That's a fair concern...if you install aftermarket, non-Tesla springs and the IP screen fails, you would be protected under MMWA as there is no nexus between your action and the defect. OTOH, if you install aftermarket springs and a strut or some other suspension-related component fails, Tesla has the opportunity to demonstrate the connection in defending their refusal to warranty a repair under MMWA.
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Model 3's Ride Quality
- Thread starter BobRoberts
- Start date
That's a fair concern...if you install aftermarket, non-Tesla springs and the IP screen fails, you would be protected under MMWA as there is no nexus between your action and the defect. OTOH, if you install aftermarket springs and a strut or some other suspension-related component fails, Tesla has the opportunity to demonstrate the connection in defending their refusal to warranty a repair under MMWA.
Excellent points! I did not mention corrosion because it usually is not a major issues with cars. F1 and other pure racing cars to tend to have the lightest practical wheels, so used magnesium. During the last decades improved alloys have reduced the sometimes spectacular fires and other deterioration but Nitrogen is still required partly because air leaks through the tires more rapidly at high altitude than does Nitrogen and also leaks more in the shocks during landing. FWIW:
Airplane Wheel and Tire Servicing
Dry air does solve most of the corrosion and tire deterioration problems but dry air is not consistently available.
I must admit that I began to use nitrogen in my cars when I owned an aircraft operation and had it readily available, so used it for all the vehicles we operated. I have continued ever since.
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K-MTG
Sunshade Captain of TMC
I wouldn’t modify the suspension (because of warranty). But maybe I can get some better tires on my 18 inch aero wheels.
But in the future, I am going to get air suspension (when it’s time to upgrade my 3).
But in the future, I am going to get air suspension (when it’s time to upgrade my 3).
Edmunds has a Model 3 for a long term test now. Here is their first video review (very complimentary overall). However...at 4 minutes and 20 seconds or so he states about the chassis:
"...it really feels sorted. Where it falls down, for me, is the ride on roads that aren't really smooth. Something about the dampening is just a little off and it feels busy."
Honestly, almost every material review I've read notes the firm ride. Heck, in this month's Motor Trend the Model 3 was a finalist and they have this comment: "The Model 3's punchy torque and laserlike handling impressed every judge who buckled in - though at the price of decidedly firm ride quality." Conversely, the comments for car that won their car of the year (the Alfa Romeo Giulia) were "It handles absolutely beautifully, with light linear sports-car-like steering." and "It rides like a luxury car with no impact harshness in the cabin, and it's downright quick."...proving you can still have your cake and eat it too.
My experience with cars that get this ride/handling balance a bit wrong is that it gets OLD over time. BMW, historically, used to nail this (indeed it was THE thing that made me love those cars), but even they have struggled in recent years (the whole first generation of run-flat cars were a good example).
"...it really feels sorted. Where it falls down, for me, is the ride on roads that aren't really smooth. Something about the dampening is just a little off and it feels busy."
Honestly, almost every material review I've read notes the firm ride. Heck, in this month's Motor Trend the Model 3 was a finalist and they have this comment: "The Model 3's punchy torque and laserlike handling impressed every judge who buckled in - though at the price of decidedly firm ride quality." Conversely, the comments for car that won their car of the year (the Alfa Romeo Giulia) were "It handles absolutely beautifully, with light linear sports-car-like steering." and "It rides like a luxury car with no impact harshness in the cabin, and it's downright quick."...proving you can still have your cake and eat it too.
My experience with cars that get this ride/handling balance a bit wrong is that it gets OLD over time. BMW, historically, used to nail this (indeed it was THE thing that made me love those cars), but even they have struggled in recent years (the whole first generation of run-flat cars were a good example).
I have the exact same car xc60'Rdesign and found the suspension is perfect. Maybe my rear end doesn't require the car to ride like a plush pillow and the whole point of Rdesign model is sportier handling. I find it seem counterintuitive that have a sport model on any car only to revert to base component (suspension/tire/wheels). Might as well get the base model in the beginning and save money.
I don't have any objection to sport suspensions when they are done right, but I felt Volvo simply upped the compression on their dampers and called it a day. Ideally, Volvo would have made their 4C adjustable and adaptive suspension available on that generation of XC60s, but they did not. Interestingly enough, the new XC60 R-Design IS now available with the 4C adjustable/adaptive air suspension as an option.
As to just getting base model, well, the XC60 RD had a ton of other stuff too that was exclusive to that trim including: passion red (which we have and love), brushed silver mirrors and lower trim, two-tone leather seats, quicker steering ratio, More horsepower and torque (i.e. Polestar included), different steering wheel, different center stack trim, different gauges, different exhaust and front grill, etc. The ONLY thing we didn't care for was the poor rear dampers. I DO care about performance and ultimately settled on Koni's FSD dampers a couple of years ago after having the base touring dampers dampers for 3 or so years.
