Worst riding car you've had/been in?
Discussion
CeramicMX5ND2 said:
Out of my recent cars it has to be the Mk7 Fiesta ST (2016)
I was surprised that my MX-5ND2 2.0 (2018) has a better ride, but to me it's certainly more compliant at lower speeds and over speed bumps..
Yes my 2019 ND2 rides very well for what it is, it can be jiggly but it never has the crashing ineptitude of so many "sporty" cars.I was surprised that my MX-5ND2 2.0 (2018) has a better ride, but to me it's certainly more compliant at lower speeds and over speed bumps..
WHich will be because the MX5 has sophisticated and expensive suspension all round tuned to allow genuinely fast and fun progress on real roads, and the Fiesta has the cheapest suspension setup you can build tuned to feel stiff to convinced people who know nothing about cars that it's sporty.
HTH
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 30th April 14:01
The spinner of plates said:
An Audi A6 S-Line on 19" wheels I was loaned for a month.
I've no doubt the higher up models are technologically impressive and push boundaries, but the majority of hum-drum stuff kitted out with stiff suspension and big wheels is, for me, the absolute definition of automotive style over substance.
I understand though that people do like the looks, so cars like this are great for folk who covet that sort of thing.
I don't care what others drive - if product liked, money will be taken, everybody's happy!
It must be throughly unpleasant to drive/ride around many places in the UK in one long-term. I've heard of suffering for one's art, but suffering for the sake of using a very common car that does what many other cars do, but worse, seems a bit mad.I've no doubt the higher up models are technologically impressive and push boundaries, but the majority of hum-drum stuff kitted out with stiff suspension and big wheels is, for me, the absolute definition of automotive style over substance.
I understand though that people do like the looks, so cars like this are great for folk who covet that sort of thing.
I don't care what others drive - if product liked, money will be taken, everybody's happy!
The ride of my Mk3 Octavia estate was horrible/brittle on anything other than very smooth surfaces and that was on 16" rims. The steering was horrible too. I got rid of it.
Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 30th April 14:11
Fusion777 said:
The opposite of the "soothing" car thread. Which has the least palatable ride you've been in?
I'd go first gen Cooper S Works with sports suspension plus and run flats. Don't actually think there was any damping, and it made M Sport suspension seem forgiving!
Audi A4 estate , probably 15 years ago (!). Awful.I'd go first gen Cooper S Works with sports suspension plus and run flats. Don't actually think there was any damping, and it made M Sport suspension seem forgiving!
donkmeister said:
MC Bodge said:
donkmeister said:
MK1 Ford Focus.
Not that it was terrible, but the expectations did not match reality. I suspect every motoring journo of the day got a blowie off the Ford PR team in return for writing glowing reports of sublime and accurate handling, which meant I was expecting something amazing instead of well... Average.
Whereas if they'd said "meh, it's a small hatchback so it's quite light, s'alright I suppose" then I'd have probably been happier with it.
So not actually the worst riding car?Not that it was terrible, but the expectations did not match reality. I suspect every motoring journo of the day got a blowie off the Ford PR team in return for writing glowing reports of sublime and accurate handling, which meant I was expecting something amazing instead of well... Average.
Whereas if they'd said "meh, it's a small hatchback so it's quite light, s'alright I suppose" then I'd have probably been happier with it.
The chassis was actually very, very good and, as far as I am aware, that view is fairly universal.
Opinions vary of course, but I have driven oh so many of them of varying trims and engines over the years and it genuinely was average when compared to what Fiat, Vauxhall and Peugeot were putting out at the same time. You'll appreciate that I'm going to trust my own experience of the car over what a schmoozed journo says following a 10 mile test drive on roads picked by Ford.
It's nothing to do with what journalists think. Many of us owned and drove them at time....
My wife had a 335d as a company car a few years back, optional 20" alloys and runflat tyres. It had an amazing combination of the most jarring ride over bumps I've ever experienced, while being far too wallowy with non-msport suspension. Anyone who specced those wheels on UK roads is an idiot.
EarlyNissan GT-R that we imported in maybe 2008. Really appalling ride.Didn't like the rest of the car all that much and it was replaced by an R8 pretty quickly.
My Evo 8 when on original suspension. As soon as the MR came out on Bilsteins, I was looking for crashed cars to buy the suspension off.
Did exactly that, transformed what was for me the worst aspect of the car.
2008 Lexus IS-F. Again, a great car ruined by a crap ride. Fensport to the rescue, 16 way adjustables, much better.
My Evo 8 when on original suspension. As soon as the MR came out on Bilsteins, I was looking for crashed cars to buy the suspension off.
