Is it just me or is first gear really hard to get back into when downshifiting? It seems like I have to almost come to a complete stop...no exaggeration! I know you cant shift into first going relatively fast for obvious reasons but is this normal?

 

New car? I mean low miles . . . .it will get better. Mine did that too. Probably 1 out of 4 times. It has not happened in forever. When it used to happen I put it in nutural and let off the clutch. Pushed down on the shifter (like going into reverse) pushed clutch back in and it went into first fine.

 

you not supposed to shift into first ever, but you can do so under 5mph. if you HAVE to do it higher then that to race or whatever, you could double clutch, or just jam it in there. but it is bad on the synchros. 2nd has more than enough power to take it from a stop, at 5mph its fine.

 

I don't have my Z quite yet, but I can tell you that my RX7 does the same thing. It will not allow me to downshift into 1st unless I'm under 5 mph. I think its just a safety feature...that would really suck to try to downshift to 3rd and accidently slam it into first at highway speeds. Theres really no reason to use 1st unless you are at a complete stop.

-Joe

 

it is a safety feature. I forgot what it is called, but all the new cars with manuals that I am aware of dont allow you to do it since it would destroy your engine and tranny.

 

there is no acutal lockout in first........only in reverse......the reason why it feels like there is a lockout and it's hard to get it in first is because the synchros are not lined up......therefore can't shift.....if you really want to......like ares said......double clutch.....or match the revs and it will go in