I previously owned a 99 TL and just bought a CL. I figured what the heck and went with the Type-S and Nav. I thought the Type-S was just a more powerful engine.

I did not realize until after driving it for an hour on the bumpy city streets of suburban Chicago how stiff and harsh the ride is. Every single bump is felt. I came home after one day (two 30 mile one hour legs) with a sore back and felt like someone had been punching me in the kidneys repeatedly.

I'm not sure I can endure the ride of the CL Type-S. Does this ride sound correct? Anything that can be done to soften it? I love everything else and thought I was buying a luxury car.

I only have 7 days and 350 miles on the car. Any magic words to get the dealer to take it back and I guess give me a plain CL? I feel the dealer and salesman should have warned me about the ride.

 

I went from a '00 TL to a '01 CLS and didn't notice any measurable drop in ride quality.

 

Didn't you test drive the car before you bought it and notice it then ????

Also, which dealer did you buy from (I'm in Chicago) ????

 

Personally do not find the ride very rough at all. But to ask a basic question, did you do any research on the car at all before you bought it? More importantly did you drive the car? Sounds like you did not even test drive the car. Can't blame the dealer for that. I would assume they would take it back but expect to take a nice little hit (aka don't try and deal on the price of the CL too much). Get rid of it if you aren't happy though.

 

You can swap wheels & tires with a CL-P or TL; I'm sure you won't have a problem finding a willing CL-P/TL owner.

 

Add some 235/40/18 and you feel the road more....

 

Did you not test drive the car before you bought it? I test drove one for 20 some miles the day I bought mine, and I had driven one several times prior. You probbly could have picked up on the "harsh" ride if you would have driven it a bit. Just a hunch...

I doubt they'll take it back. Once it's off the lot, it's yours.

Give it some time... You may change your mind.

 

Get a Massage !!!

 

Sure I went for a short drive. It was so much like my TL I did not think I needed much evaluation. The road I was on was pretty smooth. I had complete faith that I would like anything Acura made. In the past when I bought new cards I have taken a potential car for an hour before I would buy it.

The harsh ride does start to bother me until driving for at least 40 minutes on city roads.

I bought it a Mullers Acura in Hoffman Estates. So far they know I do not like the ride and they are not calling me back. I was supposed to get a call from the GM but nothing in 2 days so I'll have to call him.

I bought my TL and a prior to that an Integra GSR from Arlington Acura. Wish I had went there now. Also have owned 2 Accords and a Civic so you could call me a Honda fan that has faith in Honda products.

 

I'm also in Chicago and yes, the ride is more firm than the regular CL. As everyone else has asked, did you test drive the CLS before you decided to buy it?? Also, I personally recommend to test drive a car more than once so that you can get an absolute clear understanding of the car's characteristics. I made sure I drove the CLS over smooth roads as well as roads that had bumps and hills. Also, I've known my Acura salesman for years now and the first thing he told me was that the suspension on the CLS is firmer than on the regular CL. I think the best way to soften the ride is to make sure that your tires are at the prescribed pressure and that you get a car cussion.. I think you would be very foolish to trade your CLS in for a CLP just because of the firmness of the ride..

 

I don't think you can beat up Acura for this one...

I personally thought the stock ride was way too SOFT!

You can come ride in mine for a week and then you'll appreciate the stock one!

My friends 'luxury' BMW 330i with sport package is much stiffer than the CL stock, just for comparisons sake.

