Can't deal with the bouncy ride anymore after two weeks with the Mach-E. What do I do?

[DrSteveBrule]

Here is an interesting article about the handling in the new Audi Q4. Sounds just like what we are complaining about in this thread.

" The Q4's suspension tuning is also less than ideal. We know Audi knows how to dial in a suspension—the new A3 is a wonderful example of comfortable but firm and well-controlled ride quality—but the Q4 feels oversprung and underdamped. We experienced minor but persistent head toss, which would have been more frustrating were the seat not so comfortable and well padded. "

https://www.motortrend.com/reviews/...09965E11FB59567AFE0652148F3DF3D19A3D2431110F4

As a previous ID.4 owner, I can tell you that the ID.4 rode better than my previous several cars (mostly Lexus and Acura sedans). The ID.4 is basically identical to the Q4 from a chassis/mechanical perspective. I do think there are issues with EV weight and where it's concentrated (or, really, not concentrated) that OEMs are still grappling with. Front engines and MacPherson struts or double wishbones are pretty well sorted and have been for a while. That said, the ID.4 rode very nicely and didn't give me the kind of head toss or bounciness I experience in the MME.

I'll give you an example. I drove about 60-70 miles to trade my ID.4 in for the MME. On the way there, no issues of note regarding ride. The ID.4 was smooth, quiet, and comfortable. On the way back, I literally considered turning around to see if they would void the transaction. Same road, opposite direction, but the surface is the same. Thankfully, I haven't encountered a road that triggers the issue that bad in the months since. I'm genuinely very, very thankful for that, because the regret that I felt in that moment was palpable. The ID.4 seems to have more suspension travel afforded in part by the more SUV-like shape, which I think accounts for some of the difference.

I have a Fisker Ocean reservation and I'm pretty interested in the journalist reaction to that car. I also have a Blazer reservation and would consider the Equinox, as well. I do love the MME styling and like that it's a "heritage" brand. Ironically, the dyed-in-the-wool Mustang crowd seems think this car defiles that heritage. That subject has been beaten to death, though. My point is, I like the car but struggle love it as the suspension was engineered. My next move is likely not to spend $4k upgrading the suspension, but to swap to a competitor. Once more competition is available and the supply chain issues ease, I don't think the MME price increases for 2023 will be sustainable in the market.

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[Guss-E 2021]

I'm not a mechanic or modder. I don't have the time or patience to try and remedy the issue myself. That's just my reality. So if I were to take the car to a professional what would I be asking them to do? Adjust something? Replace a part? Both?

The roads around my home are mostly recently paved so I'm not experiencing the bounce to a point of pain. But there is enough bounce for me to know what everyone is talking about. Of course it could also be the power of suggestion from reading this ridiculously long thread.

Nevertheless, I waited 11 months for this car and can't really afford to bump up to GTPE. I would be willing, however, to spend some extra money to improve the ride quality if that is a viable option. So that goes back to my original question of what to have done?

 

[mkhuffman]

I'm not a mechanic or modder. I don't have the time or patience to try and remedy the issue myself. That's just my reality. So if I were to take the car to a professional what would I be asking them to do? Adjust something? Replace a part? Both?

The roads around my home are mostly recently paved so I'm not experiencing the bounce to a point of pain. But there is enough bounce for me to know what everyone is talking about. Of course it could also be the power of suggestion from reading this ridiculously long thread.

Nevertheless, I waited 11 months for this car and can't really afford to bump up to GTPE. I would be willing, however, to spend some extra money to improve the ride quality if that is a viable option. So that goes back to my original question of what to have done?

Two suspension mods on this forum that have seemed to help:

1) Steeda front and rear sway bars on the stiffest setting. The improvement in handling is amazing IMO, and the bounce effect is changed, some say improved. These are on my car and I would never go back to stock the handling is so much better. <$1000 installed

2) KW coilovers. Most everyone who has posted about the improvement say the bounce is gone. I do not have these on my car - yet. <$4000 installed

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Two suspension mods on this forum that have seemed to help:

1) Steeda front and rear sway bars on the stiffest setting. The improvement in handling is amazing IMO, and the bounce effect is changed, some say improved. These are on my car and I would never go back to stock the handling is so much better. <$1000 installed

2) KW coilovers. Most everyone who has posted about the improvement say the bounce is gone. I do not have these on my car - yet. <$4000 installed

Thank you so much @mkhuffman

 

[MMENJ]

Two suspension mods on this forum that have seemed to help:

1) Steeda front and rear sway bars on the stiffest setting. The improvement in handling is amazing IMO, and the bounce effect is changed, some say improved. These are on my car and I would never go back to stock the handling is so much better. <$1000 installed

2) KW coilovers. Most everyone who has posted about the improvement say the bounce is gone. I do not have these on my car - yet. <$4000 installed

Yea I couldn’t and wouldn’t spend 4k on aftermarket stuff on an already overpriced vehicle.

 

[MMENJ]

As a previous ID.4 owner, I can tell you that the ID.4 rode better than my previous several cars (mostly Lexus and Acura sedans). The ID.4 is basically identical to the Q4 from a chassis/mechanical perspective. I do think there are issues with EV weight and where it's concentrated (or, really, not concentrated) that OEMs are still grappling with. Front engines and MacPherson struts or double wishbones are pretty well sorted and have been for a while. That said, the ID.4 rode very nicely and didn't give me the kind of head toss or bounciness I experience in the MME.

