problems selecting gears?

[kniterider]

once youve fitted new bushes they are a piece of cake to set up, lift your gear stick gaitor, undo the 2 10mm headed bolts, and sliide the plate over to the left (i think its a while since i did one now) then you test it, and adjust it accordingly, the reverse lock out wont then get in the way of 1st as it was on mine (hence difficulty getting into 1st and sometimes 2nd).

i think sits worth checking the problem that carrie has pointed out in case its comon, then if thats ok, you could adjust for the time being but it would indicate that the bushes deffo need replacing, youll only be able to adjust it so much any ways!!

[carrie]

you should see if its the bracket thing when the steering wheel is rocked from side to side looking at the linkage around the rack area it will all be moving (rack and linkage). you would nee 2 people to check that though

[GTI EDITION (aka LTD)]

If yours is a Mk1 cabrio  obviously check all the bushes, brackets and ball joints are OK  ( as people have previously mentioned )
As regards for adjustment : on the underside of the car there is ( or should be, unless its missing ) a round plastic cover on below the gear lever .
( All done from underside of car )
1: Select neutral
2: Remove cover
3: Slacken pinch bolt  on shaft situated up by the rack / gear box 13mm
4: Find a spacer / socket with an outside dimension of 10mm
5: Place the spacer between the bottom of the gear lever and the reverse gate slide holding the lever in midway position along it.
6: Tighten pinch bolt
( Easier with 2 people but can be done with with 1 )
If the rest of the linkage is OK you should be able to get all the gears after this adjustment

P.S. Can take a couple of goes to get it right when attempting it for the first time ( or am I thinking of something else ?.....SAY NO MORE !!! )

P.P.S. ideally a diagram would explain it better, but I hope my description helps 

Hope this is of some use,
                                    Oli