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There's also a reason European cars, from small hatches to luxo-barges, come with enormous wheels these days, and beyond that low profile tires and in my American opinion an abnormally taught and responsive suspension. It's to soak up all those horrid craggy roads in the UK. Or is it because it makes ya'll feel like Formula One drivers?
It's neither.
It's because the marketing departments rule the roost and won't let cars with smaller wheels and taller tyres out the door until they're equipped with wheels that destroy the ride and handling. Or if you're BMW, fitting run-flats that neither ride nor corner as well as normal tyres. And fitting enormous wheels.
But, y'know, it looks cool, doesn't it?
Anyway, my point wasn't really talking about extreme differences. Speed Junkie said "there's always room for improvement". I disagreed. There's sometimes room for improvement, but if the car has been well designed in the first place then you'll always be making one thing worse to make another better. In this case, cacking up the ride to improve the cornering. My point was that sometimes a drive can be both more fun and faster when you have a wheel/tyre/suspension combo that rides out the ripples.
Slightly off-topic though, it can be a great experience driving or riding in something that soaks up any and all bumps. Like that Buick. Sometimes if you've had a bad day or don't feel like caning it, lazy, wallowy saloons with slushboxes can be awesome.