Everything is relative and what you're used to. This IS a twin cam, high rpm, high output, near racing engine, with a hi-perf gear box screwed to the back of it. Have a drive in a hi-perf crotch rocket. I think these are GOOD noises and quite normal. They've become background noise to me. In fact, if one of the noises stop, I'm gonna be worried.

 

I don't complain but I also notice more noise with top up. Maybe wind noise drowns it out otherwise. If I want to listen to the mechanical symphony I run the top up and boy do I hear weird noises. Normally I want a louder exhaust note but top-up driving makes me think twice about that.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by tagheuer
[B]anyway, its top down driving from now on.

 

My 2001 is definitly louder with the top up. Nothing wrong with the car, it's just that the engine noise, transmission noise from shifting, road noise, etc. get stopped by the soft top and reflect back at you in the car. The noises in general have a lot to do with the 50/50 weighting of the car which places the engine and all other mechanics as close to the driver as possible.

With the top down it is very understandable that the car is more quite because the noise is not trapped.