is there a way of making the suspension less stiff?

I doubt it. I believe your tire pressures higher than the recommended ones? I know some members on here do that intentionally to get better mileage. If you lower them to the recommended pressure, that will help slightly, but not a lot. You could also look into getting 16" wheels (will result in a beefier sidewall on the tire), that's the size that comes on the CT in some of the countries overseas.

An ES will feel like a boat on water in comparison to the CT. The car is tuned this way to provide the driver with a "sportier" ride. Things will soften up after you get some miles on it, but surely will not ride to the likes of your former ES. Lowering your tire pressure would have the slightest effect on road absorption, but will also adversely affect your gas mileage (probably very slight). Jimmy makes a great suggestion of getting a smaller wheel and heftier tire but then there's a loss of aesthetic value IMO.

Were you not aware of the ride quality when you took it out for a test drive?

The only realistic options you have is lower your tire pressures a few psi (free), or go to a smaller 15" or 16" wheel so that you'll have taller tire sidewalls (will probably cost you no less than $900 or $1000). You should be able to spec out proper wheel/tire sizes from our friends up North or across the pond since they don't come stock with 17" like the US does.

Otherwise, the main 2 things affecting the stiffness are the shock/spring rates and the car's short wheelbase, neither of which you'll be able to do anything about since all aftermarket shock/springs will take you in the stiffer direction, and both of which were engineered by Lexus with the intention of making it sportier i.e. stiffer.

lexceetee said:

Were you not aware of the ride quality when you took it out for a test drive?

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The roads were smooter when I took it for a test drive so I didn't really notice.

However, I did lower the psi to 35 and it does feel a bit better. I probably get used to it too.

Andrewa said:

I'm coming from a 2002 ES 300 and the ride on the CT seems a lot more bumpy. MY tire pressure is at 38psi. I can try lowering that a little but I'm not sure how much it would help.

I was wondering if the dealer can my the suspension less stiff somehow?

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Just my 0.2, Bogner47 offers s a good suggestion to go to a smaller wheel and taller tire. The only problem with doing that is the spring rates and shock valving and overall engineering of the suspension system is designed to ride firm, it's all engineered to work together as a package. Changing any part of this will cause the CT to handle differently. You'll get more tire flex and you will change the overall handling characteristics of the CT.

Lowering tire pressure will cause poor tire wear and poor fuel economy...not what your trying to achieve with the CT.

As for the wheelbase of the CT is 102.4 in, my '95 Acura's is 103.1 a difference of 0.7 in. The big difference between the two is smaller wheel and tire package and softer springs and shocks giving the Acura a softer ride compared to the CT.

Andrewa said:

The roads were smooter when I took it for a test drive so I didn't really notice.

However, I did lower the psi to 35 and it does feel a bit better. I probably get used to it too.

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Lowering the front tires to 33 psi and 32 psi for the rear tires will improve your ride quality. These psi's are recommended by Lexus and noted on the driver side door frame. Increasing the psi from these psi's will improve your mpg , but will make the CT ride harder.

38 is really high.

32-33 when cold is where you should be.