[deadwolfbones]

So I'm making an excruciatingly slow move from Boston to New Mexico, and step one was to move my FR-S ('13, automatic) before the snow set in. So back in October, I loaded it up with as much stuff as I could fit inside and drove four days across the country.

The trip went fine and the car performed as expected. It certainly felt more sluggish than usual, but that seemed right given how much extra weight it was carrying.

But when I unloaded and started driving around Santa Fe, I noticed that the car is waaaaaaaaay more sluggish in 1st gear than it had been before. Where I used to be able to spin the tires from a standing stop, the car just bogs now for a few seconds before the RPMs catch up. This happens whether I'm driving full auto or in fake manual.

There's also a slight whining sound that seems like it might be coming from the transmission, but I have no idea whether it's related to the bogging down or something that was always there that I'm psychosomatically associating with the bogging.

Once it gets up to speed it seems to perform as normal. On a recent trip out to NM I was doing 110mph on a deserted back road with no worries at all, and the car felt fine. There aren't any warning lights on the dash, either.

I haven't taken it in to get looked at yet because, well, the car's in Santa Fe and I'm in Boston, but of course my mind is running through worst-case scenarios—major transmission work, engine work, etc.

Anyway, can anyone suggest less awful alternatives for the symptoms? I'd love to set my mind at ease.

Thanks!