Your fleet running reports

[dan]

Hell no, I do everything but bodywork. Thats the devils work.

[V8Granite]

That paint looks mighty heavy, have you thought this one through!

Dave!

[dan]

I’ll be adding lightness don’t worry!

[duncs500]

Can't wait to see what you've gone for!

[DeskJockey]

Zoe failed its MOT on excessive play in the offside front lower ball joint, so will have that sorted out.

[GG.]

How old is the Zoe?

[DeskJockey]

68 plate, done 45k miles. Feels a bit soon, as none of our other cars have needed suspension bits, even well past 100k.

[GG.]

Yep does seem soon. I wonder if electric cars are going to be prone to doing that given the extra weight - its essentially 300 kilos heavier in kerb weight than a Clio and I expect similar suspension components.

I got a taxi home in a BMW i5 last night (my first time in one) and, whilst it was better than the awful VW iD products that Addison Lee use, it still had that underlying lateral shimmying and jolting that all electrics cars have (in my experience - I haven't been in a Zoe). I wouldn't be surprised if that really takes a toll on the suspension.

[DeskJockey]

There are quite a few stores online about Zoe's being tough on suspension components. How widespread the issue really is, only Renault knows. I wouldn't put them past cheaping out.

[Swervin_Mervin]

My E91 still has some original control arms on the o/s front Still no play at 18yrs/138k...

[Carlos]

68 plate, done 45k miles. Feels a bit soon, as none of our other cars have needed suspension bits, even well past 100k.

They are made of cheese and well known to go anytime after 30k miles. At least they are cheap!

[DeskJockey]

Given how good French cheese is, I expected better.

[GG.]

The suspension was clearly more Camembert than Comte.

[DeskJockey]

The suspension was clearly more Camembert than Comte.

you're not wrong.

[Jobbo]

Yep does seem soon. I wonder if electric cars are going to be prone to doing that given the extra weight - its essentially 300 kilos heavier in kerb weight than a Clio and I expect similar suspension components.

I got a taxi home in a BMW i5 last night (my first time in one) and, whilst it was better than the awful VW iD products that Addison Lee use, it still had that underlying lateral shimmying and jolting that all electrics cars have (in my experience - I haven't been in a Zoe). I wouldn't be surprised if that really takes a toll on the suspension.

I’ve only been in four EVs long enough to notice that type of thing and none did it - Škoda Enyaq, BYD Seal, Nissan Leaf and VW ID Buzz. Why do you think that’s something EV specific? Sounds more like overly stiff anti-roll bars which is something EVs with their weight lower down ought to be able to avoid.

[GG.]

Funnily enough I don't really recall Teslas doing it and I've been driven around in a few of those, but that was most often in Ubers on Portuguese roads so smooth you wouldn't notice.

I think the other aspect that will make a difference is where you where in them and what speed you were doing. This is in central london at speeds of 0-20 (ish) mph and also, being passengered in the rear and not as a front seat passenger. I did notice in the i5, that once the uber driver started speeding (up to about 30mph - whilst it was going BONG BONG BONG at him ) it did get better. It is slow speed over potholes where they are abysmal.

The best way I can describe it is that it feels like you're running on the sidewalls on deflated run flats where hitting ridges and potholes put a really sharp "bang" through the chassis (in the i5 it just felt like a more remote "bang") and accompanied by a horrid lateral shimmying from side to side. The crashiness is just symptom of the weight I think. The lateral shimmying is maybe not roll bar related I expect but just a symptom of the skateboard battery packs meaning all the torsional ridigity is down at the very bottom of the car right next to the suspension so when the mass in the car "rolls" it is moving beneath you rather than higher up and feels like a lateral jump and not roll.

This was present in a Taycan GTS as well as the ID4 and the i5, to greater or lesser degrees so it definitely is an inherent EV thing. My 911 is a much more comfortable ride than the Taycan Cross Turismo over bad London roads - which is a bit bizarre.

I think ultimately the answer is... if it weighs as much as a Range Rover, it needs air suspension like a Range Rover. Otherwise you have to do what Merc did with the E class I rented in Italy - have blancmange suspension, which isn't ideal either (but is better than feeling like you're on the milbrook Belgian pave testing course).

[Mito Man]

Haven’t felt it myself but the only EVs I’ve driven are the Model 3 and i3. And my odd private hire ride through London has been in stop start traffic so can’t comment on much.

I will say a lot of newer cars feel like they are too softly sprung but have rock solid ARBs. They don’t roll much but feel like crap in the corners and rock forwards and back too much when gently accelerating/braking.
Perhaps it’s the best compromise for heavy passively sprung cars with low profile tyres but I’m not a fan.

[Jobbo]

I’ve not driven a Taycan. Need to give one a go - I’ve certainly never seen that as a criticism and in fact the ride is usually described as excellent.

The Enyaq I was a rear seat passenger in, round country lanes and then round town, so I’m surprised it didn’t feel like you describe the ID4/5. It’s basically the same car as an ID3.

[GG.]

Generative AI via Google but putting in "Enyaq ID4 suspension" spat out this:

The Skoda Enyaq and Volkswagen ID.4 are similar mechanically, but have different styles and appearances. The Enyaq's suspension is generally considered to be less stiff than the ID.4's

Maybe there is something to AI

ETA - most reviews do complain about it though https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/enyaq/4x4/review/n22909 My reference points of 911 and Range Rover just throw things into sharp relief. Everything else feels crap - too harsh if its trying to be sporty or too soft without control if they try and avoid it. The FFRR smothers everything with very little roll and the 911 will pull >1 lateral G in the corners without feeling uncomfortable

[speedingfine]

Feeling buoyant after a flying colours MOT pass today, I decided to try and change the rear brake pads. Unfortunately ended in failure, the caliper bolts wouldn't budge even on a long bar. Bugger. Still, got to use my natty new gazebo.