Guidance on my shift quality?

[JoeFromPA]

Hi all,

99 boxster, 59k miles, easily driven most of it's life.

Here are my symptoms:

Overall, shifting is decent. But the first to 2nd shift almost always takes about 2 seconds before the shifter slides into the gate. No grinding, or mechanical feel - just completely balks at going into the gear.

I thought this was definitively due to the front engine mount wearing out and pulling the cable, but there's no change with the new engine mount.

In most other gears, i feel some resistance but it's minor or could even be there from the factory.

It definitely feels cable related by nature - no grinding or mechanical sound/feel coming through the shifter.

Can anyone point me in the right direction for fixing this? I don't mind the long-ish throws and such....but I'm starting to shift 1st to 3rd because by the time I can get the shifter to move into 2nd, the RPMs have already fallen almost to idle.

Joe

P.s. It seems to get very slightly better once the car is warm, but it's still a balky shift.