Grinding gears is %95 of the time cause of clutch or shift linkage problems, Not
transmission. The parts in the trans that when bad make grinding noise are call
"syncros" and go bad on 1st gear before any others. If your 1st gear is normal
then the rest should be OK too.

 $1,000 might seem alittle steep but what are they doing? Just the clutch? or
maybe more.

Pawling NY

Cars I have: 93 Eurovan MV           Cars I had: 89 GTi 16v
                  75 Westy                                    87 Syncro
                  73 Super                                     83 Rabbit GTi
                                                                    82 Vanagon
Diesel (w 83 GTi engine)