I hear a ticking under the left wheel. When I first turn it on, its either soooo quiet or not there at all. Once the car is there, there she blows captain...

Does it sound like a leak from the Exhaust Manifold? You can't hear it on the right side nor the backside of the car... Loudmouth doesn't help that either.

 

I had cases of two exhaust leaks.
1st was a few years ago, a broken bolt on the passenger side. The farthest back bolt head broke off. After I removed the manifold, I soaked the bolt it in penetrant then used vice grips and got it out. Now I have another exhaust leak. Took me a while but now I see the exhaust manifold is cracked. Looking for another stocker....

 

But how could you tell? It ticked? Could you hear something?

 

yep, both made a noise. thats why I fixed them.
at first it sounded like it was coming from the back of the engine on the pass side for both. I dropped the y-pipe and tightened it up. it kinda helped, must have put an additional load on the manifold. It would start to leak again. the 1st time I thought it was the gasket. I started removing the manifold when I spotted the bolt was broken and realized that was the problem. The 2nd time I did the y-pipe and it didn't change. I then did the exhaust gasket and it helped a little but still 'ticked' when cold. I did a track day (road course) and it got real bad. Thats when I could see the crack in the manifold, right at the 'hole' in the heat shield tin where near #6 cyl on the top. The problem w/ a cracked manifold is you may not be able to see it with a good part of the manifold covered by the heat shielding. Actually, I think there is a TSB where you are supposed to cut off the lower bars running across between the flanges. seems it actually creates stress w/ the temp cycles.

 

I've had the back 2 bolts on the passenger manilfold loosen quite a few times. I can always tell when they loosen, because under load, the ticking is VERY apparent. I'd put it in 4th at around 40 MPH, and get on the gas. The ticking was very loud and focused for me under those conditions, which enabled me to figure out where I was leaking, and tighten the bolts up.

 

how solid of a tick are we talking? ive got a tick sound coming from my left side too but i always thought it was just a loose rocker arm or something, with 137k miles i wouldnt doubt that to be true either though. but i thought an exhuast leak sounded more raspy than tick because i can hear an obvious leak around my cat thats a bit raspy (anyone with a good ear for a motor notices it when they walk up to the car) so if the manifolds are leaking causing my tick sound and not a loose rocker im all for fixin it! =D but still.. what kind of tick is it? this is a strong obvious tick when idling and all through the rpm range when its cold, then it seems to dissappear in driving as it heats up. but its always there when its idling...