could it be a misfire shimmiying the motor without throwing a CEL yet?

I was going to rebuild my gear box but got a good used one from a boxster guy I found on ebay for 600.00. There cheap if you can find a good one.

I suppose it could be a misfire, but to misfire only when releasing the clutch in first gear from a dead stop, plus no CEL or other misfire problems? Hopefully (and most likely) not.

If it had to do with loose clutch or flywheel bolts, I imagine there would be more than just a shudder on certain types of clutch release.

Also, this may or may not be related, but if I'm slowly rolling to a stop on a uphill type of slope and pull the handbrake up (letting only the handbrake stop the car), when it comes to a rest and settles backwards (catching the brake), it rolls about 1 inch and clunks before the ebrake stops the car. Like there is a tiny bit of play for the ebrake shoes to move. Maybe it is CV related?

I don't recall my car doing it with the stock clutch. Also, I just had my clutch out and found 3 loose bolts that the mechanic didn't tighten while installing the new, super- duper one. This caused the release bearing to break the tabs that it uses to attach to the release arm. This caused 'strange clutch behaviour' above 4000RPM ( see the thread under same heading). After re-installing, this banging still occurs occasionally. I've been really paying atten. to it the last few days and have found that if I give her 2000 RPM and hesitate a little less at the end of the stroke (trusting) all is good. She really hates to pull away without revs and the LWFW may be the cause of that. EEPP, what RPM are you releasing the clutch at?

I typically release around 1600-1700, giving more gas as the clutch bites (yes this is BAD for clutch conservation). the shuttering seems to occur when i rev to 1600 and barely feather the throttle until the pedal is totally released (making for a typical/slow takeoff from standstill).