Quote Originally Posted by tw586 View Post
if it is only when you are driving is just the syncro working to allow the shift and thats fairy normal, and its harder to shift down at higher speeds, ps you should avoid shifting from 4th to 2nd as you have too great a shaft speed variation for the syncro, 4 to 3 then 2nd. avoid going back to 1st until you are almost stopped
Yes this does seem to be whats going on, stationary gears 1st & 2nd are smooth, but when the car is moving its stiff, hmmm thing is i've been told from several sources block-gear changing is the preferred way of shifting gears, the car itself even tells me to block-gear shift on the screen.
My friend has a Suzuki Swift(in manual) which I had a drive, the syncro doesn't seem to bother 1st and 2nd like it does in mine.
I'll try using sequential down method and report back.

Anyway car has done 96k, had a recent service from VW(unsure how big, but cost me $365), a mechanic told me its just a copy and paste checklist they give out for all services, so its probably due for a proper transmission oil change.
Reverse gear is fine