I have an STi Type R v5, 4500 miles. When changing up to 5th at high revs I beat the synchro unless VERY careful. When driving normally, no problem.

Anyone else experienced this, or do I have a duff gearbox?

This was something I was aware of after discussing the issue with STI Imports (Thornbury- Bristol).
Apparently the Type R's are subject to a ****e gear linkage (this is a fault that has been pointed out to Subaru Japan - and they are well aware of it) You need a new gear linkage.
This put me off buying a type R, as when I test drove the two door the gear change was not working properly and required attention. Sti imports (Dave Morgan) has come across a few of these.
Strangely enough there is no such problem on the 4 door!?

I've been getting this on my standard UK 99my and it turnd out it's a faulty baulk ring (or hewever it's spelt) and it's been faulty since day 1. Only a problem above about 80mph so I didn't notice until after it was run in, but it's going in the garage next week for either a new gearbox or new 5th gear set (up to IM which is done when they've investigated).

Thanks guys. The linkage is fine and the change is really crisp. It's just the 5th-gear synchro that's weak, but only at very high speeds. Sounds like the baulk ring problem, I'll follow that up.

I've the same problem ever since the car was run in, and still with 3,000 miles on the clock. You can just about drive round it timing the gearchange right. Wouldn't have thought it was a gear linkage problem. I'll change the gear oil before doing any major work to the car.

Waysiders, can you let me know how you get on?

I've got a MY98 with a quickshift. Only had it for a month, but I've missed 4th to 5th a few times when accelerating hard - most embarrassingly when I'd squirted round a slow car with an RB5 on my tail - about two days after I got the car http://bbs.sidc.co.uk/redface.gif . Now this could just be me getting used to the gear change, but I'll ask at the next service. I also have a problem selecting reverse sometimes?

[This message has been edited by Smiley (edited 10-06-99).]

I own a MY99 but I haven't noticed any problem with the 5th gear. On the other hand reverse may be difficult to select but this is the case with many cars in general. I try not to force it but double declutch and try again.