Hey guys,

I searched here and google to find the main disadvantages of this setup and I'm not satisfied.
The reason for my interest is my search for a new car. I presently have an EJ1with a b18c1 engine and i did a lot of work on the car. Now i work 90 minutes away from home (no traffic, but rough roads) and I don't want to run down my car. Since I'm sticking to honda, my choices are a City or Civic. Both are 2011. Speed isn't an issue as it'll be my daily. The only big difference I see with these two cars are the rear suspension. The Civic has the usual Mc Pherson and the City has the torsion bar.
If I can save a couple thousand and go with the City I'll be great. But if the suspension sucks I'll go with the Civic. So anyone have any input on this suspension?

 

The US never got the Honda City, so most people on here aren't going to be able to say much concerning it.

But, the Jazz/Fit uses a torsion beam rear suspension, so you might want to draw comparisons to them instead.

Personally, for a pure street car commuter, I don't see any issues with a torsion beam, other than slightly worse independence of the suspension, which shouldn't be much different than simply running a stiffer swaybar.

Unless you really do mean "torsion bar" instead of torsion beam, in which case it tells us nothing about the structural design of the suspension, only the spring design used (a car can use torsion bars for the springs and have double wishbones for suspension location, on the same axle, for example).

 

I mean torsion beam, my bad. Yea the Jazz and Fit are very similar to the City.
So I guess I'll be used to it because my EJ1 has a stiffer sway bar and poly bushings.
I just thought that the individual suspension would be a huge advantage with control.
The 1.5 on the City has enough power for me and I know I'll still miss my present power if I go with the 1.8 Civic anyway. I'm saying that for those who may wonder why I'm comparing two cars from two different classes. It's just a dd to get to work while I use the coupe on weekends ( i LOVE it!!)

 

Responding to the bolded part, in theory, yes a more independent design is better from a performance aspect. In reality, there won't be much, if any, difference for daily use conditions. Many people even consider the design better than struts for the rear of a FWD car, due to toe and camber change differences.

Just think of it as a trailing arm design with a built in swaybar.

The connecting link spanning the width flexes. When it flexes, negative camber is gained (good for cornering), but there isn't camber change when both sides move together (good for braking).

 

Thanks for the advice. Decided on a JDM (used) FD1
Cheaper than the New City where I'm from and much better in every way.

 

IVE NEVER HAD THAT SET UP BUT IM SURE IT WOULD MAKE IT ALOT TIGHTER ON CORNERS

 

I THINK THIS WOULD BE BAD A*S THOUGH

 

Where did you get it USED? Online?