I've had my '99 E300TD for about 6 years now, and I have to ask.

How many folks here have actually heard the sounds your car is making? When driving of the rough roads here in th AV, I don't notice about 80% of the sounds that the car makes. With the windows up, the A/C on and the radio playing, I really can't hear anything mechanical.

So this makes me wonder, how many people here have experienced some sort of mechanical failure that gave no audible warning?

Today, I was driving into work and at low speed, with the window down, I heard the faintest of creaks when turning the steering wheel in the parking lot. And these creaks were only during small deflections in the steering. Larger (more cornering) maneuvers and things were quiet.

I'm thinking that the ball joints are creaking just a little bit. Maybe just a bit worn after their 223k mile life.

How many other noises am I missing?

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2013 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid SEL Premium (Sparky)
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It's a car not a science experiment! Open the throttle!