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hewlett
Original Poster
2,127 posts
90 months
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I just wondered, would anyone actually use air suspension in order to be able to drive to a circuit in comfort, go around a track on the hard setting, then dial it out again for the trip home. I understand that if air suspension is generally not a performance option and rather something for looks rather than for improving the handling of the car, steering feel etc.
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C.A.R.
1,272 posts
57 months
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For what the kit likely weighs (compressor, lines, airbags) it probably serves little performance benefit overall.
I know you can fit an optional nose-lifting kit to most low-slung supercars but it's hardly the same as the posers use (strictly for getting a car to a field and then planting the chassis rails into the ground to impress like-minded individuals).
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AndyNetwork
1,357 posts
63 months
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A mate of mine uses the air suspension on his Range Rover to ensure that the car is level, and handles ok.
He has his own lighting and sound business, and often uses his Rangie when doing smaller jobs, rather than his LWB Transit. Given the weight of some of his kit, it would seriously off balance anything on traditional springs.
Given it's a P38 model, and about 15 years old, he does end up spending a fortune on replacement parts for it though, typically, the sensors, and the o rings in the compressor itself, due to the sensors failing, and running the compressor continually.
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angusc43
1,963 posts
77 months
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When I set off from my home in London I select Comfort - too many speed bumps and pot holes on the minor roads. As soon as I hit the feeder roads for the M40 or M1 I switch it to Sport II. Basically firming it up for smooth tarmac but relatively low speeds (over a certain speed it defaults to Sport II anyway).
If the destination is somewhere rural with broken black top I flick it back to Comfort when we get there eg Norfolk last weekend.
Very occasionally I use lift feature - last Easter when staying at the end of a very rough farm track in CornwallI'd do it just to make sure it didn't bottom out.
So, yes, I reset it all the time. It's hardly a chore.
The other benefit as per the Rangie comment is that as you drive around in which ever setting it constantly tries to level the car at all four corners which is great.
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KrazyIvan
2,520 posts
44 months
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angusc43 said:
The other benefit as per the Rangie comment is that as you drive around with its arse on the floor, like a dog with worms, and you then spend what little money you have left after sorting out the engine, replacing every single component in any way shape or form related to the air suspension, only for it still to fail, and then find out the garage you take it to are so fed up with having it they have changed there phone number and moved location
Fixed that for you. Ivan (Former P38 owner.....who for some unknown reason still every now and then looks at them in the classifies and thinks "they cant ALL be that bad can they) 
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hewlett
Original Poster
2,127 posts
90 months
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I'm going to take a look at the set up on a car that's being worked on at the moment, good response from the guy who sells the kit offereing this, he says:
When we first did a demo of these kits we installed the premium systems on a competition drift car…… a JDM Allstars R32 Nissan Skyline. The handling far exceeded our expectations, and we found we could even lift and drop the car during a drift. Our Air struts have been developed from a racing background and will give you all the performance you need.
They are fully adjustable in length like most performance coilovers and have all the same features.
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angusc43
1,963 posts
77 months
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KrazyIvan said: angusc43 said:
The other benefit as per the Rangie comment is that as you drive around with its arse on the floor, like a dog with worms, and you then spend what little money you have left after sorting out the engine, replacing every single component in any way shape or form related to the air suspension, only for it still to fail, and then find out the garage you take it to are so fed up with having it they have changed there phone number and moved location
Fixed that for you. Ivan (Former P38 owner.....who for some unknown reason still every now and then looks at them in the classifies and thinks "they cant ALL be that bad can they) I laughed out load at that. I do quite often see older Rangies at funny angles/looking slammed and wince at the huge bill circling that the poor owner will be facing. Then again, one of my Airmatic struts may be about to go BLAM so I'd better wind my neck in sharpish.
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JM
1,788 posts
75 months
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hewlett said: I just wondered, would anyone actually use air suspension in order to be able to drive to a circuit in comfort, go around a track on the hard setting, then dial it out again for the trip home. If you had the option and it was of benefit why would you not use it?
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hewlett
Original Poster
2,127 posts
90 months
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This would be the perfect scenario, I'm just dubious as to whether it would perform as well in the twisties as well set up springs and shocks.
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Twincam16
27,206 posts
127 months
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Would you suggest this to a driver of a Citroen DS?
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Don1
8,970 posts
77 months
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Yes, just for posers. 
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hewlett
Original Poster
2,127 posts
90 months
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I had a BX 16 valve. The handling was pretty questionable, it really didn't like rapid direction changes at all. Great seats and engine though.
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300bhp/ton
26,483 posts
59 months
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I think the active suspension on the Soarer is air powered. Thats rather impressive.
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LukeSi
5,067 posts
30 months
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Don1 said: Yes, just for posers. My mate has got a ledge in his garden, even with the suspension as high as it will go it still bottoms out. Still he knows how to offroad, we went green laning in his 1.2 Fabia one time. His is a TDV8 Vogue.
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Shaw Tarse
19,145 posts
72 months
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Don1 said: Yes, just for posers. I really want a FFRR!
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AdeTuono
3,752 posts
96 months
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hewlett said: I had a BX 16 valve. The handling was pretty questionable, it really didn't like rapid direction changes at all. Great seats and engine though. Didn't have air suspension though, surely?
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