All Tesla really needed to do here (much like Volvo back in 2012) was offer a base and sport set of dampers. I suspect the "air suspension" option will be paired with a bit softer damper and effectively achieve that, but TBD of course.
TonyWilliams
Active Member
I have a coil sprung Model S, and the Model 3 LR, and I can confidently say that the Model 3 is "more sporty" or stiffer in the suspension. Coil springs are not automatically stiffer, as some suggest. Cadillacs and Lincolns have been gliding down the highways for decades (many decades) with smooth coil suspensions.
I would advise against the 19" or larger tires if you have sensitive to this. The 18" tires with 40 pounds pressure (or whatever the tire minimum is, probably 36?) should be smoother.
I would advise against the 19" or larger tires if you have sensitive to this. The 18" tires with 40 pounds pressure (or whatever the tire minimum is, probably 36?) should be smoother.
Tesla might be setting the market up so that they could sell more of their airsuspension equipped Model 3s in the future.
It seems that companies now-a-days love to create near-perfect producs with a few intentional problems so that they would introduce next product that fixes those problems (with another problem ofcourse). See iPhone X notch
It seems that companies now-a-days love to create near-perfect producs with a few intentional problems so that they would introduce next product that fixes those problems (with another problem ofcourse). See iPhone X notch
I had the amazing opportunity to ride in 3 yesterday and it was a much smoother ride than my Acura ILX.
I've never felt air suspension, but coming from a Honda/Acura background, I see no need for it on a 3.
As a bonus, it fit my car seat and stroller perfectly, so feeling very optimistic about this car again!
I've never felt air suspension, but coming from a Honda/Acura background, I see no need for it on a 3.
As a bonus, it fit my car seat and stroller perfectly, so feeling very optimistic about this car again!
ToTheT
Member
Experience on our 3 is identical. Considering the various statements by owners so far, maybe there are differences between the cars. Would be nice to test a 3 that's said to be OK vs. one that's apparently not. I enjoy driving the 3 but the back is just brutal on longer trips - at least on ours.
shrspeedblade
Rideshare Monkey
......maybe they had a stack of leftover rear springs that they slipped into a couple thousand of the first production cars!
I'm sure the differences are more about personal taste and past experience than different M3 builds.
Not sure how to put this nicely . . .
We all had a choice, right up front.
#1 = Reserve early, sight unseen to get your car before everyone else (very high risk)
OR
#2 = Wait to test drive it first, then order, which will take much longer (low risk)
If you (like me) choose option #1 - You have no-one else to blame but yourself - accept responsibly for your decision and move on.
Bleating about it just shows everyone that you make poor decisions.
This was always a gamble or high risk -
YOU,
didn't,
wait,
to,
test,
drive,
the,
car.
Lets face it, you are comparing the Model 3 to your expectation not Teslas.
Here is the crux of it.
If a test drive is/was important to you, you obviously can't take the risk, get out of the way and cancel your reservation immediately and let others who are willing to take the risk get their cars.
If you are not completely sure of your purchase, after all it's >$50K so you can't take the risk, then cancel your reservation immediately and wait to test drive the car.
If you are risk averse then wait to test drive and cancel your reservation.
We all had a choice, right up front.
#1 = Reserve early, sight unseen to get your car before everyone else (very high risk)
OR
#2 = Wait to test drive it first, then order, which will take much longer (low risk)
If you (like me) choose option #1 - You have no-one else to blame but yourself - accept responsibly for your decision and move on.
Bleating about it just shows everyone that you make poor decisions.
This was always a gamble or high risk -
YOU,
didn't,
wait,
to,
test,
drive,
the,
car.
Lets face it, you are comparing the Model 3 to your expectation not Teslas.
Here is the crux of it.
If a test drive is/was important to you, you obviously can't take the risk, get out of the way and cancel your reservation immediately and let others who are willing to take the risk get their cars.
If you are not completely sure of your purchase, after all it's >$50K so you can't take the risk, then cancel your reservation immediately and wait to test drive the car.
If you are risk averse then wait to test drive and cancel your reservation.
Originally I was pretty sure I wouldn’t order without first doing a test drive. However, all the reviews and feedback reassured me and I went ahead. However, and this is important, it has been pretty unanimous that the Model 3 has a firm ride, so if I didn’t like a firm ride I would have waited. As it happens, I’m quite pleased with the car and feel the ride is just right.
Sorry if I missed this choice, but why not just test drive the car before cancelling your reservation and losing your place in line? North American buyers (or people willing to come here from overseas to do it) have that choice right now via Turo.
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