Loose gearbox

[Mojooo]

Went to view a V reg Fiesta today. Nice car. The owner wouldn't let me test drive it as I only had 3rd party insursance but they did take me for a spin.

Overall the car seemed decent for the price but when I was sat in it fiddling around stationary I felt that the gear stick was quite loose. In particular when put in 1 2 and 3 in was OK but when put in 4th it made a distinctive 'click'. When it netural it seemed to move side way quite easily.

I appreciate every car is different and it probably depend son how its been driven but is a loose gearbox a worry? When I say loose I mean when you want to switch gear there is very little resistance.

I have an X reg Fiesta and on that gearbox there is a reassuring resistance in that you know the gearbox is 'tight' but its not hard to change egars.

My works van is an Astra and the gearchanges are very smooth with no resistance at all but its an 05 plate and my feeling is that it was designed to be liek that. Not so sure with the V reg Fiesta, especially when my X reg feel a bit different.

What could be the cause and cost of fix?

[Mr2Mike]

I doubt it's the gearbox, probably just the linkage getting a bit tired and worn.