disengaged, and the gear just whined made a grinding noise but wouldn't engage, it only engaged when the car was almost at a dead stop. I've also noticed that on a few other manual cars i test drove. Don't first gears usually come with synchros like other gears? Why is it so hard to get into first gear?

yea this is normal its designed that way on purpose you dont really need to be in first unless your at a complete stop or barely just rolling anyway

I wouldn't even think of going to 2nd at that speed. I would only change to first if I was at a complete stop.

...your not supposed to shift into first going 40 lol

... that's why I carry a five pound sledge hammer - gets it in every time...

He did say km tho...thats about 25 mph (24.something)

I usually just wedge against the seat and crush it into first with my foot. Sometimes I have to kick it several times.











Yes this is a joke for those who can't grasp the idea that I'm being facetious.

Like everyone is saying, first gear is pretty much useless unless you are accelerating from a dead stop. To avoid issues like this, don't shift into 1st unless you are at a dead stop. :)

i thought the same thing as you originaly, but you can almost allways put it into second unless your roll is coming to a complete stop like at 1mph or slower. Just play with the clutch so it doesnt jerk to much if your going slow.

my IS will let me slide it into first if im creeping around 5mph... other than that its impossible.

lol yea like others saying, 1st only is only for complete stop or barely moving...wouldnt synchro rev match make it wasy though if you did want to downshift at 40mk/h?

I only shift into first when coming to a complete stop. but sometimes, when approaching a stop sign or red light, I try to get into 1st while cruising to a stop, so I can accelerate quickly without waiting to shift gears. That's why I noticed the impossibility of getting 1st gear when the car is moving.

Well, no one answered my question of WHY 1st gear is so hard to get into? Isn't it synchronized? If it is synchronized, why is it so much harder to shift into 1st than the other 5 gears? I've noticed it's a lot easier to get 1st if I double clutch. As if it is non synchronized. Is that the case or is the synchro for 1st gear just too small and weak to do anything?

It is synchronized. Almost all cars are hard to get into first gear if you're moving. I think it has to do with the fact it's such a large reduction in gearing... and yes... the synchro for first is not a triple cone like second. I think the manual recommends not shifting into first if you're moving... but if you double clutch there shouldn't be any issue really.