Why does Tesla suspension suck so bad?

[sleepydoc]

HAHA! Please define "rational analysis." Is a view opposing yours irrational?

I actually AGREE with you that the suspension of the MY isn't for everyone, hence my purchase of MPP coilovers. However, I would never contend that "more people" want a suspension that has "x" qualities.

You could create a poll on this forum. Even WITH that information, you can't possibly assert what "more people" want.

Keep in mind that this forum is in infinitesimal group of Tesla owners.

Not necessarily...
Take a look at all the drivers around you next time you're on the road. What do the majority of these people use their cars for? How many of them do you think honestly want or need a performance suspension for race track handling? I'm not talking about TMC forum members or the people getting the tuned suspension so they can lower their ride but all drivers. If you can honestly say that the majority of these drivers want such a suspension please tell me how you arrive at that conclusion.

I will absolutely grant that the desires of the average Model 3 performance (or Model S Plaid) buyer will be different, and that the desire of the average Tesla buyer will probably be different from car buyers as a whole. (let's throw Cadillac De Ville owners into the mix!)

 

[Dennisis]

Not necessarily...
Take a look at all the drivers around you next time you're on the road. What do the majority of these people use their cars for? How many of them do you think honestly want or need a performance suspension for race track handling? I'm not talking about TMC forum members or the people getting the tuned suspension so they can lower their ride but all drivers. If you can honestly say that the majority of these drivers want such a suspension please tell me how you arrive at that conclusion.

I will absolutely grant that the desires of the average Model 3 performance (or Model S Plaid) buyer will be different, and that the desire of the average Tesla buyer will probably be different from car buyers as a whole. (let's throw Cadillac De Ville owners into the mix!)

This thinking is precisely how we ended up with the F30 after the E90 - more people MAY have been happy (I wasn't) but that doesn't make it right, just different. In a perfect world we'd have incrementally selectable mode's but that means higher prices too.

 

[sleepydoc]

This thinking is precisely how we ended up with the F30 after the E90 - more people MAY have been happy (I wasn't) but that doesn't make it right, just different. In a perfect world we'd have incrementally selectable mode's but that means higher prices too.

What would make more sense is if they had softer ’touring’ suspension in the LR model and a stiffer ‘sport’ suspension in the performance model since the people opting for the performance package are also more likely to be the people who would want a stiffer suspension and people like me who want a good EV and aren’t concerned with street racing will typically order the LR mode.

 

[tm1v2]

What would make more sense is if they had softer ’touring’ suspension in the LR model and a stiffer ‘sport’ suspension in the performance model since the people opting for the performance package are also more likely to be the people who would want a stiffer suspension and people like me who want a good EV and aren’t concerned with street racing will typically order the LR mode.

There's more to it than just softer vs stiffer. Well tuned suspensions with good damping straddle both aspects pretty well.

I'm no suspension expert, but I suspect Tesla went very cheap on the Model 3 and Y dampers. The suspension feels a little firm when you drive casually and too soft when you drive aggressively, which is kind of the opposite of how the best-driving sporty cars feel. I think that's largely due to the dampers and not because of any major mistake in spring rates.

(I'm just talking street driving here, including aggressive back road driving, but not racetrack driving.)

 

[tm1v2]

This thinking is precisely how we ended up with the F30 after the E90 - more people MAY have been happy (I wasn't) but that doesn't make it right, just different. In a perfect world we'd have incrementally selectable mode's but that means higher prices too.

Good example there. F30 was a numb, boring joke compared to E90 and E46. I never owned any BMW but I've driven a decent number over the years, including an F30 back-to-back with an E90. That was eye opening for the sad direction BMW was heading. F30 looked just like a mildly evolved E90, but all the driving involvement was gone.

 

[WhiteWi]

 

[Dennisis]

is it past your bedtime?….

