I ask because I have driven my sister's 99 EXV6 accord and I have not been able to tell too striking of a difference in the handling. Let me tell you, though, that I have not had the nerve to really drive it like I drive my max cause...you know...it's not my car. But just driving normally I don't see too much of a difference. So I'm thinking: My max is supposed to have a sport-tuned suspension. I've driven a 99 GLE before and I could tell a difference b/w that car and mine (thankfully). But no diff b/w mine and the accord. But anyway, I'm thinking that a sport tuned suspension means stiffer ride, a drawback to better handling. A stiffer ride means stiffer springs and a higher damping coefficient for the shocks or struts, right? So if I were to push down on the front end of the car, it should be harder to push down for a car with a sport tuned suspension, right? I've tried it on my mother's lesabre and it bounces a couple of times. No surprise considering how smooth it rides. (Heavier cars ride smoother, I know, but it's only about 400 lbs more than the max.) I tried it on the accord, though, and it seems stiffer than my max; it's easier to push down the max than the accord. Somebody explain this to me. Maybe I didn't feel comfortable pushing on it either, since it's new (to my sister anyway).

 

Actually the 98-02 Accords have a much rougher suspension than the 4th Generation Maximas...... assumng that the suspensions are stock..... The Accord's suspension is stiffer but will tend to break loose a good bit easier than a Maxima SE... The Maxima has a better and smoother ride and better all around handling in my opinion...

 

The suspension in the Accord is much better then the suspension in a Maxima.

Hondas have 4 wheel independent double wishbone set ups.

 

Hmm. That has just made me have to reevaluate my feelings about my car. So reasons for having my max over a V6 accord...First of all there's still the 5-speed thing. Then it looks better, shape wheels, etc. And although initial new car cost was greater for the max, it depreciated faster, making it cheaper when I was ready to buy. Man, that could be it. Oh yeah, I guess more mods available, right? Anyone pieced together a turbo for a four or 6 cyl accord? What about s/c? Oh yeah another question. The accord I was talking about was the sedan. The coupe isn't all that different with respect to suspension from the sedan is it?

 

 

Pushing on a suspension will tell you as much about how it'll handle just about as much as the color of a chick's hair will tell you how good she is in bed.....

You've got to really.... errr... drive it.

Accord = true indep. rear

-RMB

 

I agree...... the only true way to feel the difference is to really drive both cars rather hard..... I dont know how the suspension on the accors is set up, but I dont really care for its road handling capabilities for an every day driver..... Another thing that I dont care for is the level of road noise in the Accord...... Its a good, reliable car, but I prefer the Maxima.....

 

Pushing on the car will give you a hint about the stiffness of the springs on the car. Does that translate to anything about the ride/handling of the car...absolutely not. That is affect by too many other factors like wieght, location of wheels relative the center of gravity, and suspension geometry to name a few. Also, it will tell you nothing about the dampers. The force they produce is proporional to the rate at which they are compressing/extending where as springs producea forcethatis only proportional to how much it is deformed. The only useful info you can get by pushing down on the car is a crude estimate of the condition of the dampers. If it bounces, they are worn out. That's about it

 

Or if it bounces, it could mean that the dampers have a lower damping coefficient. I know that; I took vibrations too. Also a spring with a low stiffness (k) compresses more when you press on it. So I would expect that a car that's harder to push down and bounces less is has a stiffer suspension, meaning a higher spring constant (k) and a higher damping coefficient (c). This is the case with the V6 accord relative to my se max. I just wanted some verification of my assumptions and my unscientific experiment. So, thanks.

 

Redheads are pretty crazy in general... from experience.

 

Only when the carpet matches the drapes.

 

I guess that would be akin to having Eibach stickers, but stock springs.