Ghibli electronic suspension delete option

[dickyb]

I'm looking at a project car which requires a lot of work but is a good price and I've noticed that it does not have the electronic suspension fitted. I understand that this was a delete option when new and I wondered if anyone knew what sort of setup it would have? E.g. how firm/sporty the setup would be and whether this would be equivalent to one of the settings on the electronic setup.

 

[Pibbow]

Dicky is it yellow?

 

[dickyb]

No its not your old car Pibbow, this one is blue sera with avorio interiror. I hoped you'd come along as I remember your old car had the delete option, I've only seen a few in RHD, yours, this blue one and a Verde Opale auto.

Can you remember how the suspension was? Have you driven cars with the electronic suspension so you can compare the 2? I think the delete option is potentially a good bet on an older car as the electronic dampers can go wrong and are expensive to fix, but I wondered if the handling/comfort was compromised as a result. With the electronic setup I rather like the way you can put the suspension in soft mode on the motorway for wafting in comfort, and then the hardest setting for some spirited driving on country lanes or on the track.

Its not a deal breaker but I just wondered what it was like and on a car requiring a huge amount of work it could be one less thing to worry about/fix

 

[Pibbow]

It was fine mate You can put cup springs on it that will firm up the ride a little the front struts can be prone to bending over time a common fault so may need changing around £100 quid each I think

The 4 stage active dampers were a very early attempt, OK but not a patch on later efforts & modern cars. The units are around £600.00 each if/when they go wrong.

Peter

 

[dickyb]

many thanks for the info, as you say it will be cheaper to replace any components that require replacement when compared to the electronic setup. I wonder if Cup springs/ARBs are still available? I know Cobra do some springs but not sure how good they are and those from Modena Motorsport in Germany are quite expensive.

The car I have in mind needs a lot of work, its quite scruffy bodily and has been off the road for a long time but will be a nice long term project to bring it back to mint condition. Its an auto which I'm not keen on and enquired about raiding your old car for the parts to convert it to manual. Chris at Bill McGrath suggested around £3k for the parts.

 

[Pibbow]

Cup spring from David Askew will be around 25 quid each new.

 

[Pibbow]

The bits from my car will be fine Gearbox was very good mate so you could swap it out.

 

[Pibbow]

All I need is to get shot of My AC so I can snap up an Open Cup I have my eye on.


Peter

 

[dickyb]

ok, many thanks. I figured all the stuff from your old car should be ok, I remember you had it thoroughly checked out when you bought it and it didn't have many miles on it when it came to a sad end.

Good luck with the sale of the AC and the purchase of the Open Cup

 

[hodroyd]

Peter, Have you had any bites on the AC, anyone really interested yet??

 

[Pibbow]

Not yet Robert

 

[hodroyd]

That's weird, your car is one of the best around, maybe you should put a towbar on it..???
Seriously, I am surprised, have you thought of say putting it with Dicky to see if he can do anything on his site??

 

[Pibbow]

It is with Dicky mate it's on his site.

P

 

[hodroyd]

OH right, sorry mate.

 

[Jnismith]

The adjustable suspension was one of the things I played with when I first got the car. Then one corner went and it was £600 or whatever to get it fixed. So I did. Then another went and I decided just to drive it in mode 2. It didn't really make any difference. So if you haven't got the option, you might be better off.

 

[ZAM400209]

I wasn't going to mention this, but as it's come up....


You'd be lucky to get anything from Peter's car at McGraths- I e-mailed them about the remaining good headlight and they blanked me. 2nd time it's happened actually; you wouldn't think I'd used them in the past would you?

I don't think (unless they just don't like me) that they'd break it down to be honest...

 

[dickyb]

Seems that the delete option is not a bad thing to look out for, just wondered if handling/ride would be compromised by only having the one setup but I guess a lot of performance cars don't have adjustable suspension and work just fine. Not sure if not having the electronic suspension would affect value or saleability.

I have had a response from Bill McGrath's but the prices for parts was a little high at £3000. I think this project may be a non-starter, the car needs bodywork, major mechanical work and I don't like autos so unfortunately the figures don't add up at the moment. Having said that the car's price is dropping slowly over time so it may be worth it eventually and I have found a suitable full donor car (rolled) in Hungary for £2800...

 

[ZAM400209]

an auto, yeah?

that's too bad...

No- the adjustable ride thing (absence of it) wouldn't put me off at all; I find it a bit worrying to be honest!!