Did exactly that, transformed what was for me the worst aspect of the car.2008 Lexus IS-F. Again, a great car ruined by a crap ride. Fensport to the rescue, 16 way adjustables, much better.
donkmeister said:
MC Bodge said:
donkmeister said:
MK1 Ford Focus.
Not that it was terrible, but the expectations did not match reality. I suspect every motoring journo of the day got a blowie off the Ford PR team in return for writing glowing reports of sublime and accurate handling, which meant I was expecting something amazing instead of well... Average.
Whereas if they'd said "meh, it's a small hatchback so it's quite light, s'alright I suppose" then I'd have probably been happier with it.
So not actually the worst riding car?Not that it was terrible, but the expectations did not match reality. I suspect every motoring journo of the day got a blowie off the Ford PR team in return for writing glowing reports of sublime and accurate handling, which meant I was expecting something amazing instead of well... Average.
Whereas if they'd said "meh, it's a small hatchback so it's quite light, s'alright I suppose" then I'd have probably been happier with it.
The chassis was actually very, very good and, as far as I am aware, that view is fairly universal.
Come on, just admit you didn't read the thread title properly.
The 2012 Octavia vRS on 225/40-18 tyres that I had for 6 years. Slightly better ride on the winter 225/45-17 tyres.
My current Leon FR on same size summer wheels/tyres is only slightly better & again a slight improvement on the same winter tyres./wheels.
Although my MkI Escort was pretty bad even on 155/80-12 tyres. The rear leaf spring suspension didn't help.
My current Leon FR on same size summer wheels/tyres is only slightly better & again a slight improvement on the same winter tyres./wheels.
Although my MkI Escort was pretty bad even on 155/80-12 tyres. The rear leaf spring suspension didn't help.
Ford Explorer (Eddie B edition) - not sure if it was that particular car or how they made them all but dangerous at 55 mph and a corner. Really horrible things.
BMW M Sport suspension on various models, it’s just garbage. Too much rebound, not enough compression, nothing is in harmony.
Some the late 80’s and early 90’s stuff listed on modern rubber isn’t actually all that bad. They do have the advantage of much less torque and decent profile tyres.
BMW M Sport suspension on various models, it’s just garbage. Too much rebound, not enough compression, nothing is in harmony.
Some the late 80’s and early 90’s stuff listed on modern rubber isn’t actually all that bad. They do have the advantage of much less torque and decent profile tyres.
Maybe not the worst I've been in, but certainly the worst relative to expectations - FIL's G63 AMG.
Holy hell. I can see why people say the G350 is the one to have. The thing goes like stink, especially for a big car, but the suspension is ridiculously hard for a 4x4, which means on bumpy country roads it's hateful, and then it's too big to drive/park in the city. Just makes me wonder where it's supposedly built for
Holy hell. I can see why people say the G350 is the one to have. The thing goes like stink, especially for a big car, but the suspension is ridiculously hard for a 4x4, which means on bumpy country roads it's hateful, and then it's too big to drive/park in the city. Just makes me wonder where it's supposedly built for
A 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX ('bug-eye') which I bought from new was a great drive in many respects, but also the only car I've owned to date able to make me feel sick when actually at its helm, as opposed to passengering.
Passenger-wise, my Dad's HA Vauxhall Viva must still hold the title for a definitive vomit-inducer...
Passenger-wise, my Dad's HA Vauxhall Viva must still hold the title for a definitive vomit-inducer...
Fusion777 said:
The opposite of the "soothing" car thread. Which has the least palatable ride you've been in?
I'd go first gen Cooper S Works with sports suspension plus and run flats. Don't actually think there was any damping, and it made M Sport suspension seem forgiving!
My sisters First gen Mini Copper on run flats. Just ridiculously bad.I'd go first gen Cooper S Works with sports suspension plus and run flats. Don't actually think there was any damping, and it made M Sport suspension seem forgiving!
BMW X3M has to be right up there considering it has 3 damper settings with one comically Labelled comfort!
Between the rock hard ride bouncing the car all over the road you then have to put up with the road noise which is almost unbearable on anything but glass smooth surfaces.
Epic engine though!
Between the rock hard ride bouncing the car all over the road you then have to put up with the road noise which is almost unbearable on anything but glass smooth surfaces.
Epic engine though!
Alex_225 said:
My mums Audi A1. It was spec'd by the first owner with 18" wheels which makes the ride terrible and the road noise even worse. It looks quite good but 16" wheels would have made all the difference.
It only has 120bhp and although handles well, the lack of performance doesn't justify it having the type of ride quality it does.
My girlfriend has an A1 with 16" wheels, it's still terrible!It only has 120bhp and although handles well, the lack of performance doesn't justify it having the type of ride quality it does.
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