I test drove a 2001 4.0 yesterday. Its only got 22,000 miles on it and it was driven buy a little old man. This was confirmed by the overpowering odor of bengay in the car. The car was practically brand new inside and out.

I have a '95 and a '96 so obviously I compared the ride to those. It's definitely a much different car. It didn't feel as heavy or solid as the originals and the steering was a little looser.

One thing that really bothered me was that when it shifted from park into drive or reverse, I could feel a thump in the steering and the whole car really. When looking under the hood while a friend did the shifting, the motor jumped about 4 inches every-time it went into gear or gassed it (while braking). It seemed a little much.

Is this normal? Could the motor mounts be bad already, or maybe a tranny problem? I've heard they have notoriously bad transmissions. I'd appreciate any similar experiences. Are the 2001's junk?

Well I have a 2002 3.5L which I am selling and that doesn't sound right.

Mine doesn't have loose steering and even when the tranny went it didn't shake.
It now has a new rebuilt tranny and shifts smooth,barely notice that it engages or shifts into gear.

My car has 85k on it and it doesn't have any of the attributes you describe.
Maybe the motor mounts dry rotted from sitting or maybe the drivetrain has been removed and was improperly re-installed, loose bolts or something.

Any service records?

Marc

Maybe the old guy ran over a few parking blocks or something. The air dam did look pretty beat up. I'm going to test drive another one tomorrow, but this tranny thing has me a little worried. I love these cars and if I find one with low miles its a good deal...but not if I have to drop 3000 dollars into it in a few months.

Anyone else have transmissions issues. Examples please.

My tranny last overdive around 80k, the shop said it is common with these cars and sees them all the time.

Said chryslers are worse though, didn't really make me feel good my last car a pontiac bonneville had 150k on it when I traded it in and it was still going stong!

These tranny's should go 100k easy bad engineering!!

Mine cost me $2400 for full rebuild I told them replace it all don't want any issues a month down the road for a $5.00 part but the tranny has to come out to change it!

Marc

I test drove another 2001 that was on ebay. I drove 300 miles each way to try it, but it was worth it. The car only has 30K and not a scratch on it. I thought it must have been rolled back and repainted, but no way. This thing rides like a brand new car. So I bought it... and I love it. I haven't even modded it yet and it feels sooo much faster than my '96. Sorry if anyone else here was bidding on it, but I had to go snatch it up...you snooze, you lose. I now own 3 Auroras.:)