Is ground clearance the only factor while buying a car?

I am very happy that this topic is being discussed....

I have raised this issue many times  in my comments and views shared in this site.

The cars are designed mostly in overseas developed countires where road conditions are excellent and may be this is not a critical parameter for them.

My personal opinion its " an important factor but not the only factor".

If i have more than two cars whose performance is comparable i will go for car having best GC. I have suffered by driving low GC cars its managable when there is one or two persons but with some increase in load it touches all speed breakers, highs of bad roads etc.

I have gone for AVEO not only  for  GC but yes this was in my mind.I have personally faced  this problems in some of the very popular cars.

True - but any half decent auto manufacturer does take the road condition into account (worse case by 2nd year/generation) and adjusts the ground clearance. I have seen this type of changes in Honda City that we owned. This does not mean that the car will never scrap the bottom 2^nd (or 3^rd) generation onwards – but just they work on finding a best combination/trade-off between ride and protecting the car bottom. Tinkering on ground clearance is a hobby – folks still do this and that is why we have low riders and monster (big wheels) cars.

Go ahead with your choice of car as 165 mm is very appropriate GC for any car. See the GC of a few most popular mid-size cars whose underbelly hardly ever bruises against a bumper. GC of 170 mm in A-star is the best,

http://autos.bixee.com/compare/Chevrolet%20Spark%201.0%20Lt/Maruti%20Suzuki%20A-Star%20Vxi/Maruti%20Suzuki%20Estilo%20Vxi/Maruti%20Suzuki%20Wagon%20R%20Vxi%20Minor-06/?id1=570&id2=1229&id3=2614&id4=1485

The vericit is gc is a factor by not the only factor.

165mm gc is sufficient

Doesn't matter. SUVs are designed with a different philosophy from cars - when you try to increase ground clearance of a car, a lot of things get spoiled - aerodynamics mostly. 

Don't give a thought to ground clearance, buy the car you like. I drive a very low clearance. With five people it kisses speedbreakers but how many times do I have five heavy people in my car? How many high speedbreakers exist in Mumbai? Can't even remember the time I last brushed one. People have been driving the Esteem since ages. Ground clearance should be last thing on your mind when considering buying a car, specially if you live in urban areas.

Hello all,

Good thing is that this thread is initiated....

Can somebody please let me know what happens if this hit happens every often.

Inspite of taking care a lot while driving one or other way my Santro is getting hit on some speedbreakers. I am noticing some sort of sound will heard while passting thru humps. It may be hitting chasis or any base material I have no idea, infact.

I agree this is solely my mistake of driving. Every time on hitting I am feeling very bad and mechanically have no idea of itz implications!

What worst can happen to the car if this happens repetitively so that mentally I can be prepared to face  it  ? 

or

If any suggestions or guidelines to drive thru speed breakers without getting hit is also highly solicited.  Please help me out...

Thanks,

Jay

If you're not hitting very hard AND very often, that's ok. It'll scratch your silencer (muffler). If you're hitting 'really' hard - the hard sound, jumping etc, it's not good for the car overall in the longer run. My car's old (8) and has had these hits but no problem.

Now if you are hitting very hard and very often, you will be basically damaging the whole frame (chasis) eventually because it's not designed for shock from that side. The car doesn't know what to do when it gets hit from under ;)

If your service center is good, they'll tell you every problem that exists.

Tips on negotiating speedbreakers: 0. Look out for them, be observant 1. go slow 2. Go zigzag and slow, if there's no traffic.

However, drive carefully. Decide that you want to avoid these hits and you will start avoiding them. Good driving is a matter of awareness and choice.

cheers

Take speed bumps diagonally(not headon).

Slow down before going over and not while climbing over the bump.

Before u see the bump or a speed breaker slow down the car and drive it at a very low speed.

I second Benoy here.

I personally do exactly the same as he told. Whenever I see a big bump ahead, I slow down and angle a bit. the theory is while crossing the bump your two wheels should not stay aligned. try to angle about a feet, It really works !!