Are sports cars just bumpy?

[ArchangelX]

I just had my new shocks/springs and bushings installed in my RX-7....and I expected the ride to be cushier to the current level because the bushings and shocks had almost 98,000 miles of use on them...

The ride is NOTICEABLY quieter, and the car doesn't feel like it's going to fly apart anymore (no bushings is a bad thing)...BUT...this car still feels pretty rough compared to my Subaru.

When you're on smooth pavement, it's a complete dream...very responsive, and so easy on the azz it's nice. But as soon as you get into the potholes and crevices, it gets a little rough. I asked several of my fellow RX-7 owners if this was normal, and they said "Yeps.".

My question is do you guys think sports cars are normally extremely rough on the bump absorption factor?

I mean it's by no means unbearable, but it's definetly not what you would consider "cadillac cushy".

I had the Konis set to Full Soft, by the way. I'm going to recheck my settings in a few.

[inline4]

Yeah, "sports cars" are usually set to be more rigid because they are indeed sports cars.

[01blkgts]

arch, is the ride in your rex rougher than the celica?

i still have the stock setup, and the ride is pretty rough for my tastes.....

[ArchangelX]

Ya...I'd have to say so. You can feel pretty much everything in the road...the type of surface..whateverz.

I mean..I suppose it would really be great if I was out on a road course...cuz I'm getting plenty of tactile feedback, but when you're just out cruising around and you hit a pothole, you're like "Ouch, my ass!". :chuckles:

The stiffer the suspension, the bumpier the ride. Guess there's nothing I can do about that....I'll just avoid potholes like the plague.

The good thing about the suspension install is that when I do hit a pothole, the car doesn't feel like it's going to fall apart. Those bushings really absorb alot of vibration I guess. The sport springs probably made it rougher too.

All in all, I'm satisfied..the car handles even better than before..I can't wait to get the alignment done(I'm not driving it much right now).

[inline4]

bleh, you just reminded me that my rear motor mount is basically shot(big gash in it). I saw it the other day when I was finishing up my clutch install, and one of my freakin CV boots too.

[ArchangelX]

Ooooh..better get that motor mount fixed. Ugh.

My boots are brand spankin' new...62 bucks a pop...don't remind me. :D

[F35-JSF]

I think they are getting better at absorbing bumps and such. If you spent any time in my 91 Trans am after driving A Celica you compain about back pains later.

[2002GT_Celica]

The Celica is rough, I know that. I can drive down the same road in my mom's minivan and feel almost nothing whereas in the Celica I feel almost everything. I don't even want to know how rough the ride is going to be when I get my lowering springs on.

[Chiznarles]

my butt is padded

[Archon_Ninja]

yeah, sports cars i believe are suppose to be more rough and rigid, but should cushion a little bit after awhile of riding.

[k2snownsk8]

the way our 911 runs is like a dream on pavement but on bumpier roads it's a little rough. the whole idea behind a sports car is to feel the road more-so than a normal car. when feeling the road, that means good spots and bad.

[Kenshi]

I'd have to agree; it was already pretty stiff on my stock suspension, but once I switched to an aftermarket spring/shock combo, I thought I was going to knock some fillings loose.

Luckily, my Tokicos are adjustable and I think I've gotten used to a stiffer ride. Just glad that my girl doesn't complain too much. :P

[celica gte racing]

Sport cars are not supposed to have much bodyroll so they have higher spring rate, stiffer shocks, lower clearance. This would mean more grip on a smooth road but obviously on normal public streets its rougher than normal cars.

[AkUmA]

i noticed a big difference when i change my suspension. then riding in a stock celica, it feel as if the car was rolling in the turns. but i couldnt feel the little thing in the road, that i feel in my celica.

[RevHappyGTS]

I've riden in/driven most of the jap supercars, 1993 RX7, 1994 and 1991 VR4, 1993.5 and 1995 Supra TT, 1991 300ZX TT (nice to have friends with good taste) and the RX7 is by far the Roughest of the group! Archangel, get use to it! LOL, man that thing handled super but as far as ride quality is concern, I remember cruising on a strip of choppy freeway at 100MPH and the 7 was bouncing so much I was thinking, Hmm if my girl were to give me head right now she wouldn't have to do ANYTHING! I would vote the VR4 with it's Electronically adjustable suspension to be the "Caddilac" of the group but still pretty rough by average car standards.

[nxracer]

When it comes to handling please don't compare a RX7TT with the Supra or VR4/3000, the latter both handle like the boats they are.

[ArchangelX]

Welps..I agree on the fact that the Supra and DEFINETLY the VR4 are like boats comparitively. I got that same feeling when I test drove them. I've driven the Supra pretty hard, and pushed it into the corners, and man...you feel like you're gonna roll over compared to the RX-7. All that extra weight is really noticeable.

I don't want to even talk about the VR4 I was in..it was having engine problems and was slow as hell...it FELT like a steamboat. I can't imagine why anyone would be interested in the base model. :puke:

It's definetly not what you would call "flickable".

But I suppose, Rev, that you agree on the fact that all sports cars are pretty rough when it comes to ride quality.

Apparently, the ride quality in the RX-7 is pretty dang rough on bumpy roads after talking to other owners. But I suppose that's what you get for it's amazing handling...some tradeoffs. It's definetly liveable..just different, ya know?

[RevHappyGTS]

Originally posted by ArchangelX
Welps..I agree on the fact that the Supra and DEFINETLY the VR4 are like boats comparitively. I got that same feeling when I test drove them. I've driven the Supra pretty hard, and pushed it into the corners, and man...you feel like you're gonna roll over compared to the RX-7. All that extra weight is really noticeable.

I don't want to even talk about the VR4 I was in..it was having engine problems and was slow as hell...it FELT like a steamboat. I can't imagine why anyone would be interested in the base model. :puke:

It's definetly not what you would call "flickable".

But I suppose, Rev, that you agree on the fact that all sports cars are pretty rough when it comes to ride quality.

Apparently, the ride quality in the RX-7 is pretty dang rough on bumpy roads after talking to other owners. But I suppose that's what you get for it's amazing handling...some tradeoffs. It's definetly liveable..just different, ya know?

Definitely Archangel, your RX7 feels the most tossable and nimble of the group the 7 is 50/50 no? BTW it has the best interior too! The VR4 does feel really heavy when you're driving, it just plain feels BIG.

[ArchangelX]

Ya...the 7's 50/50..which is why there's alotta enthusiasts that freak out with some of these Frankestein projects people have been doing lately...

There's several V8 RX-7s in the works...one of them just actually came to life...sounds weird. Let me see if I can find the link..heh. It's unique..that's for sure. :eek:

[nxracer]

Originally posted by ArchangelX There's several V8 RX-7s in the works

Why does the "Import Racer" crowd insist on screwing up great cars.

[ArchangelX]

Nopes..I don't think it's import racers. It's technically inclined people with LOTS of money...over 10k+ engine and tranny for the swap.

Alotta rotary fans think they're idiots because it defeats the purpose of having a UNIQUE car that has a rotary engine, plus it screws up the 50/50 weight distribution.. The idiots counter that they get better gas mileage, and more torque easier than the rotary.

Here's a video of the LS1 powered H7 by Hinson Supercars:

http://www.hinsonsupercars.com/HinsonSuperCarsLS1RX7s.mpg

It just doesn't SOUND right, too me....Now..it REALLY looks and sounds like a corvette (Chevy ripped off the RX-7 styling to the CORE when it comes to the front fascia and side vents).