When I first took delivery of my new TSX on July 9, my ride home (45 miles from Dayton to Sidney, Ohio) was extremely disappointing. Contrary to my esperience with the test vehicle, the ride of my new TSX was nothing short of "jolting"...extremely harsh over road bumps and expansion joints, etc. When I arrived home, I waited for the tires to cool down, then checked the pressures. Woah!...every tire was at least 5 lbs. high. I adjusted the pressures to the proper 32 front, 30 rear, then e-mailed my dealer to complain.

Long story short...even after correcting the tire pressures, I found the TSX's ride to be far more harsh than I had expected (even to the point where I thought I may have made a mistake in choosing the Acura). Fortunately, after about 1,500 break-in miles the suspension seems to have settled in, and the ride is now far less abrupt. A few more break-in miles, and I expect my new TSX to ride just as I had hoped it would.

Anyone else experience this same change in ride after some "break-in miles"?

 

The TSX comes with a sport-tuned suspension and 17" wheels. The car is set up to bias towards sharp handling, not a cushy ride. Mine has about 6800 miles now, and, while I can't say for sure if it's "settled in" or not, I can say I've gotten used to the stiffer ride.

I think if you keep driving it, you'll find that you come to like the firmness of the ride, especially on twisty sections of road.

Definitely it took me a while to get used to the stiff ride, especially on rougher, textured sections of road.

It's all good now.

 

Well, when I test drove the car (I'll assume you did the same) I made the comment that the ride was a bit stiff. But, I knew that would translate into better handling so I didnt have a problem with it. And yes, I've got over 2K now on the car and it has "broken in" a bit. Maybe not as harsh as it first was.

 

i too found it harsh during break in.

followed the advice of members here and set to correct tire pressure, but now i am running 35/32psi and w/4.2k miles it's much more comfortable

 

Sounds like they didnt deflate the tires during the PDI like they are supposed.

When cars are delivered off the truck the tires are ALWAYS over-inflated for transpo.

 

I haven't noticed the ride becoming any more cush over time, but it's not an ideal car for highway travelling. I find it to be a nice balance between sportiness and comfort, though I can see how it wouldn't be for others.

 

You get used to the harsher ride. In all honesty, it's still cushy when compared with my Integra from before.

 

I had the same experience. The test drive vehicle had a much more forgiving ride than my new TSX when I picked it up. Now, after 3800 miles the ride has softened a bit. Either that or I've grown more accustomed to it (probably a combination of both). The ride is still taunt but I wouldn't call it harsh. I does jump a bit if you ride on a hghway with somewhat raised expansion joints at just the right speed.

 

yes I feel the same way about how the car rides, its super stiff and uncomfortable on long trips. Some people have said to change out the springs to a tein spring or eibach

 

harsh? not really. i found the ride really smooth. so smooth i couldn't stand it, so i lowered it haha.

and it still rides really good. don't know what ride you are trying to compare too, but you are one of the few people i have ever heard complain about the ride of the tsx.

 

vifferman, I'm curious what your last car was. It might skew your point of reference. If it was a domestic, then, sure, the TSX would seem harsh.

 

Just to clarify a bit...I totally understand sport suspensions and the trade-offs of ride quality with 17-inch wheels and low-profile tires, etc. I fully expected my new TSX to have a firm, sporting ride, but when new my TSX was nearly unbearable over bumps and rough surfices (expansion joints, et al), and that was not at all what I experienced when I drove the TSX demo car. I've owned a Mazda RX7, a SAAB 9-3, and a BMW 328 and none of these cars rode as brutally hard as my TSX when new. Anyway, I guess it's somewhat of a moot point now, as my TSX's suspension has clearly now settled in to the point where the harshness is all but gone. I was just curious to hear from other owners to see if anyone had a similar "break-in" experience.

 

got mine w/ 3 miles on it from the dealer, suspension never changed as far as i can tell... maybe you changed

 

Damn, and I thought my TSX has had the nicest ride of all cars owned. I think it is the smoothest car I have driven in a long time.

 

Actually I did notice that it was stiffer than I expected. I wouldn't say it was unbearable, but I remember test driving the RSX and the TSX together and thinking I was buying a much quieter and comfortable ride...

But I wouldn't say it's too harsh. It wasn't bad... now when I drive the minivan around it feels like a boat.

 

TSX is like a Caddy compare to my old Civic Si.

 

Harsh ride? Man oh man, my last vehicle was a Ford Explorer and getting into my TSX (with only 800 or so miles so far) is like night and day. I would call the ride "firm" but definitely not harsh. If it improves any more over the next thousand miles, it could only be considered a bonus.

 

Welocme to the world of sport suspensions. :gheywave:

 

It sounds like they did not do a great job at PDI. Check to make sure that spring spacers are not left in the suspension components. This was a problem with S2000's once and a while.

