Hi all,

I ordered a vrs hatch in Dec which I'm informed should be with me in May but I have a nagging doubt about the ride quality..... I had the test drive and thought it a little firm (as you would expect) but acceptable, I am now a bit nervous that it may turn out to be a bit of a bone shaker and as it's a company car on a lease I will have it for 3 years.

What are everyone's thoughts on it compared to 'normal' cars

(I ordered with the standard 18" wheels)

Cheers all

I find mine very comfortable. A little bit of road noise on rough / poor surfaces due to the wider tyres but generally very good and the little bit of firmness pays dividends when you realise how flat and composed it remains through corners for a car of its size.

I know what you mean, I had similar concerns. I have to agree with Mike83. Before this, I had a Citroën C5 with a super soft ride. No doubt it is quite stiff but either it loosens up or you get used to it. To be honest I can't imagine going back to that magic carpet ride again, it's just lifeless. I haven't any complaints with mine and everyone who rides in it says it's comfortable. After long journeys on poor roads, I never feel shaken or stirred. Relax and enjoy the wait,  you'll be fine.

As above my previous motor was a Citroen c5. Very comfortable but extremely dull. Prior to that I had a civic type r which was tiring to drive due to the ride. I think the Vrs is perfect, I've had her over some rough roads and never had any problems. It's comfortable and dynamic at the same time.

Edited 8 April, 201412 yr by parsey83

After long journeys on poor roads, I never feel shaken or stirred. Relax and enjoy the wait,  you'll be fine.

 

 

I totally agree, I've driven medium range journeys in mine 400 - 600 miles a day and I've always been bouncing when I get out of the car. I cannot say this about any of my other cars in recent memory inc 207SW, C-Max, Focus, MG ZR & ZS (they did shake you), Type R, Impreza (400+bhp was bloody good fun though), Fiesta, Vectra.

 

Recently I did a round trip of around 450 miles, spent the day shopping in Liverpool and went out on the drink as soon as I got home. Couldn't of done it with any of the above, as I would of just fallen asleep.

Ride is very similar to my previous 2010 3-Series The BMW gave a little more steering feedback and was more fun at the limit, but general motorway cruising or pottering around town feels very very similar within both cars. Ride is firm but not bone shaking, and the car covers distances well. It is only when pushing hard that you notice the chassis' FWD weaknesses (understeer, understeer and lack of steering feel). Otherwise the car is very capable, with the brakes being particularly good.

It is only when pushing hard that you notice the chassis' FWD weaknesses (understeer, understeer and lack of steering feel).

 

Just to add that the 4x4 is biased slightly towards oversteer although all the active stuff means that it never gets out of hand. But if you throw it round a (empty!) roundabout the back end drifts out slightly well before the front end moves off line. It really does have amazing amounts of front end grip. This is with the 205x16 tyres rather than the 225x17 or 18s. Given also that the non-VRS diesel engine is a real gem I have to say (controversially, I know) that I think the 4x4 is overall a more rewarding car to drive than the VRS.

When I first got my Octy the ride seemed very hard, although not a VRS I have an elegance with 18's and sports suspension.  I had just come from a Mondeo ST which was significantly better over the same road surfaces and an Audi A4 with sports suspension and 18's (Audi sport suspension = rock hard).  The Octy felt similar to the Audi on most road surfaces.

 

Now she's got a few miles under her belt the same roads that casued jarring I don't notice any more and it's not that I ignore them, the wife always comments on how smooth the ride is.

 

Don't worry, the ride will soften slightly with use.

 

Handling is neutral though.  Too much artifical assistance.  The Mondeo on Goodyear Eagle F1's had fantastic steering feedback.

I came from a Mazda 3 MPS and the ride is much softer. It's a million times better than my old Civic Type-R.

I personally think it's spot on, not hard at all but suitably controlled when pressing on.

P

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In my opinion it's very nicely judged. It can get slightly unsettled at low speeds over ridgy surfaces, but certainly not uncomfortable for the vast majority of the time. 

Completely agree with the above. Reassuringly planted, but suitable for mega mileage trips, especially once you've gotten used to the handling.

Thanks for the replies folks - hopefully should be ok then, I'm not hearing a lot of people complaining about the vrs on the whole.

Just got to wait for it to come now .........

My parents didn't like the ride in the vrs I drove at the dealers they much prefered the elegance (not surprisingly)

However they both like the ride in my vrs (estate) and don't find it too hard or rough. I notice a poor quality road over a good quality one - m20 vs m2 but it's still comfortable either way