2010 Honda Fit Sport
Bought a week ago used with 19,000 miles and ready to get rid of it already. If it rode better I would be happy with it but I honestly have never driven such a rough riding car. I had a geo metro hatchback 10 years ago that was way more comfortable. I have had older civics, accords, mazda protege, acura integras, old broncos. All rode better. It is truly ridiculous how bad it rides.
I let a few pounds of air out of the tires after taking a beating last night driving it 100 miles each way to the airport and I live in the south where the roads are pretty smooth.
It was even loaded down on the way to the airport with 3 adults, 1 child and 2 big suitcases. Thought the weight would make it ride better, but it didn't.

Also creaks in the front end when going over speed bumps.

Does anybody sell springs and struts to improve the ride quality without lowering the car?

 

How did you not notice the 'rough ride' on a test drive?

 

Smooth roads around dealership. Seemed a little stiff. I am in Alabama and most roads are pretty good but you can feel the paint stripes in the road with this. Used to live in OH and PA and it would get shaken apart up there I would think.

 

What your describing doesn't sound common. Are you sure the previous owner didn't modify their suspension then convert to stock? I'm thinking maybe cut bump stops or worn shocks/struts.

I know the fit sport is on the stiffer side but even living in California and driving on terrible roads it isn't an inconvenience.

Also most aftermarket spring and shocks/struts are only going to give you a stiffer ride not smoother. Maybe kyb shocks/struts would be a little smoother but not by much.

I would take the car back to the dealer and say there might be a problem with the suspension and see if you can have them take a look.

 

the '12 and '13 ride smoother. maybe you can find someone selling their stock struts and springs.

 

Yeah, that doesn't sound normal. I mean, it's not a Caddy for sure, and the 2010s are a little on the rougher side than the refreshed 2012, but mine was definitely not noticeably bad or annoying when I got it, and the car I hopped out of at the dealership was a stock Element.

The creaks in the front make me suspicious, I didn't get those creaks until recently as my shocks are on their way out at 100k miles. Also wondering if the PO swapped back to stock before trading it in or something.

 

creaks can be blown shocks as wanderer mentioned, or just bushsings (ie : swaybar bushing) needing some grease. maybe check under the dust cover on the strut to verify any leaks.

 

btw, my '12 running swift springs and DWS is super smooth...

 

I agree with what everyone else is saying....

Mine rides like you are describing in NYC and I've lowered it with swifts and kyb shocks...

I have stock springs and struts I can sell you, though I'm not sure about the shipping.....pm me if interested...

 

I have a 2013 and I really like the ride and handling. The ride is firm and the handling is very positive. Love it.

 

Pretty sure the car has never been modified. Guess I'll try taking it back and letting the dealer look at it. They already did the CPO inspection on it so I have a bumper to bumper for a year or 12,000 miles. The couple that owned it bought a new one.

 

My mother-in-law has a '09 and I usually feel pretty jarred sitting in the back. We bought a '13 last year and I've noticed quite a difference. The '13 feels much gentler to me. I thought the seat seemed stiffer in the '09, too, like they were a harder foam.

 

I'm rolling on Tein Basis coil overs and the car rides perfect, not bumpy or overly stiff. Its the best daily driver suspension Ive had in years. i have like 40k miles on them now and they ride as nice as day one.

 

Even my lowered 2008 was never as bad as OP describes. Either he's got something wrong or its all in his head.

 

I have a '13, and wasn't aware of the softened suspension for the 12-13...dang now I am kind of curios about how stiff the 09-11 fits are.

 

Very, very slightly stiffer. The difference is negligible.

 

Have you checked the simple thing? The air pressure maybe on the high side. Take a check and let us know

 

Changing for smaller wheels with a bigger sidewall might be the cheapest way to increase ride comfort. Just going from my 15" rims with yokohamas to my 14" winter tyres makes a very big difference to me. I prefer the stiffer 15" inch myself but the softer ride is nicer over bumpy ice and snow convered roads.

 

As Desmond said, what's the tire pressure? you said you let a few lbs of air out but never said what you started with. Mine runs at 36psi so I don't have to deal with the light when the temps drop. If you are up in the 40's, you've found your initial problem.

My parents rented a RAV4 for a week trip just to see how they ride before buying a CR-V. My mom hated the ride because it was so rough. Discovered they had the Tires at 47psi all the way around which was the first problem. (the 2nd was that my dad was driving).

~SB

 

I have done the tire pressure thing and didn't notice much difference. Just dropped it off at the dealer to have them check it out. I looked up the springs and struts on a dealer part website and the 2010 and the 2013 show up as the same part numbers.