I'll give you an example. I drove about 60-70 miles to trade my ID.4 in for the MME. On the way there, no issues of note regarding ride. The ID.4 was smooth, quiet, and comfortable. On the way back, I literally considered turning around to see if they would void the transaction. Same road, opposite direction, but the surface is the same. Thankfully, I haven't encountered a road that triggers the issue that bad in the months since. I'm genuinely very, very thankful for that, because the regret that I felt in that moment was palpable. The ID.4 seems to have more suspension travel afforded in part by the more SUV-like shape, which I think accounts for some of the difference.

I have a Fisker Ocean reservation and I'm pretty interested in the journalist reaction to that car. I also have a Blazer reservation and would consider the Equinox, as well. I do love the MME styling and like that it's a "heritage" brand. Ironically, the died-in-the-wool Mustang crowd seems think this car defiles that heritage. That subject has been beaten to death, though. My point is, I like the car but struggle love it as the suspension was engineered. My next move is likely not to spend $4k upgrading the suspension, but to swap to a competitor. Once more competition is available and the supply chain issues ease, I don't think the MME price increases for 2023 will be sustainable in the market.

I have a few Fisker Oceans reserved, if the car is anything like what has been laid out so far, it’s going to do well and I hope it does exceptionally well.

 

[MMENJ]

I have a few Fisker Oceans reserved, if the car is anything like what has been laid out so far, it’s going to do well and I hope it does exceptionally well.

I hope Fisker steals some business away from Tesla. Elon is a douche and I think Teslas are one of if not the ugliest cars on the planet. I could never understand the draw towards them.

 

[4sallypat]

Level kit for MME available ?

Folks with Lightnings are levelling and changing out the suspension parts and getting a much different ride.

My factory suspension Lightning does ride bouncy when unladen.

Once it payload and frunk are weighted down, the truck feels more planted.

 

[21st Century Pony]

I just completed a 1,300 mile round trip. I had done the same trip on Labor Day weekend. Difference: Steeda sway bars on their middle settings on the 2d trip, while the 1st trip was on OEM sway bars.

Both trips were on small roads and divided highways in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

BLUF: the front - to - rear bounce is gone.

 

[Jimbo]

I wonder if possibly the suspension parts are not all the same on these cars. Although it’s definitely subjective, there seems to be such A wide variety of opinions that it makes me wonder. Has anyone gotten together with other mme owners and compared rides? Especially same trim/ battery/ rwd or awd. My premium seems extremely bouncy and stiff, even for a sports car.

I swapped out a 4k mile '21 4X for a '22 4X.
At first, I was in heaven: the '22 at 44psi rode far better than the '21 at 35.
After 800 miles in the '22, it seems to have gotten a bit more stiff, but it's still better (small cracks are less noticeable, and a dip in the road I hit often doesn't send me into the roof like it did in the '21). Hopefully that remains true as it breaks in further...

 

[macchiaz-o]

My factory suspension Lightning does ride bouncy when unladen.

Once it payload and frunk are weighted down, the truck feels more planted.

Same with my standard range, rear wheel drive Mustang Mach-E... Weighed down with three fat adults and their luggage, the bounce isn't noticeable. With just me (one fat 'adult'), bouncy bouncy bouncy.

 

[mkhuffman]

Same with my standard range, rear wheel drive Mustang Mach-E... Weighed down with three fat adults and their luggage, the bounce isn't noticeable. With just me (one fat 'adult'), bouncy bouncy bouncy.

You need to eat more.

 

[mkhuffman]

I just completed a 1,300 mile round trip. I had done the same trip on Labor Day weekend. Difference: Steeda sway bars on their middle settings on the 2d trip,,while the 1st trip was on OEM sway bars.

Both trips were on small roads and divided highways in Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.

BLUF: the front - to - rear bounce is gone.

This is a good data point regarding the sway bars in a non-GT.

I have posted multiple times that I have never experienced the bounce issue non-GT owners complain about in the forum. I once witnessed a non-GT bouncing next to me on the same road that I didn't notice any bounce. Of course I was in a different lane, so I was not sure if the difference was the road or the car.

If more non-GT owners can get the Steeda away bars we will get even more data to understand how much it helps.

I also wonder if early production cars are more susceptible to this issue.

 

[RMoore]

I also wonder if early production cars are more susceptible to this issue.

My sense is no, but that's based on limited data. I don't notice it much when I'm alone in the car, or if there are just two of us in the front seat (>95% of the time) but when we had 4 of us in the car on a longer trip (1-2 hrs there and another 1-2 back home) those in back noticed it quite a bit. And mine is a '22.

 

[Avelli]

This is a good data point regarding the sway bars in a non-GT.

I have posted multiple times that I have never experienced the bounce issue non-GT owners complain about in the forum. I once witnessed a non-GT bouncing next to me on the same road that I didn't notice any bounce. Of course I was in a different lane, so I was not sure if the difference was the road or the car.

If more non-GT owners can get the Steeda away bars we will get even more data to understand how much it helps.

I also wonder if early production cars are more susceptible to this issue.

Only the GTPE has the stiffer sway bar. The base GT has the same sway bar as all other models.

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