Road quality differs by region significantly. I live in warwickshire and the roads are really good but often go into gloucestershire and the roads can be pretty bad. That said there are still awesome roads in glos, you just got to find them. I know what you mean about coming up on a pothole without enough time to react and its horrible, especially when it jars the entre car, let alone when it ruins a tyre or rim...
And some potholes will screw your car meaning comfort mode or otherwise won't make a blind bit of diffrrence.