Model 3's Ride Quality

[mikevbf]

I think they plan to offer air suspension on the 3 eventually...

You gotta watch out for that "or so" part coming from Musk

 

[kengchang]

You will get used to it after two weeks. I had the same issue when I got my G37S with Sports Package (19" Rim + Sport Suspension). I was going through buyer remorse the first two days and got used to it. Though my friend still hated the rough ride.

 

[DR61]

I am encouraged by these posts. I always order the stiffest suspension offered on new cars that I can configure. No way I would choose air suspension.

The other issue with vibration that the OP mentions could be just wheel balance or possibly a defective tire. If wheels are balanced, rotate the wheels front to rear and see if it makes a difference.

 

[EV-lutioin]

Well, I guess there has to be some reason to choose the MS over the M3. If you want luxury go with the MS, if you want sportiness go for the M3.

 

[davidc18]

Very very happy to hear the M3 has a firm suspension.

 

[Phrixotrichus]

Coils vs air suspension. Coils always will feel more sporty and in tuned with the pavement

Just like how some people don’t like the pillowy bouncy ride of air suspension.

Consider it feeling more “sporty”

That's the nature of coil suspension and many love what you are experiencing (as negative for you but positive for them) right now!

Sorry but that generalization is absolutely wrong.
Mercedes c and e class non sport coil suspensions like I´ve had them the last 10+ years are VERY smooth even on bad roads.
Stiffness with coil suspension isn`t due to shortcomings of the tech, it`s (imho) very bad intentional "sporty" design.
I have no idea why some manufacturers think the normal communter would gladly accept to feel every pebble on the street just to get the highest possible curve speeds......

Anyways, it´s good to know that the M3 standard suspension is so stiff....that`s a very big minus and makes a test drive before buying one even more mandatory to me.

 

[kbM3]

Respectfully, but totally and strongly disagree, based on street and test-track experience.

Before taking such a loss on an entire vehicle, I repeat the value of first changing tires.

If LeBron didn't play well in wing-tips, you would trade him before giving him basketball sneakers?

Loss? I would think gain would be more likely.

 

[McRat]

When you look at the demographic for Tesla buyers, perhaps the best solution is wearing 2 pair of Depends to soften the ride?

KIDDING!!!

If you don't have to wear a kidney belt and mouthguard, the suspension is too soft...

 

[dragoljub]

We recently hauled a trunk full of books in our model 3 to the goodwill. With all that weight in the trunk the car actually felt much smoother. Much better ride quality with more weight over the rear wheels.

The car suspension is stiff. Personally it’s on the cusp of being too stiff to take delivery. It does seem to be somewhat wearing in after 500 miles.

 

[shrspeedblade]

My first impression was spring rate, but I tend to wonder now if compression dampening might be more the culprit. That can make a car feel quite "stiff" except on very smooth roads.

It also means that as the suspension "wears in" it will get a bit milder with some mileage. I loved how my 2nd gen Volt felt when I first got it, I almost couldn't believe how aggressive the shock valving was, but after 70k miles it definitely is more where an average driver would want it. So for those who think it a bit harsh at first, it will improve (for you), people tend to adjust as was previously mentioned, and tires do make a big difference in ride quality as well. Anybody who orders the 19s and then complains about the ride has themselves to blame.

Put me in the "sporty ride=yay!" camp. My biggest fear is if people b#tch they'll back it off like they did with the early P85Ds that had the + suspension and put in something milder before I get a car.

 

[MP3Mike]

It would be interesting to compare You You's after his ~10k mile trip to a brand new Model 3.

 

[Mika]

My 2 cents - when I initially got behind the wheel, the ride felt rather rough (coming from an air suspension S). After 300 miles it feels fine. I either acclimated, it broke in a bit, or a little of both. I'll still probably look at some cushier tires after these crap out.

 

[gregincal]

Sorry but that generalization is absolutely wrong.
Mercedes c and e class non sport coil suspensions like I´ve had them the last 10+ years are VERY smooth even on bad roads.
Stiffness with coil suspension isn`t due to shortcomings of the tech, it`s (imho) very bad intentional "sporty" design.
I have no idea why some manufacturers think the normal communter would gladly accept to feel every pebble on the street just to get the highest possible curve speeds......