 

Well there is a difference in the ride feel compared to the CL-P. The CLS has larger wheels and a stiffer suspension. U could swap the CLS springs for the CL-P which are softer and more the the TL u used to own.
But really keep the car and I bet that after a couple of months u will then realize the real reason why the CLS was made with a tighter suspension. Also after a few months the suspension will soften up a bit but.
And if all else fails and u don't want to waste the time and money with swaping the springs for CL-Ps.
U could alwasy do:
1. Find a speed bump
2. Space urself 100 yards from the bump
3. Accelerate the car to 60
4. Drive the car over the speed bump
5. Repeat untill desired suspension feel is achieved

TRELOS

 

I have a 96 240SX I can trade with you if you really want to know the definition of a rough ride. :P

 

I've lived in Chicago and drive in NY/NJ where the roads are about the same. I have a TL-S and think the ride over rough roads is fine. My last car was a C36 AMG - talk about being punched in the kidneys! Any car with a sport tuned suspension and high performance tires is not going to have as compliant a ride as a base model. As for your situation - caveat emptor.

 

ya, thats a good point.

if your really unsatisfied with the ride...

don't go trading in for a CLP, just swap out your springs with CL-P springs (im sure someone on here would trade you)

and get 16" wheels, if not aftermarket, get CLP wheels/tires.


then you will have same ride as CLP/TL

 

Sounds to me like you chose thew wrong car...

 

I have a CLP with 3000 miles, i'll trade wheels with u. Ur ride will be more comfortable.

 

did you check the tire pressure of your car?
it was posted that some people got their car from the dealer with 40psi in the tires. And that's way over inflated. Drop the pressure down to 32psi or so if you want softer ride.

 

go drive a 01 accord coupe v6 for a couple hours then drive the cl-s for a minute

you will appreciate the car soooo much more!!!!

sidemarker

 

the ride in the cl-p is just fine, it's so smooth, everyone comments that it is one of the smoothest cars they have riden in.

-briancl

 

I noticed that mine really seemed to bounce on the CA concrete freeways much more than I preferred so I played with air pressures until I found the best compromise. Mine seems to ride best on the highway with higher pressures than it does around town. If your doing all city , then 32 front, 28 rear. For highway, I use 35/34. This car is real sensitive to the pressure in the rear tires.

If this does not help, you could always ask them to put the softer CL-P rear springs in the car. I know most here will consider it blasphemy but I've actually thought about too.

IMO, the front is too softly sprung and the rear is a bot too stiff with no passengers. With about 30 pounds in the trunk it is noticeably better.

 

Thanks! The pressure was 40 psi (or higher), I brought it down to 34 and will adjust again when the temp drops. It's 50 today but will be in the 30's soon. Not sure if the recommended 32 psi is measured hot or cold.

Hope this help the ride, will know for sure by end of tomorrow.

 

IMO, I would never take my CL-s on those streets in the first place. I live near new york city, and I promised my car I would never put it through those kinds of punishments. My advise is don't take your $33k sports/luxury coupe down a pothole covered road.

~Sorty

 

I have driven in Chicago, and I realize that the roads aren't great, but I find my CL-S rides is smooth and the bumps aren't bad, but.....

I would suggest checking the tire pressure. This may sounds too simple, but if you lower the pressure down to the lower of the appropriate range, you may find it much softer.

dl

 

1. Certain types of roads (if you can call them that) can make just about anything other than a land yacht feel like you're breaking your fillings

2. The tire pressure trick sure works, but watch the front pressures getting lower that 32PSI (dead cold in the AM).

3. The rear pressures can be dropped, and if you drop enough pressure you will finally bring the rear end out (as hard as it seems to be to do)...

The max pressure on the stock tires is around 40-41 PSI cold, and they support the full load of the car (unlike most tires) at 35 PSI (you could put 4 big people in the car and drive like a maniac with the 93XL load rating) provided you don't mind the squealing of the stock tires.

 

Yes, pressure effects the car's ride quite a bit. 40 is way up there, 34-36 is a good range for me (handling vs. ride). 32 is recommended but doesn't quite feel good in the handling department.

 

16" wheels with a lot of side wall will cure your problem.

 

BINGO! Thats why God invented $8,000 used Buicks. My GF and I are considering getting a used beater... possibly a 95 Explorer, or Blazer? The only thing is who's name to put it under... Probably hers... Since I pay the rent... We don't split it either.