You have to be patient getting into 2nd regardless of how far you press down the clutch. This transmission does not like fast shifting at low speeds. I learned that the hard way with the 350Z and ended up making it difficult to get in any gear. Drive fast, shift fast. Drive slow, shift slow.
I typically have a habit of shifting below 3k RPM on a normal commute. It's clunky at times, but I learn not to force it. I can press the clutch halfway and it shifts fine as long as I don't let go of the clutch as I am getting in gear (risk of scratching the gear). With a bit of patience I can shift pretty fast, not hard.
I'm at 20k miles with stock fluid, and the gear box is doing great.
Then again I've not dragged this car either O_o
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