I have changed a R32 trans a couple times using stands, not that hard really.
Just get the front of the car up a good ways so you have enough room to move underneath + some extra room. Use a small rollable floor jack for the trans once you unbolt the crossmember. Everything else is pretty much the same as usual taking a trans out.
The starter bolt you are probably talking about is the top one. I dunno about anyone else, but I had much more trouble getting it and the starter back in and bolted than I did getting it out. I unbolted the slave cylinder and front driveshaft to get to it easier.