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In my extensive 9-3 test drives I loved almost everything about the car. Living in NYC I found the stiff ride of the 2001 9-3SE over road patches, manholes, potholes to be my major concern. Also concerned about rim damage having killed a couple over the years. Drove both the Base and SE in trying to decide if the SE ride was a big enough negative to offset the benefits of the seat memory (two drivers) and power passenger seat. I thought the SE harshness would get tiresome and so compromised and got the SE with the 15" wheels and MXV-4 tires. I have been pleased with the result - when riding in my friend's identical SE with 16" and Goodyears I can really feel the difference in ride and don't think the handling is seriously compromised. Don't know if it is the tire model or tire size that is the major difference.
In comparing the base and SE models:
- Found that the base tracked better in a straight line and initial steering response was not much different.
- The SE definitely held slightly better in testing at the limit on entrance and exit ramps.
- The base ride was much softer over uneven surfaces but on big humps it felt floaty.
- The base tire noise level was much lower.
- The base did not seem to lean much more in long curves, just wobbled more during steering corrections.
My conclusion is that the SE ride harshness is due to both the tires and shocks. I suspect the spring rates are similar - in fact my SE seems soft with slow bump imputs but kicks hard on sharp bumps. I would like to try to soften the SE shocks, but the base are too soft I am afraid.
Questions for Schu - do you have a base or SE? Are the Konis on full soft any softer than the SE shocks so I could see if they help? Is there something else about the Konis that make them less harsh? What are the Monroes like compared to the other shocks discussed?
Mitch
posted by 162.83.1...
, Sat, 1 Dec 2001 01:02:32
, Thu, 29 Nov 2001 19:31:29, Wed, 28 Nov 2001 18:41:34, Thu, 29 Nov 2001 09:56:11, Thu, 29 Nov 2001 19:49:51, Thu, 29 Nov 2001 19:46:00
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