Bellypan and noise

I don't know if it's new car envy or what; but it seems like my car simply has more noise than it used to. The Nokian enTyres are all of 6kmiles old; engine cover is still in place--but the bellypan is not. I plan on getting that reinstalled before winter; but I am wondering if that would explain the increase in engine noise. Or might it be something else? I'd think exhaust leaks would be more obvious.

[Front wheel bearings replaced at 105k, rears are original. I don't think one of those is going, although I do seem to have a variety of noises. But the engine noise is kinda intrusive at the moment.]

You would be amazed how the sounds can echo around and missing a bottom plate could bounce it just right to make you hear it better.

You will notice a difference in noise levels without your bellypan installed. When I bought my 2001 Jetta it didn't have the pan, once I installed an aluminum skid plate it made it considerably quieter in the car.

Alright, will hold of on worrying about until I get the pan back on. Thanks!

in 40 years of driving of driving, I've never seen a motor as vulnerable to damage from minor road hazards as my Jetta.
Put some metal under your motor!

I've thought about it--but since they finally repaved my road I don't think I *need* one. [Prior to the repave I was thinking of getting an SUV--it was pretty bad...]

I should give that some thought, though--always said I would, then never got around to it. I should probably look into it again, I guess.

I would. There is plenty of road gators out there (truck retreads) that you can't always avoid. Someone just posted a few days ago about not being able to avoid hitting it and other then the car jumping up going over it nothing else was wrong. I almost had to hit one as well and I am sure I will someday driving through the cities.

For some reason I've come across very few 'gators up here. Ice chunks in the road, maybe; although there was this racoon... who is no more...