The spacers are blocks put into the suspension (springs) to stop them from moving during shippment. They should be removed before driving, but it sounds like you might have them still in there. If you find them, you will want your dealer to remove them immediately because they will damage components, if not make lose control of your car first.

 

If the road is uneven concrete, one can really get bouncing. Sunday afternoon I actually knocked wax loose in my ears (GROSS!!!!) driving down I-205 towards Oregon.

However:

In my old Volvo 240 with an IPD suspension, I pulled over to the side to check for a flat tire because the ride was incredibly rough suddenly. The TSX is *far* more mild-riding than that.

In my Volvo S-70GLT that I traded for the TSX, the road was rough but tolerable. I credit the mid-level suspension and 15" thickRubber for that.

The TSX suspension is quite composed but those lower-profile tires transmit much more information to ones back, neck, and rump. However, I'd like things even more firm to reduce sway while going up Germantown road in Portland. (You just have to drive that road....25mph limit and they mean it! It's a winder like S.F.'s Lombard street except it's about 4 miles long through a forest.)

If you've been driving something with a mushy set-up, getting used to the TSX will take some time I'll bet.

I'd recommend giving it some time; I'd guess you'd seriously miss the car if you got rid of it in the next few months.

My cent and a half....
Daryl J.

 

TSX are design that way to accomodate speed cornering My old galant was stiffer but then again I had 19s in that sucker...

 

Actually I couldn't agree more, my TSX feels like I'm in a go cart without suspension compared to the lush ride of my Grand Caravan with all the amenities. But then again a go cart will literally drive whooop-ass circles around that Caravan - with my wife and kids inside it with their noses pressed up against the huge Caravan side-glass looking at me . . . ha, ha, ha!

Vifferman, my wife's 70 year old uncle has a 2003 LeSabre for sale that rides like a dream. I could get you deal . . . Long live the harsh riding go-cart.

In all hoesnty I'm just in a sh*t disturbing mood (& try out the icons) - I too found it a bit hard at first, even from my 96 Neon (no B.S.). But then again I never found myself trying to get an extra 2 KM/hr on this one onramp everytime I take it. he he he. And I do like it on the hi-way as well. I'm happy with the trade-off of a harsher ride for much sharper handling.

 

the ride was really stiff at first - so much so that I hesitated to buy it after the test drive - great on the highway but when I turned off onto a city street, it really bounced uncomfortably - people who suggest a Buick is the answer aren't helping anybody - they obviously don't live on a bumpy street - I've driven plenty of cars with sport suspension and the TSX ride was not as good - but the good news is, it has gotten better and/or I have gotten more used to it ... and yes, the tires were overinflated!

 

Vifferman, I live in Columbus and travel all over Ohio pretty often so I can say my road experience is probably similar to yours. I have about 9700 miles on my TSX now. When I first got it the ride was very stiff, but after about 2500 miles, it softened enough to classify as comfortable for a sport suspension. I run the factory recommended pressure in my Michellins. I used to drive a Jeep Grand Cherokee, so the TSX seems harsh in all regards, but it also goes where I point it and right now I would say the suspension is a near perfect balance of comfort and sportiness. My roommate prefers it to his 325xi underpinnings.

The ride for you should improve as the suspension components are broken in. That's most likely why the test vehicle felt more comfotable.

 

Sonuva bitch! My tires were 45 psi after checking it when I got home from the dealership.

 

could be a reason for that harsher than usual ride.

 

ya, the TSX is definitely a stiffer ride than most 4-door sedans out there. I had a '01 Celica GTS before the TSX, and it was way more bouncy. And while I preferr the handling of my old Celica to the TSX, I would still prefer the TSX over my old car - simply because of its overall features list.

 

A "bouncy" ride equates to better handling?? Curious...

 

nothining like bouncing down the road to inspire confidence at high speeds

 

I hate underdamped cars...

 

Car and driver didnt think it had a harsh ride

As a matter of fact, i get complimented all the time about how smooth my car rides.

Listen, you want rough? I'll take you for a spin in my trans am.. now theres a punishing suspension!

 

I guess I'm the crazy one that thinks the ride is too soft.

 

^ time to upgrade your susp

 

umm....RESURECTION!!!!!! WOW! The 06-08's are apparently more cushy though....

 

I'm with this guy. I've always liked the way the TSX rides; that's one of the reasons we bought it (and another one). It's not a Buick ya know. The 05 was actually getting a little soft at around 40K, so I replaced the shocks with Koni Yellows. It's lowered now, handles even better (especially after the Progress rear sway bar install) and still rides great (I think). My wife's 07 actually doesn't ride too differently and she has no complaints (ironically, she does 700 miles a week, all highway). So much for the crappy highway ride!

 

the rsx is even worse

 

I lowered my car when I had 3.2k miles on the odometer. Even then, the stock suspension felt stiff on rough roads. Sometimes my tein SS feels smoother than the stock suspension =P

 

MY girls TSX rides smooth as silk on smooth roads. Hitting the bumps is when I think I'm riding in a civic.