heavy engine braking & cheetah VB
You sure you aren't shifting from 3rd to 2nd as opposed to 1st to 2nd?
Put shifter into first detent after neutral, move the car a few feet, and stop
Put shifter all the way BACK (where 1st "used" to be) and move the car a few feet.
You'll quickly see which is first gear.
Next, put the shifter into second and do a drive off from a dead stop, does it move OK?