Coil suspension ground clearance? Lowered since 2013?

[Carl]

The ground clearance of my current S85D on coils is sometimes driving me crazy; I have had the bottom of the car scrape garage entrances/exits and driveways more often than I want to remember.

The funny thing is that for three years with my previous S85 (non-D), also on coils, I never had that problem.

Even the very ordinary garage incline at my work (which any sports car will take without problem) I have to take perpendicularly to avoid scraping (and, of course, ask any passengers to get out of the car before the manoeuvre).

Two questions to the forum:

- Has anyone else experienced this difference between 2013 coils ground clearance and later models coil ground clearance? Or can anyone having traded in a 2013 'non-D' against a 2016 or later 'D' confirm that, in his or her case, there was no noticeable difference? (in which case my car probably has a problem);

- Apart from buying a new MS with air suspension , what could be done about it? Can you just swap the suspensions for higher ones, or is that too simplistic thinking? Or better still, is there a way to adapt the height of existing suspensions?

(For reference, what I find as data from Tesla for current MS's is: Coil Suspension ground clearance 5.65"; Smart Air Suspension Ground Clearance 6.4" Very High, 6.0" High, 5.1" Normal, 4.8" Low)







REGISTER LOGIN



BACK TO TESLA MODEL S

 

[Buook]

Mild Driveway Scrape - 2013 Tesla Model S Long-Term Road Test
Old news but still a good read^
Author points out that unlike gasoline cars which have a single lowest point of contact somewhere beneath the vehicle, the entire underside of the Model S is the lowest point of contact. That combined with the long wheelbase doesn't make it a good vehicle for negotiating quick changes in incline.

If possible I would look into an air suspension model if I were you. I don't believe there are any aftermarket suspension solutions, especially for raising the car although I could be totally wrong. Someone please correct me if so.

 

[zentage]

I made a topic about this earlier this summer. In short. yes, they have been lowering their cars over the years.

Tesla has silently lowered cars with coil suspension.

 

[Carl]

Thanks to both @zentage and @Buook, that's helpful, even if it doesn't solve the problem on my current car!

(means I can probably convince my SO that we should buy a new MS with SAS ).