Our natural gas Civic does not like rough pavement. Last night I was puttering home and rolled up to a stop sign. The pavement leading up to the intersection was riddled with small potholes and choppy asphalt and the Civic did not take kindly to it. Under normal braking, I felt the front wheels wash away as the tires struggled to find grip - almost like I was trying to stop on gravel. It was something I hadn't noticed before, so I began paying closer attention to the car's suspension. Next was a right turn that forked-off of the main boulevard. I knew this turn well, since in my earlier years, I used to use a mid-corner bump to gleefully pitch my old musclecar into a brief little slide. Even at sensible speeds without intentionally trying to upset the Civic, it too stepped out just slightly as it rolled over the bump. I was not impressed.
I checked the tires first. The stock Dunlop SP Sport 5000s looked fine with plenty of tread. I can't imagine the shocks are already worn, since we don't beat on the Civic like a sports car, nor do we load the trunk with heavy cargo (especially since the trunk is tiny). According to our specs, the Civic GX only weighs about 100 pounds more than a gas-powered EX, so I can't write it off to any added natural-gas weight. It's a mystery to me, so I'll let keymaster Schmidt know about it. Maybe it needs a second opinion.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 36,922 miles
adamb1 says:
02:15 PM, 01/ 7/10
Probably has rock-hard rubber on tires intended to maximize mpg's.
bodyblue says:
03:52 PM, 01/ 7/10
Kinda off subject but I have always liked the rear end on the current gen Civics...just a handsome car all the way around. And adamb1 is probably correct...rubber is the problem with the ride.
PS
"Easily upset" could also be used to describe a few posters on here when certain cars are criticized. :)
carguy622 says:
04:02 PM, 01/ 7/10
I imagine adamb1 is right and it did have something to do with the rock hard tires, but I also feel like the last two generations of the Civic lost some suspension sophistication when they switched to front struts.
Moreover, the braking episode says more about Hondas' lack of decent brakes. Both my Accord and Acura have underpowered, warp prone brakes.
misterfusion says:
04:05 PM, 01/ 7/10
"The pavement leading up to the intersection was riddled with small potholes and choppy asphalt..."
Oh, so you were in my neighborhood!
The deteriorating road conditions in the L.A. area wreak havoc on firm suspensions and hard rubber. I don't even want to think about what it's like for my friend in his Mini Cooper S with sport suspension and run-flats.
mtakahashi says:
04:47 PM, 01/ 7/10
Try driving down WIlshire's Miracle Mile in a Lotus Elise..."butt-shattering" is how I'd describe it. Probably explains why my steering rack is in need of replacement.
I initially suspected the Civic's tires were the culprit, but since they're only 3-4 years old, I thought otherwise. I'd driven that same stretch back in October in the same car and did not notice the same lack of grip. Given the mileage, I also doubt the shocks could be that worn.
ddark13 says:
06:02 PM, 01/ 7/10
i find this true of many japanese cars (especially the lower-end ones). their lack of refinement comes across most disconcertingly in rough road surfaces. after owning a g35 coupe and dealing with things as described above and switched to german cars which much much more solid feeling
clarkma5 says:
09:22 PM, 01/ 7/10
Dunlop SP Sport 5000s are actually reasonably sticky...I would be rather surprised if those were the tires that came on this car, first of all because they're not an eco-minded tire and secondly because they're just not a tire you see around too much anymore since they've been on the market for a solid ten years if not a little more...that's really old for a tire design.