Update: My mechanic test drove the car, and reported back that there is nothing wrong with the suspension. He suspects that the Goodyear Assurance Comfortread tires just ride much harder than most when they wear. He says it's riding like I have 100 pounds of air in the tires - which confirms my complaint about the ride. Checking Tirerack, nobody likes these Goodyear tires. Since they came with the car when I bought it a year and a half ago, I'll be buying new tires. Hopefully that will give me a nicer ride! And it's better than me guessing I needed shocks and spending that money!