Just to clarify, I rarely use first gear other than from 0 MPH and usually try to use the highest gear possible to minimize pumping losses. I find that with the IMA, there's usually enough torque to pull away in 2nd gear when I'm at a crawl.

The one place where I would like to use first gear is to merge on a particular on ramp during rush hour. The acceleration lane is usually at a slow crawl and turns into an exit lane. The next lane on the left is usually moving at about 20 mph differential. The extra acceleration by using first would provide a helpful safety cushion when merging.

My feeling is that the synchro for first is a bit weaker than the other gears since shifting into first while moving is not that common. That said, I've been able to shift into first at a reasonable speed in other cars without any issue. I'll try double-clutching to see if it helps.

Thank you for the comments.