Ride Quality After 10,000 Miles?

[TW85]

I have 11,000 miles on my car now and have noticed the ride is a little firmer and harsher (good thing, IMO). I remember someone mentioning the same thing but at the time most of us had less than 5,000 miles on our cars. Now with more mileage, have you noticed a change in the ride quality?

[mmcdonald]

I can't speak for the SLE owners. I have a Sport with 18K, and the ride is the same, except for the degredation due to the cheap-*ss tires.

My feeling is that once they are changed, the car will handle even better than new.

Perhaps that is where the ride issue lies.

You say it is "firmer." Is that "harsher?" Or a better firmer ride?

[TW85]

I guess what I meant is I now feel more of the road surface than I used to.

[got sport]

I enjoy my ride the same when I first got it, and now I have my Sport lowered and with 24K miles.

[jsie]

I can't speak for the SLE owners. I have a Sport with 18K, and the ride is the same, except for the degredation due to the cheap-*ss tires.

My feeling is that once they are changed, the car will handle even better than new.

Perhaps that is where the ride issue lies.

You say it is "firmer." Is that "harsher?" Or a better firmer ride?

I definetely agree w/ mmcdonald. My original tires are practically dead at 5k (become very hard). I can't wait to worn out the threads to get a better replacement.

[TW85]

Maybe it is the tires. They've worn quite a bit (coin test says about 4/32" left) and will soon be replaced with Pirellis.

[junest]

Right now I only have 3K, I'll let you guys know when I get up there. It rides stiffer now since it been lowered.

[slingshot]

Right now I only have 3K, I'll let you guys know when I get up there. It rides stiffer now since it been lowered.

How much stiffer did the ride get? If the ride from the factory was a 9 out of 10, what is it now?

[junest]

Right now I only have 3K, I'll let you guys know when I get up there. It rides stiffer now since it been lowered.

How much stiffer did the ride get? If the ride from the factory was a 9 out of 10, what is it now?

A lot stiffer. I would say 15 out of 10 and 10 being the stiffest. It's off the charts. I went with the TRD spings.

[jsie]

Right now I only have 3K, I'll let you guys know when I get up there. It rides stiffer now since it been lowered.

How much stiffer did the ride get? If the ride from the factory was a 9 out of 10, what is it now?

I would say my suspension characteristic is pretty much the same. But now I believe this aging tires cause me to feel pretty much every gravel on the street; and the road grip is drastically reduced. Mine came w/ the Toyo tires; and if i will rate someting, I'll rate the tire's road grip which I would give 7 out of 10 when brand new and now at 7k I give a 3 or 4.

[slingshot]

Right now I only have 3K, I'll let you guys know when I get up there. It rides stiffer now since it been lowered.

How much stiffer did the ride get? If the ride from the factory was a 9 out of 10, what is it now?

A lot stiffer. I would say 15 out of 10 and 10 being the stiffest. It's off the charts. I went with the TRD spings.

You misunderstood me. 10 out of 10 means the most comfy ride that isolates you from road surfaces- example: luxury car. The Solara is 9 out of 10 meaning pretty damn comfy ride. So the ride with your lowered TRD springs would be a lower number as you would feel every road joint. So what do you think this new number is?

[got sport]

Mine is still a 9.

[gogeta]

i definitely feel more of the road as well....i have just about 10 thousand on it....still love my car though....

[slingshot]

Mine is still a 9.

I wonder why Junest got a totally different result than you if you both used the TRD springs. Until your post, I had heard the springs worsen the ride quite a bit but make flat handling in turns better.

[got sport]

I'm assuming it's because I have the SE Sport with the Sport supsension.