 

[skiwhmts]

What I am surprised is that no one has come up with testing equipment to measure ride quality. It is so subjective that peoples opinions are just that and not that helpful to others. For example noise and acceleration can be easily measured. Why not some specialized measurement tools for ride quality, spring and damper rates, vibration etc. It would be great to have scientific data to base our opinions on. Sorry for the rant.

 

[tm1v2]

What I am surprised is that no one has come up with testing equipment to measure ride quality. It is so subjective that peoples opinions are just that and not that helpful to others. For example noise and acceleration can be easily measured. Why not some specialized measurement tools for ride quality, spring and damper rates, vibration etc. It would be great to have scientific data to base our opinions on. Sorry for the rant.

@skiwhmts You can measure the movement and vibrations of a car, in terms of roll, pitch, vertical up-and-down movement, and yaw. I'm sure car makers record such data as part of vehicle development, and it's cheap + easy to do yourself these days if you want to.

Ride quality and handling both have personal preference aspects though, and also depend heavily on the intended use of the vehicle.

Having that data won't automatically tell you if one car rides better than another...you need to ask the people riding in them. It will also depend on where and how they're driven.

 

[goin2drt]

I can also look around at all those people going from point a to point b that don’t “need” performance suspension and also note they don’t “need” a car that goes 0-60 in 3.X seconds but they have one. You bought a car for crying out loud that says “Performance” in the model. If you didn’t expect performance IN ALL ASPECTS then you should have bought a Kia.

 

[GBwaiting]

I can also look around at all those people going from point a to point b that don’t “need” performance suspension and also note they don’t “need” a car that goes 0-60 in 3.X seconds but they have one. You bought a car for crying out loud that says “Performance” in the model. If you didn’t expect performance IN ALL ASPECTS then you should have bought a Kia.

I don’t think the performance buyers are the ones unhappy with the ride quality. They knew they were making a conscious decision to have less comfort. It’s the LR folks that are left feeling underwhelmed in the comfort department. I see everyone’s argument going towards “you can’t make everyone happy” but sleepydoc is right on, they could have made two different suspensions for MY. That would have at least been an effort on Tesla’s part and guess what, they could have tuned both suspensions more towards what everyone here wants, more comfort for LR and more performance for, well, P.

Also, I don’t really understand why people get upset about heathy argument. If no one crosses the “you’re stupid” line, it’s all good.

 

[sleepydoc]

I can also look around at all those people going from point a to point b that don’t “need” performance suspension and also note they don’t “need” a car that goes 0-60 in 3.X seconds but they have one. You bought a car for crying out loud that says “Performance” in the model. If you didn’t expect performance IN ALL ASPECTS then you should have bought a Kia.

1. I didn’t buy a performance model, I bought a long range mode.
2. The Kia EV6 can do 0-60 in 4.4 seconds and reportedly has a better ride; ”It’s a performance car so it can’t have a good suspension” is no argument.

 

[goin2drt]

@sleepydoc we have already determined that your definition of “good” suspension “performance” suspension is completely different than mine. All I have to say to you is you should have spent more time test driving and should have bought one of those other cars you keep talking about. Or sell yours or change the suspension but the belly aching is old.

Bottom line I think the suspension on my MYP is exactly as I wanted it and exactly as it was when we test drove it. Period. You desire that Tesla change something that I don’t think is wrong or needs to be changed so you won’t change my mind no matter how many posts you have about how great every other EV is compared to Tesla’s suspension. Our OPINIONS will just be different on this one.

 

[WhiteWi]

Yeap

 

[oghowie]

Have had my MYP for a month now and I don't think it's that bad at all? Rides about the same as my 2019 C300 with 18" run flats.

 

[tm1v2]

Yeah test drive is key. I never understood buying a car without test driving it first. I know some people do though - I assume they don't much care how their cars ride and drive. If you do care, better test it first!

I really didn't like the MYLR suspension on my test drive...so I didn't buy one. Problem avoided. The stock Model 3 suspension I was okay with - I don't consider it good at all but it's not bothersome to me like the Y - so I bought a 3 instead (because I really like other aspects of the car).

