The clutch is heavy duty but NOT heavy. I have the original clutch and have no issues with it at all. I prefer it nice and direct. It's either on or off and fast shifts are fine. The car does use a timing chain. The sinuous belt is just to drive ancillaries. You might find some tailshaft tremble and rumble around 100kmh on the overrun in a higher gear. Don't worry about it unless it is plainly excessive. I believe it is a centre bearing or mount as I have had other cars (e.g V12 Jaguar Sovereign) with the same issue. It's not a problem in my car. Best way to get a quiet cabin is to get away from the Crapstone tyres fitted as stock. My tyres are perfectly quiet in contrast. Check for turbo smoke after idle. Low km cars should be OK. I have 40,000km on mine, with Dump-pipe, and zero smoke. Suspension or mounts might squeak a bit. It'll tighten up on a service. Check the rear diff mount for any cracking; some guys here have had them crack. Don't worry about loose brake pads audible as a click when manoeuvering back and forth.
CP_e Standback & PNP; CP_e 3" SS Downpipe; Corksport FMIC with Top-mount K&N filter & OEM Ram CAI; Turbosmart BOV; Dashhawk; Prosport Boost Guage; JBR solid shift bushes; DBA 4000 Wiper-Slot front rotors; Hawk Ferro-Carbon HPS Street front brake pads (@ 69,000km); Sumitomo HTRZIII's in 225/45 x 18