Adjustable dampers - do they really work? | Ask Honest John

Adjustable dampers - do they really work?

It seems that every time I read a road test of a sporty car, the reviewer raves about adjustable dampers/adaptive chassis.

I am in the market for a sporty car and I like the notion of dialling "comfort" when taking on the normal, pothole-riddled main roads of this country but then dialling "standard," or even "sport" when the roads allow. Do they really work, or am I wasting my time?

Asked on 24 November 2014 by Bradway

Answered by Honest John

In my experience it makes no difference on a Scirocco where the settings are firm, hard and backbreaking. But on a Mercedes or a BMW it does make a difference as long as it is combined with wheels and tyres that aren't going to put back the hardness that the suspension takes out.

Tags: ride comfort buying a new car technical issues

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