Mines an 02 sti, and it has always been a "difficult" shift from 1st to 2nd, and similary shifting back. The rest -3rd,4th, 5th and 6th are all mint both up and down. I havent had my fluids done since purchase......ive been planning too..
...always thought though that the box wasnt designed to go from 2nd to 1st at more thant 20kph .....? so i never really forced her