The five speed shares the lock out with reverse . It is the same push over hard to get it in to 1st as reverse . Except you press down for reverse.  Still a pain in the butt in my opinion . 
           

                         Stacy

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 22, 2013, at 1:02 PM, mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
> 
> There is no way to make 4 gears as useful as 5 for a non-tdi diesel.
> Spreading out 4 gears to cover the same range as 5 leaves gaps that the
> weaker engine can't deal with.
> 
> You don't need to go down before left if you have the original 5 speed
> shifter. If you use the 4 speed shifter then the reverse lockout guide
> blocks 1st so you have to go down before you go left and back.
> 
> Mark
> 
> Stacy Schneider wrote:
>>       First is like going in to reverse on a classic beetle every time you come away from a stop sign .
>>       Of course this is my opinion . Some people may just shift around it  and put the wear on their clutch instead .
>>         Sure it may give you a spread in shifting . But so will a well built. 4 speed and none of the dreaded down and left every time you stop .
>>         My. 914/6 had the same set up ,except you didn't have to push down to get in gear and I didn't 't care for it either. .
>>          I grew up driving and stick and have never owned any thing else . In my opinion  1st gear belongs up and left  . Add as many gears on the end , I am fine as well . But left and down for 1 st ,no thanks .
>> 
>>                                Stacy
>>                           Vanagonsplus.com