Conference vmsnet::car$note:carbuffs

    The car: '89 Dodge Daytona, 5-speed, 2.2L Turbo, FWD, 125K on the clock
    
    The problem: no reverse gear. The shift pattern appears to have
    		'shifted' (pardon the pun). To get in 1st gear requires
    		that I move left and up to where I normally grab reverse.
    		2nd gear is immediately below that, 3rd is where 1st was,
    		4th is where 2nd was, 5th is where 3rd was, and I can no
    		longer move into the former positions for 4th & 5th.
    
    		Was/(Now)
    
    		R(1) 1(3) 3(5) 5(n/a)
    		|    |    |    |
    		----------------	
    		     |    |   		
    	       (2)   2(4) 4(n/a)	
    
    		This first appeared last night; while pulling away from a 
    		stoplight in 1st gear, the car was really dogging it. So 
    		little power that it took me 30+ seconds to clear the 
    		intersection. As speed increased, so did reaction/performance. 
    		So I found a deserted stretch of road and worked thru all
    		the gears, only to find that everything had moved (see
    		above) and that I can't go any further left to get into
    		reverse. This would explain the sluggish behavior at the
    		light, as I was effectively coming off the line in 3rd gear. 
    
    Other data: full-blown clutch replacement this past summer. Car hasn't
    		shifted as smoothly as it had pre-clutch, which I chalked
    		up to the newness, and soon became so used to it that I 
    		never gave it more thought.
    
    		Using the modified shift pattern, the car drives as it had
    		before this gremlin popped up. And as long as I plan my
    		parking to avoid reverse, I can get around, so I can live
    		with this for a day or so if I need to, but I'm totally
    		baffled (no surprise there!) and was wondering if anyone
    		cared to take a stab at what the problem might be?
    
    As always, thanks in advance.
                                                                       
    Freddie
    

    
    	My Rabbit had this problem, and it was a simple adjustment of
    	the shift mechanism.  If you can get the boot off of the shifter,
    	check for some sort of centering plate around the shift lever.
    

    
    
    	Also, check to make sure you haven't snapped the stabilizer bar on
    the shift linkage. Had this happen on my old Escort.
    
    jim