Blimey, what have I started?
Sounds the same as yours black_gti, I can get it into first whilst moving if I ram it but it doesn't sound nice.
And I'm not talking moving fast either, speeds that I think it should go into first easy.
Mines a mk1 though, bound to be some crunching on a 21year old gearbox!
Have heard about problems with clutch not disengaging properly. If gears change fine with engine off and crap with engine on then could be clutch. However thats not my symptoms.
I might try a general car forum, I figure this is a general gearbox problem, maybe not limited to VWs.
maybe a Ford Cortina forum?
Pete
Brighton.