Re: 1st gear (archive)

I have a 00 mroadster, been driving it for almost 9 months it was my first manual car so i am unsure as how does the gear box work, what i mean is that every time i am driving above 1st or 2nd gear and need to slow down, i brake and hold the clutch preparing to put it to 1st gear, but the gear knob would not go in to 1st gear, could this be a fail-safe mechanism that prevents the car into going 1st gear when its going at a fast speed? sorry if the question is unclear i don't know how to put it in any other way...
i drove my friends 2.8 stick but it does not have the same problem it allows me to engage in 1st gear while still holding the clutch of course even at 50mph
could it be that only the M has this fail-safe device or is it only my car?
also in the 2.8 the clutch is much lighter and the gear knob goes in so much easier......is this normal?
any comments greatly appreciated

Generally 1st gear should only be engaged when pulling away from a standing start. Depending on your driving style when reducing speed you can go from 5th to 4th and then 4th to 3rd and while still braking before the car stalls slip it into 2nd or 1st. Obviously when to change the gears depends on your car's gear ratio and your own driving style, I believe the reason the gear box resists going into 1st and high speed is something to do with the 'syncmesh' ??? which will be screwed if you keep forcing the gears. Generally I only put the car in 1st at less than 5mph or so. By putting the car in first at high speed and then releasing the clutch this will trigger 'engine braking' and your car will rather quickly lose speed - great if you are about to crash into someone but not nice for normal smooth driving

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