Haven't bought the touring yet, still a little hesitant. Is it just me or does it seem like the GLS touring has a relatively bumpy ride? I feel it's bumpier than my 97 geo prizm.

 

Two reasons:

1. make sure the stupid dealer lowered the tire pressure on the car you tried. They come with 60psi and make for an awful test drive. Make sure the test car has 32 psi.
2. the SE model with alloy wheels and 17 inch tires indeed do provide for a ROUGHER ride than the GLS. Since you asked about the GLS, I'd check into the tire pressure. My GLS with PP#2 rides very nicely with steel wheels and 15 inch tires. It is also the quietest budget car I have ever driven as well.

 

How new are your springs and shocks in the '97 Prism? All cars soften over time, so your ride might be more plush than when it was new. If they're original shocks they could be very relaxed by now. Just something to keep in mind....

I enjoy the Touring ride. The suspension is "snug"--you feel more bumps than a soft luxury car, but the car is far from harsh. It's also very well damped. For me it's the perfect compromise: a car that's soft enough to use on road trips and everyday driving in comfort, but it still has a tight enough suspension to zip around when you want to and make the driving experience fun.

What counts as too bumpy is ultimately up to your preferences, but I've had a lot of compliments from passengers on the quality of the ride.

We test drove the Mazda3--found it to be much stiffer than the Touring and you really could feel every bump. Much harsher ride (but a lot of fun for spirited driving). I suggest you test drive other cars similar to the Touring for comparison. Trying the Mazda3 will help you appreciate the Touring We didn't try the VW Jetta Sportwagen, so I can't comment on that one.

Good luck. If you choose the Touring I hope you're as happy with it as I am with mine.

 

Good points. Yes they are the original shocks. I asked the dealer about the tire pressure, he really didn't care to check it.

 

It's going to feel a bit rougher if you're looking for a plush cruiser. Its springs and sway bars are stiffer than the sedan's, because it's tuned to be more of a driver's (though still far from obviously). The stiffness of the ride seems to be a common complaint of reviewers on the web (go to Edmunds and read the negative reviews) who haven't owned a car with this type of suspension set-up.

I hate to say it, but if you want something that is floaty I would opt for something like a Toyota or another brand that puts plushness before "button-downedness" (This seems to be the direction Hyundai is taking their new models). My grandfather complained about the stiffness of my car and the new Sonata, but he was also coming from an '08 Sonata.

It's all about what you're used to.

 

My sister had a 95 Corolla, much the same car as a 97 Prizm. She bought it with just 30K on it back in 1998, so it was very much still like driving a new one. It drive nice, definitely softer than either the GLS or SE Touring. Back then, there was much less of an emphasis on making econo-sedans drive my sportier cars.

I'd say that the Elantra sedan has a similar ride to an older compact sedan like your Prizm. You might ask to drive one of those just to see the comparison between your Prizm and then with the Touring GLS.

When I drove a Touring GLS, I found it to be on par with my wife's 07 Civic as far as ride quality. It was a little sporty, but overall still a comfy car to me. I had been driving trucks all my life until that point, so that certainly might skew my perspective.

My SE trim Touring certainly steps it up in the firmness department. As Delta stated, the car is "snug" without being too harsh. Heck, if you are really set on a Touring and are concerned about its ride quality, why not take an extended test drive in a SE trim car and then when you get into the GLS, it will feel nice and smooth.

 

I just bought an 2012 SE. I expected a firm ride but find it a bit too firm. I don't need a floater, but on some freeways I experience a constant unpleasant jiggling. It has the 17 inch wheels, so I know that I might want to change that sometime. I checked the tire pressure and they are at 30, which seems fine (assuming my cheapie gauge is OK). Is there anything else I should do. I just got it a week ago, and am hesitant to do a lot to it right away...

 

Same here with the 17"
Looking into some 15 or 16 lightweight wheels for next summer
The oem 17" are really heavy and the tires are very noisy

 

Shocks/springs are from the Euro I30 which has a stiff ride because the Euros like that. Mine rides stiff and on bumpy roads it sucks. Don't want to lower my tire pressure too much because then my gas mileage goes out the window.