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

[shadowsjc]

I've got just a hair under 1000 miles on my premium AWD and it's noticeably bumpier than other cars I've ridden in. In my parking garage there's a few small speed bumps that I take at about 4mph and I still feel it. In city driving it's noticeable but not to the extent that I'd trade in the car or consider buying a different one. In highway driving i feel it drives perfectly.

My tires came inflated at 43psi - might try and let some air out down to 39, but otherwise it's just something I'll learn to live with.

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[Jimrpa]

I truly think that it comes down to road conditions. I will say that when I had the car on super smooth country roads in Wisconsin while on vacation a couple weeks ago, the ride of the car was incredibly comfortable and not at all bouncy. But, when you get it on heavily traveled Chicago city roads and expressways that were either not made to be completely smooth or are riddled with potholes and other imperfections, the ride is quite terrible. For people who live in more moderate climates and parts of the country that have good roads that were made to be smooth, instead of concrete highways with seams in them, and that are not torn to pieces by salt and snow plows and heavy traffic, they probably are not noticing the bounciness. There are others on this forum who have piled on complaining about the ride being bouncy and harsh and they seem to be (at least in most cases) Midwesterners where we have some less than stellar road conditions.

So, let’s talk road conditions. I live in Pennsylvania. Our state slogan is “Welcome to Pennsylvania - Road Construction Next 300 Miles”. Remember, Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 colonies and our roads haven’t changed much since the 17th century deer trails and hunting paths. One of the roads near me is named (seriously) “Cowpath Road”. (And we won’t even discuss the streets of Philadelphia that resemble a bombing practice range!) coming from a 2018 Escape, I haven’t noticed any significant difference in the Mustang Mach E. What I HAVE noticed is significantly better HANDLING performance. The Mustang Mach E does have a stiff ride and you do feel the road and bumps. Not terribly much though. The difference is that you can throw the Mustang Mach E around in ways I’d never dream of trying with an Escape. Things like taking twisty roads at speed ? it’s a FUN car to drive (for me anyway). If you’re looking for a sedate, peaceful ride that will calmly absorb all road disturbances, Lincoln has a wide range of really great vehicles. (I’m not trying to be sarcastic - seriously, for what you’re dropping on a Mustang Mach E, you could be looking at a very nice Corsair. Maybe a Nautilus?)

 

[jksu]

Which 20" rims are you getting and how much?

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...-black-arrived-20”-jag-rims-added.3099/page-4

 

[marcuscanby]

I know nothing about Steeda as a company or aftermarket suspension for that matter. If shocks from Steeda would be tuned for a smooth ride, as opposed to performance handling, I would gladly shell out the money. I have asked my dealer about the Magneride suspension being made available, but they have no information as to whether or not we will have an option to buy the Magneride that the GT will be using and add it to other models later in.

 

[Cnote]

So, let’s talk road conditions. I live in Pennsylvania. Our state slogan is “Welcome to Pennsylvania - Road Construction Next 300 Miles”. Remember, Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 colonies and our roads haven’t changed much since the 17th century deer trails and hunting paths. One of the roads near me is named (seriously) “Cowpath Road”. (And we won’t even discuss the streets of Philadelphia that resemble a bombing practice range!) coming from a 2018 Escape, I haven’t noticed any significant difference in the Mustang Mach E. What I HAVE noticed is significantly better HANDLING performance. The Mustang Mach E does have a stiff ride and you do feel the road and bumps. Not terribly much though. The difference is that you can throw the Mustang Mach E around in ways I’d never dream of trying with an Escape. Things like taking twisty roads at speed ? it’s a FUN car to drive (for me anyway). If you’re looking for a sedate, peaceful ride that will calmly absorb all road disturbances, Lincoln has a wide range of really great vehicles. (I’m not trying to be sarcastic - seriously, for what you’re dropping on a Mustang Mach E, you could be looking at a very nice Corsair. Maybe a Nautilus?)

See here's the thing though, I knew I was in for a rougher ride, but this thing bounces around more than my Corvette and it's not like I was looking to glide down the road. As far as handling, it's decent, but I've had the thing bounce so high when hitting a bump on a curve that it seemed like it broke traction for a second in the rear and then jolted a little when regaining traction. On smooth curves with no bumps, no issues.

Seeing the headlights bobbing up and down on the freeway (like a super lowered car tends to do) when even my Vette doesn't do that is a bit disconcerting. For better or worse it gallops like a mustang over bumps...lol. For some of us the springs are way too stiff. Luckily there should be ways to address the issue for those of us that want to (eventually), but overall I love the car. Telling people they want a Lincoln is going to the other end of the spectrum when that's not what a lot of us want.

