1st gear a bit stiff?

hi i've my grande a week now, but i've noticed when putting it in first gear it's bit stiff when i'm coming up to a roundabout or somethin, but when the cars still, it slips in fine, has anyone noticed this with theres?? it feels like its rubbing against something a bit. maybe its coz its new i dunno...im already being booked in to the garage to sort my bluetooth out i dont need aymore problems!

ta

I think what you describe is very normal and I have it too. Had it on all my cars BTW. Maybe it's a protection to prevent putting it in 1st with a too high speed?

Yea it could be, my last car (citroen saxo) was like that as well, but i thought it was because it was getting a bit old lol. thanks anyway

Most cars are like this as first gear is so much shorter than the other gears, it helps prevent an over-rev if you accidentialy were going down the box to 3rd and got 1st instead.

Saves the engine a lot of hassle!!

All manual cars i believe will not go into first gear easily until the car is close to standstill - below 5mph...

If your approaching a roundabout, try 2nd gear

cheers guys glad thats been cleared up, makes sense i spose. i noticed that puttin it in second when ur pretty slow doesn't seem like its makin the engine struggle too much so i'll just do that from now on

In my previous 2 Puntos - a Mk1 and a Mk2 - I could just chug slow and steady in 2nd with no feet near any pedals on level ground. Try it

yea i noticed it doin that a few times, is it somethin to do with using the engines movement to keep it goin or somethin like that!

the ecu tries to maintain the idle rpm so engine braking doesn't occur at very low revs, unlike a carb engine that would stop

Ah right clever stuff

Aha! Thought something like this was going on... being a freshly passed driver my instructor taught me if I was approaching a roundabout in second or third not to shift down but to brake and clutch if I had to stop and only use first if i had stopped and was pulling away, as it was my habit to freewheel it into a roundabout, which they dont like - something to do with engine braking and staying in control. Makes sense now! Thought the gearbox might have been gooosed! looks like I just have to get used to the car a bit more...