Anyone in the UK 'upgraded' their Model Y suspension?

[G_Cam]

Hi All
We are 1000+ miles into the Model Y (it's our 4th EV, but our first Tesla).
I'm finding the ride to be AWFUL. Very jarring, jolting, skipping etc.. Is it a Bad car? Am I the only one with the issue?
I can't believe I'm even contemplating upgrading the suspension (or even selling it!). I'm very competent and happy to carry out any suspension work/Swap myself...(and inform the insurance company of course before someone shouts.. ). Has anyone upgraded in the UK (I say UK as the roads here are a delight.. not smooth.. more a series of short infills that kind of merge together to form a surface akin to the surface of a mogul field )

But it's a Brand New Car! Why is it so bad? Our MGZSEV was better.. in fact, my Renault Kangoo ZE van is better on the road!! That's no exaggeration! I'm struggling to think of a worse car that we have owned (perhaps an R53 race suspension Mini Cooper?). I'm even thinking about asking Tesla if I can test drive another Y as the one we test drove before we got it did not appear to be as bad??
So I'm a bit mystified? I LOVE virtually all other aspects of the vehicle.
All suggestions are very much appreciated..

 

[buzbe]

Interested to know what other EV's you've owned.

Don't own a MY yet - but hoping this is isolated...

 

[Mr H]

I am about to. Ordered the mountain pass kit. Delayed shipping until I’m back from Spain

 

[teaston]

Have you changed the tyre pressures from the ridiculous level they are supplied with?

The suspension is definitely on the firm side, and adaptive suspension would be nice, but I definitely wouldn’t say it’s horrendous, it’s no firmer than my wife’s Tiguan R Line, and I have got the 20” induction wheels.

 

[Casss]

Yep either your car is an isolated case with a setup issue or something is wrong.

As above, check the tyre pressures when warm, and drop them to recommended PSI.

I have no issues with the ride and have owned everything from spine rearranging hot hatches to recently a refreshed model S with the premium air suspension which was an absolutely lovely barge but that suspension presented other issues.

I spent 9 hours +/- 15 mins the other day (of solid driving in two stints) doing a mix of M5, M4, M6 and B roads in the Y and with the seat adjusted right, it’s perfectly comfortable to me, and far more comfortable than it *ought* to be given how little it rolls… if that makes sense.

 

[pdk42]

It’s interesting how the Y suspension separates opinions - a sort of Marmite thing. I test drove a Y a few weeks ago and thought the suspension way too hard for my taste. Even the 3 is at the edge of what I’d like. My wife’s ID3, despite its myriad software issues, rides beautifully in comparison to either.

 

[browellm]

Don't own a MY yet - but hoping this is isolated...

Virtually every review has mentioned it.

 

[dangrenade]

Virtually every review has mentioned it.

Far more people report being happy with it than there have been reviews slating it.

 

[dangrenade]

Hi All
We are 1000+ miles into the Model Y (it's our 4th EV, but our first Tesla).
I'm finding the ride to be AWFUL. Very jarring, jolting, skipping etc.. Is it a Bad car? Am I the only one with the issue?
I can't believe I'm even contemplating upgrading the suspension (or even selling it!). I'm very competent and happy to carry out any suspension work/Swap myself...(and inform the insurance company of course before someone shouts.. ). Has anyone upgraded in the UK (I say UK as the roads here are a delight.. not smooth.. more a series of short infills that kind of merge together to form a surface akin to the surface of a mogul field )

But it's a Brand New Car! Why is it so bad? Our MGZSEV was better.. in fact, my Renault Kangoo ZE van is better on the road!! That's no exaggeration! I'm struggling to think of a worse car that we have owned (perhaps an R53 race suspension Mini Cooper?). I'm even thinking about asking Tesla if I can test drive another Y as the one we test drove before we got it did not appear to be as bad??
So I'm a bit mystified? I LOVE virtually all other aspects of the vehicle.
All suggestions are very much appreciated..

Did you test drive one before taking delivery?

 

[roadcred]

The test drive cars were all crap as their tyre pressures were too high. At 42 they are alright. I suspect even lower pressures would be better. I have owned many larger and just as heavy cars without required tyre pressures being in XS of 35/36.
It is a firmish ride but so are most other vehicles without air suspension.

