Gearbox is always 'notchy' and reverse can be a lotto..will it or won't it 'Cruuunch' into gear.

When the car is hot the problem is a lot worse. Sometimes a complete refusal to go into 1st or 3rd, although reverse is fine...gearbox oil level is ok.

Anybody any ideas to solve (without a second mortgage)?..car has only 25k up.

Might be worth adjusting the clutch cable up a little, it could make a difference.

I'm sure SS's advice is good, but i does seem a bit strange on a car with only 25K.

If it was 80K I'd also suggest changing the gearbox oil. This is what I intend to do on mine as I have got some of these symptoms, but mine's on about 60K.

I have not looked at the gear linkage on the B yet but have had similar issues with my wifes Picasso bus thingy........

Turned out it was in need of adjustment in the gear linkage where the plastic bushes had worn, the garage totally fecked it up and landed up having to fork out for a new clutch and new 3rd and 4th gear but that's a whole other story!!

I would suggest checking the oil for signs of metal swarf just in case their is something sinister going on like a worn syncro, better safe than sorry and if the oil is OK you can pop it back in..............

The gearbox dose'nt have a synchro for reverse which is why they all crunch or won't go in first time. To solve the stiff gear change you need to clean up the shaft in this pic (don't grease or lube it)