if you decide to get a shortshift kit i highly recommend the UUC Motorwerks evo kits with the ballbearing bushings. TurnerMotorsport sells them and their website is
www.shortshift.com
depending on how the car was driven prior to your purchasing it, the blocker rings inside the synchros may be worn. if so it will take a slightly longer time for the synchro to spin the two shafts up to the same speed, which could prevent your quick shifting. i'm not saying thats the prob, because 76k miles is not very old for blocker rings (unless of course theyve been used hard), but its a possibility.