 

[sahajesh]

Why doesn’t Tesla do something then?

 

[Lee Davis]

Far more people report being happy with it than there have been reviews slating it.

The difference between reviewers and owners is the need to justify. Regardless of product, when people make a big purchase they tend to justify it and gloss over flaws. I’ve a MY on order. My partner and I agreed the pros outweighed the cons, the biggest con being ride. It’s awful. Far worse than our 2021 Toyota Supra. But we’re going in knowing it

 

[dangrenade]

The difference between reviewers and owners is the need to justify. Regardless of product, when people make a big purchase they tend to justify it and gloss over flaws. I’ve a MY on order. My partner and I agreed the pros outweighed the cons, the biggest con being ride. It’s awful. Far worse than our 2021 Toyota Supra. But we’re going in knowing it

Not for me. I don’t need to justify the ride quality as I don’t have an issue with it. The biggest ‘cons’ for me is having no sidewall protection on either of the wheels which is why I had a nightmare selecting which wheel to go for and the view out of the rear. I think it totally depends on what you are used to and what car you came from. I have never had a car with air suspension and my disco sport was just as firm a ride so I haven’t noticed a difference in that area. I just wanted to give a balanced opinion of what is purely opinion. At least you have gone for a test drive (I assume) and formed your own opinion before buying and hope you will be pleasantly surprised when you let the tyres down a bit.

 

[oktane]

The Y suspension is terrible, plain and simple. Anyone who thinks otherwise hasn't driving many luxury cars.

 

[WannabeOwner]

Am I the only one with the issue?

From what I have read there are definitely others. Those who have a problem will say so of course ...

... but there seem to be a significantly larger number without a problem (and people who are happy with it are less likely to say anything)

The difference between reviewers and owners is the need to justify

I agree, but I think that applies to "Its stiffer than I was expecting" and I would expect anyone with "I'm finding the ride to be AWFUL. Very jarring, jolting, skipping etc" to speak up.

 

[Sw1000]

Sometimes they leave blocks in the suspension to stop it bouncing during transport

There have been quite frequent examples of all car manufacturers leaving th shipping blocks in making the suspension and ride unbearable, this happened to me once with a BMW. They removed and the car was transformed.

They denied they were in, probably not the case but worth checking

 

[MikeeUK]

Returned my MYLR after 500 miles and within the 2 weeks cooling off period Tesla give you when taking their finance. I just wasn't happy with the ride compared to my 2019 M3LR which I am keeping on lease until a new M3 arrives in November.

Family members who had been used to riding in my M3 also noticed the ride difference on the first trip we all went on and that confirmed my thoughts. A friend who also owns a M3 and who drove it before it went back felt the same and remarked how he thought it felt more tiring to drive vs the M3.

Its a shame as I enjoyed the extra space in the Y but for me, the 3 feels more connected to the road, rides more confidently and is a better all round drivers car.

 

[gangzoom]

Returned my MYLR after 500 miles and within the 2 weeks cooling off period Tesla give you when taking their finance. I just wasn't happy with the ride compared to my 2019 M3LR which I am keeping on lease until a new M3 arrives in November.

Is it really that bad? Is it just hard, or poorly damped?

 

[Adopado]

As above, check the tyre pressures when warm, and drop them to recommended PSI.

Set them when cold. There’s no way to get a consistent pressure doing it warm unless you have a specialist tyre thermometer so you can relate temperature and pressure. By all means observe the changes in pressure when warm for “information”. Any quoted tyre pressures in the manual or on the forum are cold.

 

[MikeeUK]

Is it really that bad? Is it just hard, or poorly damped?

Everybodies experiences seem to be different. Coming from a M3LR, I really noticed the ride being harder and more skittish. I think the higher driving position and higher centre of gravity doesn't help. I reduced the tyre pressures to low 40s but it didn't feel much different to me.

I thought I just needed time to get used to it but after 2 x 150 mile drives and feedback from others, it was clear to me that it wasn't as enjoyable to drive as the M3. Shame as I was really hoping to like the Y as much as the 3 but didn't work out that way.

I've read a lots of reviews here and online and most people seem to be happy but it really depends on your expectations as well as what you've been used to in your previous vehicle.