Ride quality - Rover 75 vs Citroen C5?
Discussion
Okay, I've asked this on a couple of forums where I thought I might get some useful answers, but alas, no. Ideally I'm looking for the opinion of someone who has owned / driven both a Rover 75 and the previous (Mk1/2) generation Citroen C5.
I have two Rover 75s at present and the ride is good, no denying that, but I don't think it's worthy of the hype it seems to generate. Just today I read a thread on here which proclaimed the 75 has the best modern ride "this side of a Jaguar XJ". The owners club, again, is full of hype about the 75 having a Rolls-esque ride. As I said it's a good and very comfortable ride for long motorway journeys, but you still feels bumps and even the joins where road surfaces change - certainly to a lesser degree than other cars that I have owned / driven / been in, but either, I'm overestimating the ride in a Rolls Royce, or the 75 just isn't as "magic carpet" as it's made out to be.
I've seen a lot of discussion lately (here) about the hydopneumatic Citroen set up, and I think in a thread here it has also been alleged that the previous generation Citroen C5 was one of the best riding / magic carpet cars ever. I'm wondering if the C5 is actually better than the 75, and whether anyone can confirm? If not I suppose I'll have to buy a cheap one and eBay and test it for myself!
I have two Rover 75s at present and the ride is good, no denying that, but I don't think it's worthy of the hype it seems to generate. Just today I read a thread on here which proclaimed the 75 has the best modern ride "this side of a Jaguar XJ". The owners club, again, is full of hype about the 75 having a Rolls-esque ride. As I said it's a good and very comfortable ride for long motorway journeys, but you still feels bumps and even the joins where road surfaces change - certainly to a lesser degree than other cars that I have owned / driven / been in, but either, I'm overestimating the ride in a Rolls Royce, or the 75 just isn't as "magic carpet" as it's made out to be.
I've seen a lot of discussion lately (here) about the hydopneumatic Citroen set up, and I think in a thread here it has also been alleged that the previous generation Citroen C5 was one of the best riding / magic carpet cars ever. I'm wondering if the C5 is actually better than the 75, and whether anyone can confirm? If not I suppose I'll have to buy a cheap one and eBay and test it for myself!
The ride in my 75s is consistent with others I have been in John: The thing is I have ridden in plenty of 75s and the ride is consistent throughout. It isn't just mine. I did plenty of research before settling on a tyre choice based around what other owners rated, which is why I went for the Energy Saver + after not being that enamoured with the Goodyears on the other car. I honestly couldn't tell you which tyre was which if I didn't know which car I was in. I can discern no difference between the two. I'm satisfied that both cars are up to scratch. As for running over cats eyes, you can certainly feel them through the seat. They do, however, ride more smoothly than anything I've owned / driven (including: Volvo 940, V70, previous generation Rovers, Jaguar X-Type, Mondeos, Vectras, Xsara Picasso / C4 Picasso etc...).
Perhaps I am too fussy - I don't know! It would be interesting to have a drive of certain cars (Xj / C5 / C6) to compare with.
Perhaps I am too fussy - I don't know! It would be interesting to have a drive of certain cars (Xj / C5 / C6) to compare with.
John145 said:
Ride is not something you can research to be able to assess, it needs years of experience. To be fair the majority of journalists cannot qualitatively describe the ride performance of a car and will just use OEM brand image or press releases as pointers to fluff up.
The simple answer is, your car will not ride the same as when it left the factory because it is not on the OE specification tyre.
I think the collective opinions of owners of a vehicle which is set up specifically to ride well whom have tried a significant number of different tyres is useful research. I do not buy this explanation at all, sorry.The simple answer is, your car will not ride the same as when it left the factory because it is not on the OE specification tyre.
John145 said:
So, your research is built up of a number of unconnected people, unknown experience or ability, varying quality vehicles on a subject that requires significant skill and ability to qualitatively assess...
I doubt any of your research subjects would be able to identify accurately how a change of tyre pressure or tyre affected their ride. To suggest that 2 cars on different tyres ride the same just proves my point.
My research suggests that a good number of people, with the same specification car, have all settled on one or two brand/model combinations of tyre. Do bear in mind the model of tyre the 75 was originally specified with has not been produced for some years. I doubt any of your research subjects would be able to identify accurately how a change of tyre pressure or tyre affected their ride. To suggest that 2 cars on different tyres ride the same just proves my point.
That, to my mind, is much more conclusive than someone who has never seen my car, assessed the health of the suspension, or ridden in the car telling me it must be my tyres.
As I said, I've travelled in and driven many 75s - none have risen better than my v6.
In other news someone on another forum very kindly offered me the chance to go and drive his (steel sprung) C5. It wasn't a patch on the 75 - but I still really need to find a hydro one to test.
And... If someone can't feel if their tyres are not at the correct pressure, they really should not be driving. A difference of 5psi in my tyres (recently set to full load values) made a much more noticeable difference, than the two different brands of tyre at the same pressure.
Edited by SebastienClement on Monday 1st September 15:30
I propose the following challenge:
You & your expertise can reccommend me a tyre that will suit the 75. I will buy a set and put them fitted to a set of spare wheels I have. I will have them properly fitted / balanced and have 4 wheel alignment done (due a check anyway). Then we'll see if it's made a difference?
Deal?
You & your expertise can reccommend me a tyre that will suit the 75. I will buy a set and put them fitted to a set of spare wheels I have. I will have them properly fitted / balanced and have 4 wheel alignment done (due a check anyway). Then we'll see if it's made a difference?
Deal?
John145 said:
The only way to make the car ride as well as when it left the factory is to retune the dampers to match the tyres you have.
The time to experience how this car should ride has been and gone.
So, in your opinion, there is no tyre to match, or even better the original spec tyre?The time to experience how this car should ride has been and gone.
I'm afraid my BS detector is high with this one.
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