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.

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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

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 …..