I just want to adjust the suspension slightly if possible or potentially swap out some springs or shocks, I don't want a whole other vehicle. I don't know if there is some difference in specific Mach Es or some folks just aren't that sensitive to bumpy suspension, but it's the first car I've ever owned that had me thinking of how I can adjust the suspension.

 

[Jeffvisor]

So, let’s talk road conditions. I live in Pennsylvania. Our state slogan is “Welcome to Pennsylvania - Road Construction Next 300 Miles”. Remember, Pennsylvania was one of the original 13 colonies and our roads haven’t changed much since the 17th century deer trails and hunting paths. One of the roads near me is named (seriously) “Cowpath Road”. (And we won’t even discuss the streets of Philadelphia that resemble a bombing practice range!) coming from a 2018 Escape, I haven’t noticed any significant difference in the Mustang Mach E. What I HAVE noticed is significantly better HANDLING performance. The Mustang Mach E does have a stiff ride and you do feel the road and bumps. Not terribly much though. The difference is that you can throw the Mustang Mach E around in ways I’d never dream of trying with an Escape. Things like taking twisty roads at speed ? it’s a FUN car to drive (for me anyway). If you’re looking for a sedate, peaceful ride that will calmly absorb all road disturbances, Lincoln has a wide range of really great vehicles. (I’m not trying to be sarcastic - seriously, for what you’re dropping on a Mustang Mach E, you could be looking at a very nice Corsair. Maybe a Nautilus?)

Being in PA I can certainly relate to all those road descriptions.

 

[Jimrpa]

See here's the thing though, I knew I was in for a rougher ride, but this thing bounces around more than my Corvette and it's not like I was looking to glide down the road. As far as handling, it's decent, but I've had the thing bounce so high when hitting a bump on a curve that it seemed like it broke traction for a second in the rear and then jolted a little when regaining traction. On smooth curves with no bumps, no issues.

Seeing the headlights bobbing up and down on the freeway (like a super lowered car tends to do) when even my Vette doesn't do that is a bit disconcerting. For better or worse it gallops like a mustang over bumps...lol. For some of us the springs are way too stiff. Luckily there should be ways to address the issue for those of us that want to (eventually), but overall I love the car. Telling people they want a Lincoln is going to the other end of the spectrum when that's not what a lot of us want.

I just want to adjust the suspension slightly if possible or potentially swap out some springs or shocks, I don't want a whole other vehicle. I don't know if there is some difference in specific Mach Es or some folks just aren't that sensitive to bumpy suspension, but it's the first car I've ever owned that had me thinking of how I can adjust the suspension.

Here’s an idea - just for grins, take a Bronco Sport out for a short test drive. I’m not suggesting you GET a bronco sport. I’m just curious what you think of the Bronco Sport ride versus the Mustang Mach E ride. Theoretically, the Bronco Sport ride should be a bit harsher (check the settings though). If you find the Bronco Sport, even in GOAT mode, to still be calmer and more composed than your Mustang Mach E, then there’s definitely something strange.

 

[bellyer]

Here’s an idea - just for grins, take a Bronco Sport out for a short test drive. I’m not suggesting you GET a bronco sport. I’m just curious what you think of the Bronco Sport ride versus the Mustang Mach E ride. Theoretically, the Bronco Sport ride should be a bit harsher (check the settings though). If you find the Bronco Sport, even in GOAT mode, to still be calmer and more composed than your Mustang Mach E, then there’s definitely something strange.

Not a bad idea. I will say my 2017 Explorer that I traded in for this was incredibly smooth compared to the Mach-E and the 2021 Escape that I was given as a loaner while the dealer investigated the bounciness and harsh ride in my Mach-E was also incredibly smooth compared the Mach-E on the same roads that I face the Mach-E bounciness. I do fear that if I go test drive a Bronco, I won't want my Mach-E back; the Bronco is gorgeous. If there was an electric Bronco, I'd be switching in a heartbeat. As stated many times in this thread, I love my Mach-E for the most part and I think it is a gorgeous electric vehicle and at times the ride is smooth as can be, but the ride can be truly awful at times.

 

[Cnote]

Here’s an idea - just for grins, take a Bronco Sport out for a short test drive. I’m not suggesting you GET a bronco sport. I’m just curious what you think of the Bronco Sport ride versus the Mustang Mach E ride. Theoretically, the Bronco Sport ride should be a bit harsher (check the settings though). If you find the Bronco Sport, even in GOAT mode, to still be calmer and more composed than your Mustang Mach E, then there’s definitely something strange.

