Vauxhall Corsa pulling away in 1st and reversing

Hard to diagnose from info. but could be clutch fault i.e clutch plate dragging etc. Could also check engine / gearbox mountings .Another very common fault is gear linkage which can give you this problem on that car .

If it's the gear linkage and you want to replace it yourself , here is a walk through from Vauxhall site ,

Just found the set up procedure for Corsa C gear linkage from the wonderful Cavweb forum:-

to setup the gear linkage

Undo the T45 pinch bolt on the gear linkage to selector rod,
on the front of the gear selector housing (radiator side) you'll see a little plunger, this has to pushed in but you have to turn the gear linkage one way for it to engage competely.

Remove the gear lever gaiter inside the car then you'll see a hole on the lever that you put a 4mm pin through which locates in another hole unerneith it (push the gear lever over to the left in between 1st and 2nd gear) then insert the pin and this will lock the gear shift lever.

Check the plunger pin is still pushed in, now tighten up the T45 pinch bolt all should now work perfect unless the gear linkage is worn out which is a very common fault on coras. A repair kit is available from dealers for around £40

Just done it on a 2002 1.0 litre which was baulking at first and second gear selection. Took me about 15 mins. Gearchange now perfect. If you buy the Haynes manual it gives full instructions and a few black & white pics. On my car the pinch bolt on the gear lingage needed a star shaped socket (T45) about same size as the one you need for the sump drain plug - whereas Haynes pic shows standard hex bolt head. Best to check before getting too oily...

Tighten gear linkage bolt to 9 lb/ft then again by 225 degrees ( a full three quarters of a turn)

having trouble with any gears is common fault and is the gear box selector box costing about £96 last time i checked and have done many sales of this at the dealers so only takes the techs 30 mins to do as they do them all the time

Bit of a co-incedence , met a friend today and his daughter had to get the linkage kit fitted to her Corsa on Monday . Usual problem , total cost £90 .

I have had an 08 Corsa for 2 months and have this same problem. I took it back and was told it was the gear linkage - after waiting for parts it was supposedly fixed. It is still the same - changing from 1st to 2nd is never consistent - either too stiff or too loose. Took it back again and it was 'adjusted' but it is still the same. Car sometimes judders violently when pulling away in 1st. I am begining to feel like a bit of a 'hypochindriac' and a nuisance! What to do ???