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Buying a used 2005 EX: Question on Ride Quality

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Old Aug 31, 2009 | 01:09 PM
  #1  
Prochembro
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Default Buying a used 2005 EX: Question on Ride Quality

So i've found a nice 2005 EX for a great price. It looks great, has a nice body kit (looks almost stock, no rice at all), great black paint job etc.

However, I've only test driven 1 accords and this one seems a bit different.

The other is a plain stock 2006 model. In comparison, there were tings a i liked and i didn't like.

The ride in this on seemed more 'jerky'. It was a very nice sporty and tight ride, however, it was substanncially more firm than the 2006 EX i drove week ago.

Now this 2005, has 17" rims while the 2006 has 16".

Could that 1" attribute the rougher ride?

The salesman said beside the body kit and rims, no other alterations to the suspension, engine or brakes were made.


Would reverting back to 16" rims make the car ride smoother? Btw I love the ride as it is, however, my gf does tend to get car sick at times and this sort of a ride would make that worse.
 
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 01:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Prochembro
Could that 1" attribute the rougher ride?
YES.

BTW, welcome to the site!
 
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 01:18 PM
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Prochembro
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The tires are 215/55 17"

not sure about the brand.

What rims/tires should i get to have a smoothest ride as possible?
 
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 04:40 PM
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Smoothness & sharp handling kinda go in opposite directions.

15" with 205/60 R15 might be smoothest.

17" best handling

16" maybe a good compromise. Your GF gets carsick from a too-harsh ride? Maybe a real soft floaty ride would be more like sea-sickness? I'd have a hard time guessing what's best.
 
Old Aug 31, 2009 | 10:11 PM
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First see if the seller will let you set the pressure to the minimum pressure (probably 32 psi), then take it for a drive.

Going to a taller side wall (to a 65 series vs a 60), will also have some effect.

John
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Old Sep 1, 2009 | 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Gr8bald1
First see if the seller will let you set the pressure to the minimum pressure (probably 32 psi), then take it for a drive.
Yes, but with 17" low-profile tires, using low pressure means more risk of bending the rims on potholes.

Originally Posted by Gr8bald1
Going to a taller side wall (to a 65 series vs a 60), will also have some effect.
Switching from 17" to 16" is a better way of getting a taller sidewall, since that maintains the same outer tread diameter.

Getting a taller tire in 17" means your speedometer/odometer will be off, and the tires are more likely to rub on something inside the fenders.
 
Old Sep 1, 2009 | 06:43 PM
  #7  
Prochembro
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here's a pic of the car,



let me know if you guys think its lowered.

So how big a difference would it be going from these 17s to say some 16s?

I can easily swap the rims out. Right now, the ride is just a tad too rough for my tastes. I'm pretty sure most people wouldn't think it's bad at all.

Maybe I'm not used to it yet, but I don't like the jerkiness associated with these rims/tyres.
 
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 12:17 AM
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It looks like it was lowered a tiny bit... look through the wheels at the shocks and springs. Factory parts are going to be black, whereas aftermarket spring and shocks will be a rainbow of colors. For example, my springs are red and my shocks are yellow.

EDIT: Since it appears to have a minimal drop, I'd guess they are Eibach Pro-Kit or H&R O.E. springs. The Eibachs may be a dark gray or gunmetal color while the H&R's are probably red (like mine). Both are a quality spring and wouldn't cause a concern in reliability, but it sounds like the rougher ride might not be what you want.
 
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 08:11 AM
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Are you in the U.S.? Cause if that is a american market '05 it has the wrong taillights and that would make me worried about how they got there. 2005 had a tiny white reverse light instead of the large one in the picture.
 
Old Sep 2, 2009 | 10:01 AM
  #10  
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Talking Good Eye There mcnoople

Originally Posted by mcnoople
Are you in the U.S.? Cause if that is a american market '05 it has the wrong taillights and that would make me worried about how they got there. 2005 had a tiny white reverse light instead of the large one in the picture.
I'm looking at my tailight manual and your right as rain..His tails on the deck in that picture are off the 2003-2004 Accord...stock numbers L&R 34156SDAA01 & 34151SDAA01

WheelBrokerAng
 



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