I might do that on Friday when I take the Mach E to a different dealership to look at the suspension but again it's not an issue with harshness. I'm pulling experience from various vehicles I've owned over the years, some smooth, some harsh. This is the only vehicle that gallops or rocks back and forth over bumps like the suspension is bottomed out which is the part that seems to bother me. I don't mind harsher suspensions but the nature of the way it handles bumps is unique compared to any other car I've driven and why it's the only vehicle where I've ever contemplated messing with the suspension. Like I mentioned, my Vette has a harsher ride, but that's more preferable to the bouncing/rocking.

 

[carbonizedbrett]

I'm no suspension expert so I was hesitant to use the word that came to mind when I test drove a Mach E.

But it's exactly what this guy used to describe the issue https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/savagegeese-mach-e-review.5997 - "underdamped."

My first car was a 1978 BMW 320i which we eventually fitted with Eibach springs and (if IIRC) Tokico shocks. Since then, I've driven a 1995 Maxima, a 2003 Accord V6, and most recently a 2012 Hyundai Genesis 3.6 and a 2017 Subaru Outback. I've rented Fords, Chevys, Toyotas, Audis...

I agree with most of the descriptions - this is not about "harsh" or even a "bumpy" ride. I think of a bump, I think of single jolt that you feel *once* as you contact the road defect.

I was aware of this issue before the test drive by was careful not to say anything to my wife about it.

We drove on local roads that we're very familiar with and on recently reconstructed / paved county roads in the 35-45 mph range. I thought I felt what the OP was talking about but I try to very careful about confirmation bias. I asked my wife general questions about what she thought about the ride. She had a hard time putting it into words but it sounded like the feeling we're all talking about. Finally, she just said,

"If you had boobs, you'd understand."

In fact, I found it to be more bothersome on smooth roads than poor pavement. You see a crack or a pothole, you expect the bump.

You don't expect an ongoing oscillation - either from a bump or on smooth roads.

"Jiggly"

Like something that's sprung fine but not adequately damped.

I doubt I'll cancel my order with a build week of May 16th. Hopefully I don't end up in a situation where my wife is always "Let's take my 2010 Jetta."

 

[FCCinAZ]

I didn’t really understand this thread until last night. I came out of work and the parking structure was empty so instead of driving in the lanes with the speed bumps, I drove across the empty parking spaces. The car began oscillating like the clown cars with oval tires. It reminded me of the physics experiments with sound waves and harmonic convergence. There must have been slight imperceptible undulations in the pavement that were just the right distance apart because I have never felt that on any road at any speed. Even though I was only going about 15mph, it felt like I would lose control. If that’s what your feeling, I can understand your angst. After a month with the RWD, I placed an order for the GT PE with magneride. I think that will solve the issue and Ford needs that as a stand alone option.

 

[bellyer]

I didn’t really understand this thread until last night. I came out of work and the parking structure was empty so instead of driving in the lanes with the speed bumps, I drove across the empty parking spaces. The car began oscillating like the clown cars with oval tires. It reminded me of the physics experiments with sound waves and harmonic convergence. There must have been slight imperceptible undulations in the pavement that were just the right distance apart because I have never felt that on any road at any speed. Even though I was only going about 15mph, it felt like I would lose control. If that’s what your feeling, I can understand your angst. After a month with the RWD, I placed an order for the GT PE with magneride. I think that will solve the issue and Ford needs that as a stand alone option.

Welcome to the club of people who have experienced the exact type of bounce that I was referring to when I started this thread. While it is a really terrible ride when hitting potholes and other poor road conditions in the city of Chicago, the really bad bounce that I was most concerned about and still am is related to exactly what you discovered when driving just a short distance across those parking spaces. Imagine that very experience, but stretched out across 10+ miles of some sections of highway.

 

[bellyer]

When there is a beer named after the road conditions that contribute to the harsh Mach-e ride we have in the city of Chicago, you know the ride in this car can't be comfortable. Haven't found a beer yet that describes the bouncy, oscillating ride yet, though... ?

 

[BMT1071]

When there is a beer named after the road conditions that contribute to the harsh Mach-e ride we have in the city of Chicago, you know the ride in this car can't be comfortable. Haven't found a beer yet that describes the bouncy, oscillating ride yet, though... ?

Damn that looks good.

 

[bellyer]

Damn that looks good.

Oh, it most definitely is good. If you are into pastry stouts, Pipework Brewing in Chicago does some amazing ones (even if they do make me think about the very uncomfortable ride over to the bottle shop in my Mach-E). Next up is Fluffo Sando

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