2023 Ford Puma suspension too harsh?

[HQB]

We have a 2023/23 Ford Puma 1.0 155 ST Vignale which is a very impressive car except for one aspect. The low speed ride is very harsh and thumps into potholes etc. It appears to me that the initial primary ride is simply too hard and as far as I can tell, the suspension does not have variable rate coil springs. Ford have four different suspension setting for this car depending on model so the softest setting is on the Titanium, then the ST Line is slightly firmer, the ST Vignale is firmer again and the firmest ride is on the ST with 200 bhp engine although that has quite a few suspension differences as well.

My dealer is happy to fit a set of standard Titanium specification springs and dampers but cannot say it will improve and asking some drivers, I think the difference is very marginal. We test drove a ST Vignale demonstrator which had 19” option wheels and Goodyear Efficient Grip 205/45/19 tyres which seemed fine..impressive in fact. However as my wife has osteoporosis, we thought the 18” wheels with 205/50/18” tyres would be better still…but on delivery, the ride was dreadful. I have looked for suspension Transport blocks but found none and did find the tyres 8lb over pressure on delivery but reducing that made little difference. Since then we have tried to drive and live with it but sadly it is still too harsh.

The effect is constant jiggling over broken surfaces and thumps on road repairs running across the surface…my finger in the air guess is that we need 10% softer springs and maybe adjustable dampers but so far, none of my enquiries to suspension suppliers has got far. Today though, Eibacher have said that they have a set which would lower the car by 25mm and whilst technically stiffer still, are more compliant with a controlled ride.

Hence…has anybody found the same problem? Have you fitted Eibacher springs and what was the result? Does anybody have any knowledge of who offers suspension tuning for comfort? Would spring changes without damper changes actually work?

Interestingly, the You Tuber SHMEE150 (Tim Burton) last night posted a video about a new daily driver Ford Mustang E GT and commented on the very hard ride using exactly the words we use to describe it and even checking for suspension blocks! I think Ford need some new engineers perhaps….this seems to be a common problem.

[daytona111r]

Get a Citroen

[HQB]

We had one…it gave 11 years of perfect service but the new C5 Aircross is too big for my wife to use and the C3 is too old and not that great to ride in either. Meanwhile I hope we have overcome the problem with different suspension springs. We will see if they work. 🤔🙂

[James6112]

My wife has a new Kuga St line X
That’s has a pretty hard ride too.
You feel every bump, terrible on those concrete motorway sections.
Sound reduction glass etc, but blooming noisy!

She likes it, but I wouldn’t buy one.

My 10 year old Skoda Superb is a nicer place to be..

[HQB]

James…what I am astonished to say is that the ride has improved notably after 1200 miles but I cannot really understand why. It has lost most of the harshness and is much more compliant now. As I said, it was really, really hard at first in a way I never expected. I bought a set of Eibach springs and they were to be fitted this week but the garage which specialises in suspension thought it would be a mistake to fit upgraded springs even if they were more compliant hence I have returned them but still have a nagging doubt that they might have been alright.

I would give you the same advice…keep driving it for a while….see if it improves.

[James6112]

Thanks, hope hers goes the same way.
I’ll check the tyre pressures too!