Hard shifting into ANY gear with engine OFF = was adjustment issue
So my Mirage's new thing was: difficulty going into ANY gear when the engine is OFF. Not a problem with the engine running.
So I was thinking (hoping): clutch adjustment?
Going on the assumption that the clutch wasn't fully releasing with the pedal pressed, I put about 1 turn on the adjustment nut to take play out of the cable.... and that seems to have fixed it.
But it makes me wonder if the cable had stretched / is getting ready to snap. Because this problem cropped up suddenly, not gradually. I'm ordering a spare cable now. (Thread: DIY! Snapped clutch cable remove & replace)