My Lotus was like this too; but after about 6 weeks now that I have had the car I feel like I am butchering this thing to get it to 2nd; hope I am not prematurely wearing it out; I know in my Corvettes we changed the clutch fluid and Tranny fluids to redline; it seemed to make it smoother....should I be worrying about this? I have driven a clutch since I was 16 and never tore one up ....