While bringing the car to say 5 or 6k and letting off the gas down the rpm range has anyone noticed loud diff noise? I think it's the diff or tranny. Is this because of the AWD? Any ideas?

 

Look around for the bad tranny thread. See if that what you describing. You just may be in the bad batch.

 

The 1-2 change is notoriously rough with this 5speed box .. Give first gear a good rev before you change into 2nd. Also, the 1-2 and reverse selection became much smoother when I changed my gear oil to fully synthetic. (did so at 5,000kms).

--->>> http://www.lancerregister.com/faq/F07/f07.html

 

In my Galant VR-4 I have run synthetics since new. I now have 174k. The transmission had to be rebuilt at 138k. I am considering changing the new Evo to synthetic gear oil too. Transmission, transfer case, and rear differential.