When I am in first or second gear, I can move the shifter to the left. It isn't like its sloppy, it's like it clicks in place. I know that sometimes you can just move it around but I can actually put it in place and it stays there. Anybody know what is wrong? I would think its the bushings but it seems like it could be worse. This "rendering" should help...
The o is where it "clicks" in.

o-1 3 5
|--|--|--|
o-2 4 R

 

worn shifter forks or worn bushings and you are mis-perceiving the sloppyness.

 

Get a new bushing kit.. the plastic bushing on the shifter ball is most likley shot to hell and the click its it shifting out of socket.

http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/shiftbsh.htm

 

A friend of mine bought another FC, and was showing it to me. He pointed out that in 1st the shifter clicked to the left, he said he heard it was some sort of safety feature. I didn't think much of it, but the shifter was not sloppy otherwise. Anyone else heard of this "feature?"

 

Its different from the normal "sloppy shifter syndrome" where you can move it around when it is in gear but it will stay in the place it is supposed to be. This it actually goes into place and stays there. I wouldn't say it clicks, but it stays in position.

Thanks for the help, hopefully I can get this fixed soon. Is there any sort of damage that can be done if I don't fix it asap?