Worst riding car you've had/been in?

[neutral 3]

A Smart car, hateful pos.

[Cakey Pig]

Civic Type R Mk1.

[Cakey Pig]

aaron_2000 said:

My classic Turbos were on 16/17's with factory suspension and despite being a little soft, they rode absolutely spot on. The geometry could've been improved but the suspension was just so spot on for road use. On 17's I could keep a big enough tyre on it that it didn't crash over bumps.

Agreed, I had a Classic which handled beautifully but then my P1 usurped that in the handling department... lifting a corner on occassion was testament to a glorious set-up. The following STi and RB320 were great, but the original classic was spot on. Having done a vehicle check it seems to have been looked after for the last 20 years or so.

[LeoSayer]

I just remembered the worst ride of my life - a long day spent being a passenger in the rear of a Suzuki SJ.

I remember after getting out my girlfriend picked my up her mk2 Golf and it felt like riding on clouds in comparison.

One of these:

[The Wookie]

I said G55 AMG earlier but I just spotted an early Corsa VXR yesterday and it reminded me of when we had one for evaluation at my old job and how utterly terrible the ride on it was

About 10 minutes on a not particularly bumpy Norfolk back road was enough to set you off shouting obscenities at it over every road imperfection. Wasn’t even much fun on track either!

[can't remember]

MC Bodge said:

tommy1973s said:

Our 2005 Audi A6 on S-Line "suspension" and 19" rims. Pure concrete. I'd say women have lost their virginity in such cars, merely by d-r-i-v-i-n-g it. Jiggle. Otherwise a great car, but we has to fit SE suspension and 17" rims, or I'd have copied Elvis and shot it.

Haha.

What is amusing is that a few people over the years have proudly told me that they have an A3/4/6, "...S-Line". Is it like the Emperor's New Clothes?

I've owned a C6 A6 on both SE and S-line suspension and both were firm but comfortable if you avoided potholes. The problem with the S-line suspension is how low down to the road you are.

The real difference for ride quality is the size of the wheels. I've just spent 6 months on narrower 18 inch winter wheels and will be swapping back to the 19 inch summers on Friday. Back to worrying about speed bumps and crap roads damaging the alloys and my fillings.

[MC Bodge]

can't remember said:

Back to worrying about speed bumps and crap roads damaging the alloys and my fillings.

Really, why bother?

Why not use summer tyres on rims like your winter wheels?

[can't remember]

MC Bodge said:

Really, why bother?

Why not use summer tyres on rims like your winter wheels?

Three reasons.
1 I like the look of the original wheels.
2 I've spent decent money having both sets of wheels refurbished and fresh rubber all round.
3 Not every choice in my life is necessarily rational.

[Slop]

LeoSayer said:

I just remembered the worst ride of my life - a long day spent being a passenger in the rear of a Suzuki SJ.

I remember after getting out my girlfriend picked my up her mk2 Golf and it felt like riding on clouds in comparison.

One of these:

It wasn't much better in the front.....

I bought one as a Winter hack, drove it home and was convinced there was something wrong with it. There wasn't, just a dreadful car, sold it the following week

[Venisonpie]

BMW 530D, E60. Great car but the ride on run flats was punishing.

It was only beaten by a Massey Ferguson 3085 I drove during a summer holiday as a student - but it's close!

[MC Bodge]

can't remember said:

MC Bodge said:

Really, why bother?

Why not use summer tyres on rims like your winter wheels?

Three reasons.
1 I like the look of the original wheels.
2 I've spent decent money having both sets of wheels refurbished and fresh rubber all round.
3 Not every choice in my life is necessarily rational.

And this, folks, is why we have so many modern cars with a terrible ride

[AC43]

Slop said:

LeoSayer said:

I just remembered the worst ride of my life - a long day spent being a passenger in the rear of a Suzuki SJ.

I remember after getting out my girlfriend picked my up her mk2 Golf and it felt like riding on clouds in comparison.

One of these:

It wasn't much better in the front.....

I bought one as a Winter hack, drove it home and was convinced there was something wrong with it. There wasn't, just a dreadful car, sold it the following week

I went on holiday to a tiny island in Greece a few years ago. My mate was familiar with the place and said he'd sort of couple of hire cars out; one for each family.

He forgot and the only thing left on the entire island was a Jimny. I had to endure it for two very very long weeks. The worst aspect was that if there were no taxis available it could take two, if not three trips to get everyone there. Same in reverse. The roads were st so it was always trying to pogo into the undergrowth or off a cliff. Terrifying at times.

[grumpyscot]

Daihatsu Cuore - so bad, I managed only 4 miles and had to return this courtesy car. Absolutely dreadful seating position. I'm only 5'8" and I didn't have enough leg room. And the seats must have been made of pure wood. No give in them whatsoever.

It was replaced with a Citroen Xsara - felt like I was in 7th Heaven by comparison!

[Mr Overheads]

Citroen C5 (2001 -2004) had it as a work hire car for just 2 days. It was so bad I still remember it now. Was liking driving a comfy sofa sat on top of a blancmange with wheels. It's how I imagine a 2CV would drive, but that's a lot lighter.

[Davyf]

To pick the worst riding car I would have to say it all depends on the lady you have and how adventurous the two (or more) participants are. My worst was a MK1 Fiesta with non reclining seats

[BorisnBertie]

I had a BMW E39 530i Sport that had the sport suspension with SE springs.. that gave compliance on the 18" tyres, even at 40 and 35 profiles. Was wonderfully flat and composed.
My 1st 530i was on recently refurbished full Sport suspension and was an absolute arsebreaker!

[Eddie Yates]

Porsche 981 Boxster on 20" rims had completely unacceptable level of road noise so I got rid precisely because of that. My previous 2 Boxsters were fine.

[anotherswifty]

Oilchange said:

Astra 888 thing. Diesel powered if memory serves but so stiffly sprung it bounced around so much i think it spent more time airborne than in contact with the ground.
And my mates A6 with the awful large diameter low profiles

+1 for the A6. I had an Avant quattro with 19" 35 profile tyres, and the ride was atrocious for a supposed premium brand. Perhaps it was the tyre pressures that didn't help. I bow to Audi's knowledge of their own vehicles and i ran the rec. pressures of 42/47psi iirc, and of course the dealer who sold it had lowered them by 10+ to make it seem like a very adequate ride.
The whole big wheel/low profile thing is fashion victim nonsense. I'm so much more enjoying my Kodiaq with a generous amount of sidewall
As witnessed by the pothole damage in the Audi on the v badly maintained sliproad nearby.

[Grumpyoldman3]

A 2006 FIAT Panda 4x4, rock hard ride. A close call between that and a clapped out (100k miles) old Nissan Micra with zero shocks/spring travel

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Cascade360 said:

I'm amazed nobody has said the FN2 Civic Type R on 19" Rage alloys. Truly appalling.

Even on the smaller alloys it was figgerty and the rear bounced around shockingly on moorland roads.