Why can't I shift into 1st gear at speeds >12 mph?
First gear is meant for moving from a dead stop. Due to the car's low gearing in first and the syncros, you may damage the transmission by forcing the car into 1st gear at speeds greater than 12 mph.
Most of the time I avoid going into 1st unless I'm at a dead stop. If I *MUST* go into first, i reserve that for when I'm moving at 10 mph or slower.
Possible solutions for making down shifting into first easier:
1. Double clutching will help eliminate the syncro issue from the equation.
2. Transmission fluid swap to synthetic. AMSoil or Redline are the two preferred brands.
