Air bag suspension?

[scottmandue]

As a spin off of the 'jacked up big tires' thread.
I understand this (air bag suspension) is done for the kewl effect of being able to roll up to the car show and drop you car to the ground (dunno why that is considered cool but to each their own).
It used to be a fairly uncommon mod but now I see everything from pick up trucks to Mercedes Benz air bagged... when I was a Miata owner searching online for coil-overs I came across more than a few air bag kits for Miata (there are two types of Miata owners, the race guys and the stance guys.)

But I digress, my question is, I presume air bagging a car gives it a floaty 1950's Cadillac type ride, yes?

[nb6179505]

No necessarily, our panamera turbo has air suspension...air bags in lieu of springs and struts

So do large diesel trucks, buses

In several there's comparisons of drift cars and weekend race cars with air suspension as responsive as normal coilovers suspension

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[biosurfer1]

I would say no for factory air suspension and yes to aftermarket.

Factory had the R&D done to make it a more similar ride to a standard suspension, aftermarket is mostly for the "cool" factor

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by biosurfer1

I would say no for factory air suspension and yes to aftermarket.

Factory had the R&D done to make it a more similar ride to a standard suspension, aftermarket is mostly for the "cool" factor

I guess I should have clarified I was asking about aftermarket (I am aware Porsche uses air suspension), specifically the kits I saw for Miatas... seemed goofy to do that to a sports car... but as I said there is a segment of the Miata drivers who are not into performance but having a show car.

[asphaltgambler]

Aftermarket air suspension has come a looooong way in the last 6- 7 years. They are matched to the car, correct for curb weight, especially with the air struts. The good systems are a bit pricey.......

[Zeke]

Conventional air suspension has shock absorbers just like a sprung suspension. It must be a trick to tune the shocks to the car riding on air. AFA one that allows the car to lower radically, IDK how the dampers work there.