Yup... Stiff shifting is not unusual.  My '83.5 is stiff the first
shift in the morning.  (So's my '77) 1 - 2 usually. In 20 deg. temps
it seems to be only the first shift of the day that's a problem. Later
shifts are just fine.  On the Vanagon, I suspect linkage.  The bus,
it's cold oil.  I wouldn't worry muchly about it.  It's not a bug,
it's a feature!

Jim Arnott
WetWesties
Union, OR