Ground Clearance and Steep Driveways - Tesla 3

[TrickyRickyDoo]

I'm curious to know whether anyone has had any issues with ground clearance and steep driveways (particularly around the transition) with the Tesla 3.

 

[WoodWombat]

I have a Model 3 Performance, so obviously the worst in this respect and to be honest, I don't have a problem with approach and departure angles. I live in an extremely steep and hilly area with stupid road entrances and driveways everywhere. Even driving out my own driveway I have been known to lift wheels. Basically the "wheel at each corner" approach of Tesla means that approach and departure will rarely be a problem.

Ramp angle is another matter altogether. A low slung car combined with a very long wheelbase for the vehicle size means that it is quite easy to belly drag the car going over lumps, aggressive crests over driveway entrances and so on. Never going to be a problem on a normal road, but driveways are a different matter. Fortunately, the undercarriage is pretty smooth and well-protected so you are unlikely to do much damage.

 

[Gareth Oakes]

I came from a Golf Mk7 Wagon and didn't notice a difference in our driveway. Mind you we had installed driveway ramps a few years ago which really helped. We've got M3LR.

 

[CAM3RON]

I was considering buying a house with a very steep driveway. I asked the estate agent at the open home if I could stick around for a bit after the open home had finished to see if I could get in and out of the garage from the steep driveway with my car. So I got down okay and then trying to go back up I scraped the front then had trouble trying to correct, it was pretty dicey. It was a bit of a deal breaker having such a steep driveway and tight entrance to the garage. In the end the real deal breaker was found through a building inspection in which a builder discovered a lack of building paper used to waterproof the house, so I dodged a bullet there.

 

[blubbernator]

yes, i have had some issues with a M3P on a steep driveway. The issue with the M3(P) is it's long wheelbase, the clearance itself is actually pretty good. Usually it's only the mudguards that scrape though, which are easily replaceable.

 

[paulp]

I was considering buying a house with a very steep driveway. I asked the estate agent at the open home if I could stick around for a bit after the open home had finished to see if I could get in and out of the garage from the steep driveway with my car. So I got down okay and then trying to go back up I scraped the front then had trouble trying to correct, it was pretty dicey. It was a bit of a deal breaker having such a steep driveway and tight entrance to the garage. In the end the real deal breaker was found through a building inspection in which a builder discovered a lack of building paper used to waterproof the house, so I dodged a bullet there.

Building paper has been proven to be an ineffective vapour barrier (its not a waterproofer) and a waste of money and so the newest version of the national construction code (australia) building requires a different type of product

 

[doggy1]

I have a 3LR and an extremely steep driveway. No problems. But as has been mentioned, it is more the long wheel base rather than ground clearance per se. So it totally depends upon the particular driveway. I have had two small scrapes in the past 14months each in a Sydney car park with a ridiculous dip at the entrance meaning that I actually scraped under the front bumper. There was also a gentleman of about 120kg in the passenger seat as well as my 95kg which might not have helped. I noted a number of other cars also scraped. I used to have a V70 Volvo Station Wagon and it scraped far more than the 3LR ever has. My daughter has a remote property with a very rugged 4WD only driveway with a lot of washaways and gouges and we've been over that several times without touching anything.

 

[TrickyRickyDoo]

Thanks for the responses, we are in the process of building, so hoping that it'll be fine once its finished.