Is it just me?

Excelsior · 31st May 2008, 17:07

I've had my Civic for a week now, which admittedly is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. I was previously driving an old 2000 Accord, which of course is a very different car. I'm finding the Civic decidedly more challenging to drive, in so much as it feels like it sometimes wants to go off on its own! I also feel more bumps etc than I did, although I appreciate with 17 inch wheels on a small car this is probably inevitable.

I'm also experiencing some pulling at low speeds - perhaps more on the not terribly level roads around here. Other things, such as road noise at speed, I anticipated from reviews of the car. I've also got this funny ticking at motorway speeds from the passenger side. I've pushed the plastic coving behind the wheel in a bit - that might have been the culprit.

What I'm trying to get at is - is this normal?! The car's going to the local dealership this week as it happens anyway, but not knowing the car very well I may simply be noticing things more than is normal. Did anyone else experience a "breaking in" period? The car itself is not brand new, it has 8000 miles on it, incidentally...

I have to say though, the power is great, and whilst I am finding the handling a little more lively than I was used to I do nevertheless have faith in it and enjoyable once I relax into it. And it does look the business!

FWH · 31st May 2008, 17:08

Wide (-ish) tyres with a low (-ish) profile will be more sensitive to these kind of tendancies on poor roads.

pcr · 31st May 2008, 18:27

Had you not mentioned Civic in your description, I'm sure many here would have recognised it, oh yes, that's a Civic.

Kremmen · 1st June 2008, 06:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by FWH

Wide (-ish) tyres with a low (-ish) profile will be more sensitive to these kind of tendancies on poor roads.

Now you say that but my IS200 had 17" alloys with low profile tyres but the ride was far better, and quieter.

I've had a few peeps from work travel with me and they nearly always comment on the harsh ride.

cb550 · 1st June 2008, 08:34

Wide tyres such as those on the 17 inch wheels will inevitably be sensative to road camber and any irregularities,especially noticeable with the high geared steering.

everyone knows really the ride is on the firm side-the payback is sporty handling.Other makers use or are coming over to the beam rear axle,including the Auris and the new junior Alfa.

FWH · 1st June 2008, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kremmen

Now you say that but my IS200 had 17" alloys with low profile tyres but the ride was far better, and quieter.

I've had a few peeps from work travel with me and they nearly always comment on the harsh ride.

Harsh ride and noise are two different things.
The harsh ride is a to a large extent due to the simple rear axel design and quite hard general suspension set up.

Clive242 · 1st June 2008, 10:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excelsior

I've also got this funny ticking at motorway speeds from the passenger side.

This sounds very similar to what I had. The fact that it only happens at 50+ makes it really difficult to locate. I've had other people drive the car while I crawl around the dash - not exactly safe.

Eventually I took the car to Lookers Honda in Derby. Their Service Manager came out with me and hunted around for the noise while I drove, all the time saying 'I can't hear anything'. Eventually after about 25 miles he finally heard it and traced it to the centre console.

They had the car for half a day, stripped the centre console down and (thankfully) found a 'loose retaining clip'.

All credit to Lookers for investigating what some might think a trivial fault (but REALLY annoying when you start a 300 mile journey thinking "I've got to listen to that ticking for the next four hours!")

...Anyway, problem now solved, and I'm delighted.

Cheers
Clive

Excelsior · 1st June 2008, 10:49

Thanks Clive, that's a useful comment for me to mention to the dealership; it certainly seems like it's something that's vibrating once the speed gets up so it makes sense it might be something a little loose somewhere. As you say, once you've noticed something like that it's very difficult to ignore it...

31st May 2008, 17:07	#1 (permalink)
Excelsior Valve Cap Join Date: 17th May 2008 Location: Halifax, UK Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Is it just me? I've had my Civic for a week now, which admittedly is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. I was previously driving an old 2000 Accord, which of course is a very different car. I'm finding the Civic decidedly more challenging to drive, in so much as it feels like it sometimes wants to go off on its own! I also feel more bumps etc than I did, although I appreciate with 17 inch wheels on a small car this is probably inevitable. I'm also experiencing some pulling at low speeds - perhaps more on the not terribly level roads around here. Other things, such as road noise at speed, I anticipated from reviews of the car. I've also got this funny ticking at motorway speeds from the passenger side. I've pushed the plastic coving behind the wheel in a bit - that might have been the culprit. What I'm trying to get at is - is this normal?! The car's going to the local dealership this week as it happens anyway, but not knowing the car very well I may simply be noticing things more than is normal. Did anyone else experience a "breaking in" period? The car itself is not brand new, it has 8000 miles on it, incidentally... I have to say though, the power is great, and whilst I am finding the handling a little more lively than I was used to I do nevertheless have faith in it and enjoyable once I relax into it. And it does look the business!

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This thread is about: Is it just me?, it's in General Discussion at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; I've had my Civic for a week now, which admittedly is not a long time in the grand scheme of things. I was previously driving ...

31st May 2008, 17:08	#2 (permalink)
FWH Super Moderator Civinfo master Join Date: 3rd June 2007 Location: Sweden Posts: 6,040 Thanks: 14 Thanked 67 Times in 62 Posts iTrader: (0)	Wide (-ish) tyres with a low (-ish) profile will be more sensitive to these kind of tendancies on poor roads.

31st May 2008, 18:27	#3 (permalink)
pcr Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th September 2006 Location: Shropshire Posts: 848 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Had you not mentioned Civic in your description, I'm sure many here would have recognised it, oh yes, that's a Civic.

1st June 2008, 08:34	#5 (permalink)
cb550 Supporter Triangular Exhaust Join Date: 26th May 2007 Location: Nottingham Posts: 446 Thanks: 13 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts iTrader: (0)	Wide tyres such as those on the 17 inch wheels will inevitably be sensative to road camber and any irregularities,especially noticeable with the high geared steering. everyone knows really the ride is on the firm side-the payback is sporty handling.Other makers use or are coming over to the beam rear axle,including the Auris and the new junior Alfa.

1st June 2008, 10:49	#8 (permalink)
Excelsior Valve Cap Join Date: 17th May 2008 Location: Halifax, UK Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Thanks Clive, that's a useful comment for me to mention to the dealership; it certainly seems like it's something that's vibrating once the speed gets up so it makes sense it might be something a little loose somewhere. As you say, once you've noticed something like that it's very difficult to ignore it...