I took both
to the only place around here where they have a concrete road with expansion joints. This is a common road in the NE, but not down here.
And the roads are so good down here, I literally could not tell the difference on a "bumpy" road.
I had to drive back and forth a couple of times to find the "worst" speed (About 48MPH it turned out).
The car was HORRID on expansion strips. It set up an oscillation and the bounced all over the road.
The suspension has little compliance. And yes, you can have compliance and handle well.
So the only thing the car can do is bounce in the air.
And that was the SL!
The SE was worse.
Neither is a beauty queen under those conditions.
I didn't really care, since I won't be driving on those kind of roads, but at least I had discerned a diffeerence.
I would not buy an SE to drive on those roads.
But I'm not sure I would buy an SL either!
There are other SUVs that drive much better on poor roads but they are seriously ugly. They also do not have the power of a Murano. Tough call maybe. If I had to traverse the old concrete/expansion roads, I might seriously consider something besides an SUV.
I don't like cars that rattle my teeth, and I have a built in rejection for Ugly cars.
I also looked at test reports (NOT driving impressions) and noticed that in C&D the SL achieved a steady state cornering force of .81
Now that is not good cornering, guys, in the overall scheme of things!
But it's great for an SUV!
And with these very mundane tires, it is almost unbelieveable.
And that was an SL, too.
It is my considered opinion that the difference in handling in these two vehilcles will always be determined by the drivers, not the vehicle.
So to be perfectly frank, it was more or less an economic decision for me.
I saw nothing about an SE that I wouuld pay for.
I even prefer a 5 spoke wheel with 5 lug wheels, although that was a nit.
In point of fact I would have bought either wheel.
It was all so unimportant that if they had had an SE that had an option or color I wanted, I would have bought that.
If they didn't have an SL I would have bought an SE.
If I went out to buy an SE and found an SL that was right, I would buy that.
Oh, that's right.......I did.
It's a personal decision. Just thought I would share with you the length I went to, to discover SOME difference in "handling" between them.
:1:
Homer