zzzyang,

I can hear the shift in mine too, but it's nothing I'd ever worry about. Yours must be louder.

It's normal to bounce a bit in the bumps - chalk that up to the short wheelbase and firm suspension. Mine rides great on a nice stretch of road - great road manners for an SUV. Compared to my dad's Navigator and Explorer before that - well, there is no comparison.

I love to feel the road. My parents had a Mercury Grand Marquis for a while, and it really did feel like it was floating. Granted, it wasn't the first thing I ever drove so I was already used to some road feel, but I hated that car. I want to feel some feedback. I much preferred my Avenger and now the VX because they give a bit of a kick on the bumps. There are times I think it would be bad not to have that.