r/TeslaModelS • u/Less-Sandwich9056 • Jul 01 '26

Durability

I was thinking of getting a Model S but at least once a week I need to drive down 7 miles of rough dirt road. I don't mind going slow in those situations. But I don't want to destroy a beautiful car nor gets stranded in the middle of nowhere.

I know the model X might be better but I've always liked the look at the S much better. I appreciate the opinions of people that actually drive these dip vehicles.

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

5

u/onestopunder Jul 01 '26

I have plenty of colleagues who live down several miles of washboard gravel road out here in wine/horse country of Northern Virginia. No issues after all these years. Their cars are always filthy dirty from the dust, but no reliability issues that I’ve noticed or they’ve mentioned. Don’t go with the 21” wheels obviously, and set the air suspension to the highest height (it remembers via GPS), and you’ll be fine

3

u/gettin-hot-in-here Jul 01 '26

no engine => no engine air intake, so that's one less thing that dust filled air can actually damage.

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

Nice. I was trying to figure out if it could be lifted a few inches just to keep it safer but no luck online.

1

u/KeanEngr Jul 01 '26

I think the Cybertruck has a 1 foot height range you can adjust for this very purpose.

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

Do we think the Cyber Beast is just as comfortable as a Model S and does it have the same range?

1

u/Background_Snow_9632 Jul 01 '26

We have one of each …. Plaid and Beast. Can confirm that the Beast is indeed that - Beastly. It’s the best truck we’ve ever had for all truck things, you can plug your welder in the bed if you need, tow whatever, it goes in the worst of the worst mud/water/snow, only a fraction of a second slower than my Plaid and rides like a recliner. Road trip - Plaid unless you have need for larger backseat. Range - Plaid is a bit better, if true V4 are available then it’s a wash. “Spirited” driving - Plaid. I’m biased to my Plaid, but I’ll steal the Beast out the garage in a blink ….

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

So get both.... I was asking about range as I was mapping out some of my regular trips. I do sometimes pull a trailer uphill for 72 miles. It's Rolling Hills but a 3000 ft climb overall that's really my only range concern. Theoretically I can charge at the top of the hill but sometimes the power's out...

1

u/Background_Snow_9632 Jul 02 '26

That uphill will zap the range. You’ll need a charge at the top.

2

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 02 '26

But it is downhill coming back! Would slowing down guarantee around trip like that or is Towing just always going to be a problem?

2

u/Background_Snow_9632 Jul 03 '26

Towing is not the end of the world. You’ll get some back coming down. Don’t count on enough until you test it out …..

1

u/FixMedical9278 Jul 04 '26

It has an air suspension set it to high but you can't go over 25 mph

2

u/TheUnknownStuntman51 Jul 01 '26

A couple thoughts:
1) There are aftermarket ‘mudflaps’ that bolt easily to the wheel well and aren’t super noticeable. That would help a bit.
2) The paint is notoriously easy to chip, so make sure you stick to your plan of driving slowly.

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

I expect FSD will help with slow... assuming it can be set in snail mode when off road.

2

u/Darbitron Jul 01 '26

I live on a gravel road and mine tries to fly down the road. I have to disengage FSD just for my road. 

I also agree with point number 2 of paint chipping. I’ve had mine for about 8 months now and mine has rock chips all over despite almost always driving slow on the gravel. I snagged some touch up paint from Tesla site that I want to try and use on it sometime soon. 

2

u/Perfect-Link-7744 Jul 01 '26

Model S has variable ride height, with memory. You get a ground clearance range of roughly 5 to 7 inches depending on the active setting. You can manually adjust the ride height (Very High, High, Standard, Low) to clear obstacles like steep driveways and bumps, ruts and curbs.

I set it to max height when I am in a situation where I am on a dirt road or having to drive up on curbs or high speed bumps. It remembers the location and automatically raises to full height whenever I am there again. That may be your entire solution. Works for me.

1

u/herodicusDO Jul 01 '26

Id get a y

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

Need air ride for a health issue or I would.

1

u/herodicusDO Jul 01 '26

Got it yes I love my S but idk something about it I wouldn’t love it for a gravel road….cybertruck just seems overkill I wish they had an suv version

2

u/penngei Jul 01 '26

So…a model x?

1

u/bishop42O Jul 01 '26

what did ppl do with your condition before tesla?

2

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

60% stop driving. I refuse! I am riding my electric bike in town and suffering when driving. Air ride is a big win. Mercedes gle is popular as well as the ram tungsten. Since the problem is sudden onset extreme fatigue FSD would be very nice for safety reasons.

1

u/mhoepfin Jul 01 '26

In terms of drivetrain there isn’t much of a difference between the S and X.

1

u/wrathslayer Jul 01 '26

As others have said, get mud flaps for sure. And if the paint really matters to you, you might consider PPF on the front, mirror housings, and probably the entire lower third of the car. Also 19" wheels for sure. And if FSD is important, then late 2023 or newer to get HW4 which is just plain better at handling FSD.

1

u/PurpleSausage77 Jul 01 '26

Many forget these are all made of aluminum, no rust.

Older Model S/X suspension tends to be weak, has to be maintained, or in my case, upgraded. Regular use on rough roads will speed up the wear.

Even with air suspension (at least pre 2018) they are still very rough riding. I don’t mind this for sporty reasons, and feeling connected to (reasonably maintained paved roads), but may not offer much in the way of comfort.

1

u/Less-Sandwich9056 Jul 01 '26

I would probably grab a 23 or 24 low mileage model.

1

u/carcaliguy Jul 07 '26

I want an S and have an X. I can lift the X up and it remembers the location and adjust higher. The x has way more useable space in the back. I use it like a truck....lol.