Air Suspension Dilemma! What's your setting?

[oceancatch]

Hey all,

Just picked up a 25 4S recently and seems having a hard time determining what Chassis+Level setting is the best for me. My understanding is Chassis changes stiffness (Normal/Sport/Sport Plus) and Level changes ride height (Normal/Lowered/Low). But it seems that changing Level alone without changing Chassis could also have a notable impact on ride quality. Maybe it's because that lower level won't allow much suspension travel so it must be stiffer than a higher level? Anyway, I keep trying different settings but couldn't persuade myself one-way or the other. For instance, what's difference in ride quality between Chassis Normal/Level Low and Chassis Sport Plus/Level Normal? Is there a "best" combination"? What setting y'all like to have? Thank you!

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[craz8]

I've customized the Sport setting to have Normal chassis to give me the Normal/Lowered setting on the dial

I now need to remember to turn that dial every time I start up.

Note that the Normal setting will go lower at higher speed automatically. Around town, the less sporty chassis setting is required (my dash cam's g-meter capture went off three times last week just from bumps in the road at 25mph)

 

[Fun TC Driving]

With so many different road texture surfaces that I drive on, with my limited driving yet (less than 8 total hours), as of now have keep each setting per factory (no customization), so I am yet exclusively using standard factory normal or sport.

I am ooking forward to reading others’ posts, though as of right now expect to end up with exactly Cruz’s first sentence as my initiql customization starting basis. Lots for me to learn at this time.

 

[MatC21]

Did someone try what is the best for aerodynamics and hence consumption?

 

[oceancatch]

I've customized the Sport setting to have Normal chassis to give me the Normal/Lowered setting on the dial

I now need to remember to turn that dial every time I start up.

Note that the Normal setting will go lower at higher speed automatically. Around town, the less sporty chassis setting is required (my dash cam's g-meter capture went off three times last week just from bumps in the road at 25mph)

Same here! I feel the Normal Level gives me a bit too much body motion in turning and braking. I originally thought I need to change chassis to Sport but that made the car a bit too stiff over small bumps. Lowering the level actually made it more stable.

I'm honestly shocked that Porsche doesn't have an Individual or Customized mode that let you create your own combination and SAVE it! Audi is doing that for decades.

 

[oceancatch]

Did someone try what is the best for aerodynamics and hence consumption?

Theoretically the lower the better aerodynamics.

 

[craz8]

Normal mode can't be changed, but Sport and Sport Plus can be customized and saved, so Sport Mode is my 'custom' setting for now.

 

[strwbryfruitcake]

Slightly off topic, does anyone know if the air suspension will auto-set the ride height based on driving speed or GPS(innodrive) information?

 

[craz8]

Google tells me there's a post on here (https://www.macanevowners.com/forum...t-about-steering-and-throttle-response.18088/) that says it drops at 60mph in Normal to Lowered. I think I've seen this.

There is an Automatic Lift function that you can set for specific locations to give you more ground clearance. That is documented in the manual here https://manual.porsche.com/#/wpi/XA..._US/topic/id/d5727762c7436f598d24c0b36801c875

 

[krissrock]

I do low with sport damping all the time

 

[ColdCase]

I think you also need to consider which wheels size you are using. There is just not much larger wheel tire sidewall to absorb road defects. I think the three chamber air bags do a better job in this area than the single chamber ones that I read they put in the Macan.

With my 20 inch, normal is a comfortable ride on just about any surface. But it allows some body roll when pushing it. Sport is more planted, firm but comfortable ride, no noticeable body roll in street driving. I use sport all the time. .

My new friend's 22 inch doesn't seem to have a good factory compromise. Normal is a nice enough ride but potholes can knock your fillings out and the roll is just as noticeable. The well planted sport is brutal on all but the smoothest pavement. The lower profile tires will perhaps provide quicker steering response and more driving satisfaction on smooth roads, however.

He says he's played a bit with customizing sport mode but hasn't found a good compromise yet. You would think by now Porsche would have developed a suspension that reads road surfaces and adjusts in anticipation.

The optional tires have more tread width than the factory 20s. At one time I was pondering a 20 inch wheel/tire package that provided the 22 inch tread width but I didn't like the cost/benefit ratio.

 

[Hawk_Tuah]

but Sport and Sport Plus can be customized and saved, so Sport Mode is my 'custom' setting for now.

How do you do that? That’s what I’m missing since delivery

 

[craz8]

In the PCM page to set up each mode, when you’re NOT looking at Normal, a small check mark appears at the top right of those menu options to save the setting. The background is busy, so it’s hard to see and not as obvious as it could be

Here's a previous post with a picture of the checkbox https://www.macanevowners.com/forum/threads/save-your-preferred-drive-mode.19694/#post-300240

 

[DC Mac]

With my car’s 22” Macan sport wheels, I use the Normal setting around town.
Normal mode gives me a smooth ride over speed bumps, pot holes and dips.
When I’m on smooth-ish roads, like my favorite local mountain roads, I set it to sport or sport plus and absolutely love it.
I bought my car pre-spec’d, the 22’s were someone else’s idea. I would have gone for 21’s or 20’s but I have to admit the 22’s are beautiful and the occasional harsh bump I can live with until I eventually swap them out.

 

[Fun TC Driving]

Thanks craz8. I had not seen that check mark and wonderful why it was not taking my setting it.

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