Hard ride over potholes

**Mike RB** · 29th April 2011, 08:56

Strange problem here. Ever since I owned my Vectra from 6 months old, I've felt the car doesn't ride potholes at all well. I avoid the big ones but if I hit some parts of road with chunks missing, the car rides over them with a real bang. This is the same if I ride over bumps with either side of the car.

On uneven but smooth road, the suspension is as expected for a big car. It rides them very well. Any idea if this is normal?

The car is a 58 exclusiv 1.8.

The only car I've got to compare it to is an omega which rides over the poor roads really well.

**lee gsi** · 29th April 2011, 09:02

What size wheel and tyres do you have?

**Ginge7289** · 29th April 2011, 09:05

What lee said.

Has it been lowered?

**Derek Mc** · 29th April 2011, 09:20

The Vectra set up, same as the Saab is quite crashy in any case as it is relatively simple, so it does have a harsh edge to it, if it is an SRi model then more so. However that said there should not be any metal to metal clunk's bangs or noises just suspension travel.

**Mike RB** · 29th April 2011, 09:25

Hello all. Standard 16" structure wheels and is riding on standard suspension.

Derek, you're description has pretty much described how I find it, crashy and harsh. There's no metal to metal clunks bangs or noises just harsh.

So, this could be pretty normal then?

**Al 22 dti** · 29th April 2011, 09:43

mines as crashy as hell!..

iv often wonderd if i had warn bushes or something similar.

al.

**Derek Mc** · 29th April 2011, 09:46

Originally Posted by Mike RB

Derek, you're description has pretty much described how I find it, crashy and harsh. There's no metal to metal clunks bangs or noises just harsh.

So, this could be pretty normal then?

TBH yes I have to say it all sounds par for the course (better than many though (ever tried a Mazda?) so worry not only when things get metallic in nature will you need worry.

**CLOMP** · 30th April 2011, 05:13

tyre type seems to make a difference, when I bought my car it had real budget chineese tyres fitted, but the ride was not to bad, but changed the tyres even though they had 5 mill left,, I put Falken ZE 912s on,, a good tyre but more CRASH OVER THE BUMPS,,I changed the rear bushes but it has made no difference to the crashie ride

**mucklestone** · 30th April 2011, 10:04

I have the same car, 1.8 vvt exclusvie with sixteen inch wheels on and the ride is amazing. I don't even avoid pot holes anymore. The suspension has some rattles that developed whilst I had 18" alloys one, but it still rides brillently, better than a laguna or focus anyway....