Anyways, it´s good to know that the M3 standard suspension is so stiff....that`s a very big minus and makes a test drive before buying one even more mandatory to me.

My daily commute is over a windy mountain highway, so handling on curves has always been one of my primary considerations for cars (along with responsive acceleration, which is why a Tesla beats out any ICE with gears). The Model S is fine, but a bit too heavy to carve the curves as well as I would like. I'm very excited about what I hear with regards to the Model 3.

 

[Sparky]

My daily commute is over a windy mountain highway, so handling on curves has always been one of my primary considerations for cars (along with responsive acceleration, which is why a Tesla beats out any ICE with gears). The Model S is fine, but a bit too heavy to carve the curves as well as I would like. I'm very excited about what I hear with regards to the Model 3.

I think you will love if Hwy 17 is your daily route. Both for curves and for finding the gaps between other cars and the gravel trucks. This car has enthusiasm for hills & curves, even on 18's.

 

[ForeverFree]

I think you will love if Hwy 17 is your daily route. Both for curves and for finding the gaps between other cars and the gravel trucks. This car has enthusiasm for hills & curves, even on 18's.

Maybe he even gets to enjoy Hwy 9!

 

[TampaRich]

Wait a minute. You are a Tesla owner and you say, "...I took it into the DEALERSHIP..."????? How can you own a Tesla and refer to their service centers or showrooms as DELEARSHIP????

I smell and competitor. First time poster is a previous Tesla owner? No pics? Hmmmmmm.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Interesting how two drivers can complain about a suspension, with one saying it is too firm and the other saying it is too soft.

The issue is not with the vehicle, but with the desires of the owners.

Both suspensions and tires take some time to break in, and the owner needs to take some time to get used to the individual personality of their new car.

For years enthusiasts have been complaining that American cars rode to soft and wallowed, while extalling the vertues of the more solid riding European vehicles.

Lately BMW seems to have thrown away their reputation for an enthusiastic ride to cater to the Asian buyers market.

I applaud Tesla for making their least expensive car a great handling one, with responsive throttle and suspension.

Usually pretty easy to adapt to different buyers with a set of softer riding tires, but a good handling firm suspension provides an additional level of safety in evasive maneuvers as well as the joy of good feedback to the driver.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Similar observations as the OP from me on another thread:

The biggest difference in driving experience for us between the S and the 3 so far? The suspension!

I know there are folks who love them some coils but, for my wife and I, the active air suspension in the S provides that right balance between road feel and a supple ride. The 3's steel springs (?) makes for a bit more of a rough ride where we feel those pesky recessed manhole covers and such; so much so, I try to do some zig-zagging to avoid those as much as I can.

We also feel that longer-distance travel could be more fatiguing in the 3 than in the S, atleast for us. Of course, we intend to drive the S anyway, given free supercharging, for such drives.

There appears to be one advantage to the 3's suspension though that may also be attributable to its smaller size - cornering and handling through corners seem to be better than the slightly-boaty feel with the S (don't know how the S's + suspension fares here for those who have it).

Sure, there are probably longer term trade offs - that have been discussed ad infinitum on here before - between mechanical and air suspensions but, these are our observations so far.

 

[vinnie97]

Accustomed to a Prius C for the last 8 years, I suspect I won't even notice this roughness and will probably lose my collective fluids over the increased performance.

Just in case anyone's keeping tabs on my poor math, I meant 6 years (2012 was when the "city" version of this car debuted). I'm still on the original 12V battery, so I'm getting nervous here.

 

[JeffnReno]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. It sounds like this is intended behavior.

I should have mentioned that I have the 18" wheels and have turned off the lane departure warning and still feel vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds.

Also, to be clear, the car is fine on the rare perfectly flat road, it is any minor crack/bump that gets felt strongly.

I've noticed that some tires take a while to wear in. They will actually cause the car to walk back and forth on things like rain groves in the pavement until worn a bit.