dwulffusa
03-11-2008, 11:06 PM
As a new owner of an 03 2.5 sport I am still working through its idiosyncracies and trying to figure out what is normal and what can be fixed. Here are the key 'issues' that I am desperate to fix as I would like to use it on a more frequent basis rather than just sunny days with the top down and music on when all problems fade into oblivion.
Noise: With the top up I still feel like I hear everything around me as though the windows are open. On the highway the exhaust and tire droan make it difficult to even talk on the phone. I have started using earplugs on drives longer than 30minutes..... . Is that raspy throaty tone normal? From what I can tell the exhaust is stock, and sounds fine when you first start it up but after the revs have been up a bit it sounds deeper and rougher at low revs? And the pop pop sound under compression, normal? Will switching to a good non RFT touring tire really make a noticable difference in the noise? It still has the original Potenzas at 17,000miles which have plenty of tread left, but there are little cracks in the tread looking as though they are 'brittle'.
Thump Thump: Yes, I know, the tires. The tramlining is chronic and a hairline crack in the road produces a thump through the body. You have to be fully awake all the time or you end up in darting into oncoming traffic or the curb. Again will non rft's improve this noticably? Is it possible the bushes (I forget the correct term for the control arm thingies that keep everything snug) could be worn hence excessive thuds and little absorption?
Other: The clutch has a shudder (intermittently) when pulling away and into second occasionally and only after about three pullaways from cold then it becomes more persistant as it warms up. It also takes very high and almost at a higher point in 3rd and 4th than in 1st and 2nd? Anyone else experience this, and will a replacement definitely fix this, and at what cost? Given that the throttle tip in is sharp and 1st gear very short, and good smooth clutch is a necessity for a smooth pleasant ride.
That said I really want to like this car it looks brilliant so I seem to be bashing the hell out of it, though I did expect a bit more in the line of refinement and you cant tell all these things from a test drive. Considering these are $40k cars new, I am hoping these are just aging items, and changing tires and clutch will return her to normal!!
Noise: With the top up I still feel like I hear everything around me as though the windows are open. On the highway the exhaust and tire droan make it difficult to even talk on the phone. I have started using earplugs on drives longer than 30minutes..... . Is that raspy throaty tone normal? From what I can tell the exhaust is stock, and sounds fine when you first start it up but after the revs have been up a bit it sounds deeper and rougher at low revs? And the pop pop sound under compression, normal? Will switching to a good non RFT touring tire really make a noticable difference in the noise? It still has the original Potenzas at 17,000miles which have plenty of tread left, but there are little cracks in the tread looking as though they are 'brittle'.
Thump Thump: Yes, I know, the tires. The tramlining is chronic and a hairline crack in the road produces a thump through the body. You have to be fully awake all the time or you end up in darting into oncoming traffic or the curb. Again will non rft's improve this noticably? Is it possible the bushes (I forget the correct term for the control arm thingies that keep everything snug) could be worn hence excessive thuds and little absorption?
Other: The clutch has a shudder (intermittently) when pulling away and into second occasionally and only after about three pullaways from cold then it becomes more persistant as it warms up. It also takes very high and almost at a higher point in 3rd and 4th than in 1st and 2nd? Anyone else experience this, and will a replacement definitely fix this, and at what cost? Given that the throttle tip in is sharp and 1st gear very short, and good smooth clutch is a necessity for a smooth pleasant ride.
That said I really want to like this car it looks brilliant so I seem to be bashing the hell out of it, though I did expect a bit more in the line of refinement and you cant tell all these things from a test drive. Considering these are $40k cars new, I am hoping these are just aging items, and changing tires and clutch will return her to normal!!