What\u2019s your car like at handling the rough roads?\u00a0 Driving over any rut, pothole or big undulation on a main road can be off-putting for the driver or passengers inside a car.\u00a0 The chassis design team has a lot of work to do on a new modern car to keep the ride controlled and compliant.\u00a0 Also, the suspension must be able to cope with a beating from time to time.\u00a0 However, sometimes there is something on the road ahead that seems to just jump out and bite you from time-to-time.\u00a0 Wheel alignment problems can result from running your wheels through a big pothole or against the kerb.<\/p>\n
There is no doubt that potholes are a major factor in causing wheel, axle and suspension failure.\u00a0 A year or two ago, our holiday plans were changed when our Saab was fully loaded up and we were travelling happily toward our first destination.\u00a0 We were travelling along a sealed road, and I hadn\u2019t noticed a nasty hole in the deterioration of the left-side edge of the tarmac.\u00a0 The next thing we all knew was that the front left wheel on the Saab dropped in and out of this hole with an almighty thump, followed by the left rear wheel.\u00a0 The left front tyre went flat, and we pulled over to change the tyre.\u00a0 What we found was that the tyre had been sliced on impact and that the rim had been severely damaged and would need specialist repair.\u00a0 This repair on the Saab\u2019s rim wasn\u2019t cheap, though the tyre was replaced at no cost.\u00a0 Hmmm\u2026not the best way to start the holiday.<\/p>\n
Funding for road repairs doesn\u2019t always keep up with the growing number of potholes in need of repair.\u00a0 In the UK, some clever surveyors have taken this a step further and have managed to work out the cars on UK roads that can handle the potholes better.\u00a0 Apparently, Honda cars seem to be the most apt at taking a beating.\u00a0 Hondas seem to be the most resilient marque against pothole damage.\u00a0 This resilience saves drivers lots of money in repairs each year according to new research carried out by potholes.co.uk.\u00a0 Second to Honda is Toyota.\u00a0 And third comes Hyundai at being the most pothole proof manufacturer.\u00a0 Less than two percent of Hyundai cars suffer axle and suspension damage.<\/p>\n
Looking at the flipside of the coin; Chrysler, Mercedes Benz and Land Rover models are the most likely to be damaged by the UK\u2019s potholey roads.\u00a0 Results show that more than ten percent suffer damage each year.<\/p>\n