Welcome to the forum!

Transmission shifts are delayed when the car is started from cold in order to reduce help the catalytic converter reach operating temperature sooner. This is done to help reduce cold start emmissions and is perfectly normal. I forget the exact amount of time that it is supposed to resume normal shifting after a cold start but I believe its about 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Car will feel "heavier" in steering than a lot of other vehicles. The steering system is designed so that there is acutal road feel in the car. I would personally not trade the steering feel for anything else. You have good tires on the car if they are Micehlin. Shocks have no bearing on how heavy the steering feels.

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Ali Al-Chalabi

2001 CLK55
1999 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel
2002 Harley-Davidson Fatboy
Merlin Extralight w/ Campy Record