<KDunagan@nntp.fuse.net> wrote in message
> 3. It drives, ALMOST, like the parking break
>is stuck or something. I can sense resistance in
>the forward movement

Get out and test push.

> 2. When backing off of accelerator, the
>car slows very very quickly (no coasting to speak of)

It sounds like you're stuck on third....
Coast on neutral, see if it still drags.