I don't know how cold it is where u live but -20 to -40 CELSIUS during winter up here in Alberta so cold starts have been a bitch since i left underground parking!!!

No block heater the car starts fine for the most part but like u said defintly STIFF STIFF for first 5 minutes. #1 thing I do is keep the rpms to a minimum until it warms up...my first shift into second i'll slow right down till the rpms drop to 1000 then shift, otherwise it clunks. Gotta take care of that turbo, don't spool her up too viciously when its cold

 

Mines not a friend of the cold either[&:]

 

I have really really hard to engage gear problem too. I need to flush it, I think.