reverse too easy to shift into - Miata 2008
 

for a while, maybe since I owned the car,
at a stop when I try to shift into first, I end up in reverse.
I have to lift the clutch slightly to make sure its in first.
I am a long time manual shift driver.

ideas? transmission fluid?

I do frequently put it in first properly. this is not all the time.

Over the years I've found that several of my cars would get Reverse instead of First (BMWs are notorious for this), and I've found that it seems to be more of an issue with the shifter's design than anything else. Shifters that position Reverse "high and left" without some form of reverse lock-out will almost always lend themselves to selecting the incorrect gear upon occasion.