Well, first off I just want to say hi to all the Vanagon owners out
there. I'm 17, and just about exactly one week ago I bought my first
car, a 1985 Westfalia Weekend Camper (Wolfsburg edition even, I think).
It's awesome. (You can see some pictures here:
http://homepage.mac.com/wyntir/PhotoAlbum4.html ) I took it in last
week to fix the speedometer/odometer, and as some kind of freak
coincidence the clock started working too :) Plus, the previous owner
took great care of it, and even installed a 10 disc CD changer. I'm in
heaven.

But enough about how great it is, let's talk about the quirks (or, in
non-VW language, 'problems.' :P). This is the first car I've driven
extensively that's a manual, and now that I've figured out that you
have to give it gas as you let out the clutch I drive it fine. But I'm
noticing that it's definitely hesitant about going into first gear.
Sometimes it'll move into the first gear position, but when I try to
move the engine just spins and doesn't catch on anything. Sometimes
it'll be in the first gear position, but act as if it's in third, sort
of moving slowly  forward at godknowshowmany RPMs before it starts to
clunk-clunk-clunk-stall. The only way I can avoid being a nuisance at
stoplights is to sit there and double-clutch (is that what you call
it?) like a madman, constantly checking to see if I'm in gear, hoping
it doesn't change too soon. I've been getting better at it lately, but
I still dread places where I have to stop. Sometimes if I think I can
get away with it I'll just start in second (and I know the van doesn't
like that one bit).
The mechanics say the shifting is fine, and I just have to get used to
it, but I'm doubtful. Anyone else had problems like these?

Thanks,
devin chalmers