What speed/RPM do you usually shift at on a stock transmission?

I've always wondered because (I just started driving this Volvo my mother has, and yes i've driven a stick before) when I go from 1st gear to 2nd gear, i'm not finding that sweet spot where I can just shift smoothly. 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 4th it's alright.

Any tips?

 

Um, I don't know where your from, but your car doesn't make sense. GLTs in 97 had a turbo and only N/As were manual, but that's in the US, maybe your in canada or something.

 

Sounds like either a clutch hydraulic issue or a blocker ring/synchronizer issue.

When you push the clutch pedal to the floor, go into 1st gear and let off the clutch, does the clutch start to engage right off the floor or does it engage after the clutch pedal comes off the floor about 3-5 inches. If it starts engaging when the pedal is still close to the floor, that is a problem.

If it engages mid way up or further, the trans probably has worn synchronizer rings on the 2nd gear. These are also referred to as blocker rings. Their purpose is to slow down or speed up the input shaft in the trans to match the speed of the counter shaft so the gear can be engaged quickly and smoothly. When you hear a gear "grinding" during a shift, it's actually the teeth of the blocker ring grinding since the gears are always in contact and meshing.

The inside edge of the blocker ring is tapered and has grooves. The ring is made of brass and after many miles or abuse, the grooves wear down and there is no longer enough grip for them to do their job of sychronizing the speeds of the input and counter shafts which will result is hard shifting.

 

i don't know about all that. shifting from first to second is the least smooth shift on all cars, it doesn't mean something's wrong with the car.
i think i shift around 2,500 rpms, although it's hard to say from memmory.