Yes I also ordered aftermarket suspension parts before I even picked up the 3, but even without that I'd still be happy with the car. If I hated the stock suspension so much that it would ruin my enjoyment of the car, I wouldn't buy it in the first place.

(Edit: There's a lot else I liked about the Y though, that's part why I follow threads like these, to see if Tesla has maybe improved the stock suspension and I should test a Y again. Also the 3 and Y obviously share a lot, the suspension issues with the Y are there with the 3 just not as bad, so I generally find Y suspension discussions relevant to my 3.)

 

[Catbiscuits]

My Model Y is so much better in every way than my BMW E90 335xi with M-Sport suspension! A much, much better car and it's nice not to feel the "BMW explosion" that I used to feel going over every pothole. The amount of cursing I do has gone way, way down.

 

[BigNerd]

Wish this thread had a poll. Too many responses to get a good gauge but I also feel the Model Y has a harsh ride.

I drive all the cars in my household throughout the week and the Y is by far the one where I feel the road the most.

And many people like that... so "suck" may not be the right description here. Sporty? I notice most of the people who think the Y is fine are comparing it to other sports cars.

 

[sleepydoc]

@sleepydoc we have already determined that your definition of “good” suspension “performance” suspension is completely different than mine. All I have to say to you is you should have spent more time test driving and should have bought one of those other cars you keep talking about. Or sell yours or change the suspension but the belly aching is old.

Bottom line I think the suspension on my MYP is exactly as I wanted it and exactly as it was when we test drove it. Period. You desire that Tesla change something that I don’t think is wrong or needs to be changed so you won’t change my mind no matter how many posts you have about how great every other EV is compared to Tesla’s suspension. Our OPINIONS will just be different on this one.

My comments were in response to your post stating the car “says ‘performance’ in the model” and that the Kia is not a performance car, pointing out that the model YLR is not ’performance,’ it’s Long Range and the Kia actually accelerates faster.

I’m glad you’re happy with the suspension, but your argument doesn’t hold up and if you can’t handle someone pointing out the fallacies then don’t make the argument in the first place. I don’t expect you to change your mind (why should I want someone to decide they don’t like their car?) nor do I expect everyone to agree, but I do expect logical and factual arguments.

Edit - I’ll also add I agree that there can be and are many definitions of ‘good’ suspension based on goals. The goal of a sport suspension is to be tight and responsive, especially when pushed hard. If you’re interested in this you’re willing to put up with some harshness - that would be reasonable for the MYP. For myself and the majority of drivers on the road, a reasonable ride, the ability to handle road imperfections and reasonable emergency handling are higher goals than the ability to carve a corner at speed.

 

[sleepydoc]

Yeah test drive is key. I never understood buying a car without test driving it first. I know some people do though - I assume they don't much care how their cars ride and drive. If you do care, better test it first!

I really didn't like the MYLR suspension on my test drive...so I didn't buy one. Problem avoided. The stock Model 3 suspension I was okay with - I don't consider it good at all but it's not bothersome to me like the Y - so I bought a 3 instead (because I really like other aspects of the car).

Yes I also ordered aftermarket suspension parts before I even picked up the 3, but even without that I'd still be happy with the car. If I hated the stock suspension so much that it would ruin my enjoyment of the car, I wouldn't buy it in the first place.

(Edit: There's a lot else I liked about the Y though, that's part why I follow threads like these, to see if Tesla has maybe improved the stock suspension and I should test a Y again. Also the 3 and Y obviously share a lot, the suspension issues with the Y are there with the 3 just not as bad, so I generally find Y suspension discussions relevant to my 3.)

Also, as I’ve stated before, Model Y’s were not available when I ordered mine. They are based on the Model 3 so I test drove a model 3. That rode fine and I also have never had an issue with the ride of any other car I owned (among them a ’95 Escort and a ‘99 Corolla so I did not expect to have issues with the Model Y.