Okay, I still choose the Air, but…

[msaunders9430]

I've been driving an Air Dream Performance on 21" Pirelli summer tires for over three years and have been mightily impressed with its handling. But something weird happened last night.

We were heading home from a late evening with friends with almost no traffic. There is a large intersection of two eight-lane roads where I usually make a wide sweeping right-hand turn that I like to take at real speed if no one is around. But the crown of the road I'm turning onto banks against the direction of the turn instead of into it, so it really puts the car's chassis through its paces.

Last night we were in the Gravity Dream on the 21/22" Michelin all-season tires. I was astonished to find that on that turn the Gravity -- despite its greater weight and higher stance -- actually stayed flatter and turned in more crisply than the Air, glued to the pavement like a fly stuck to flypaper. Credit the rear-wheel steering in part and the Gravity's air suspension leveling. It brought back to mind Kyle Conner's and Jason Cammisa's comments on the Gravity's handling back in January when Conner told David Lickfold that he thought the Gravity out-handled the Air, and Cammisa said the Gravity threatened to make sports cars obsolete. I can only imagine what our Gravity Dream on the 22/23" wheels and phenomenal new PZ5's will be like.

Something else I have noticed as we build more time in the Gravity. The speeds at which I start to notice that my speed has built more than I intended seem to be around 10mph faster than when the same sensation sets in with the Air. Between the higher ride height and the quieter cabin, the Gravity can put you into unintended territory very easily if you're not paying attention.

I'm beginning to see a glimmer of suspicion that, once our second Gravity Dream arrives and all the kinks get worked out of both of them, we might start wondering what's the point of keeping the Air although that has long been our intent. The only thing that might stay our hand is the desire to keep a third car on hand for when family visits or a car is in the shop with no loaner available.

While I still think the Air sports the most visually fetching front end of any car on the road today, I actually like the rear countenance of the Gravity better. And with Superchargers seeming to work flawlessly with our Gravity, the loss of range compared to the Air is really of no consequence.

Sounds like you had quite the eventful night with your GDE.
Software issues offset by impressive handling.

 

[hmp10]

Sounds like you had quite the eventful night with your GDE.
Software issues offset by impressive handling.

Yep, the continuing replay of our first 10 months with the Air and UX 1.0.

 

[borski]

I've been driving an Air Dream Performance on 21" Pirelli summer tires for over three years and have been mightily impressed with its handling. But something weird happened last night.

We were heading home from a late evening with friends with almost no traffic. There is a large intersection of two eight-lane roads where I usually make a wide sweeping right-hand turn that I like to take at real speed if no one is around. But the crown of the road I'm turning onto banks against the direction of the turn instead of into it, so it really puts the car's chassis through its paces.

Last night we were in the Gravity Dream on the 21/22" Michelin all-season tires. I was astonished to find that on that turn the Gravity -- despite its greater weight and higher stance -- actually stayed flatter and turned in more crisply than the Air, glued to the pavement like a fly stuck to flypaper. Credit the rear-wheel steering in part and the Gravity's air suspension leveling. It brought back to mind Kyle Conner's and Jason Cammisa's comments on the Gravity's handling back in January when Conner told David Lickfold that he thought the Gravity out-handled the Air, and Cammisa said the Gravity threatened to make sports cars obsolete. I can only imagine what our Gravity Dream on the 22/23" wheels and phenomenal new PZ5's will be like.

Something else I have noticed as we build more time in the Gravity. The speeds at which I start to notice that my speed has built more than I intended seem to be around 10mph faster than when the same sensation sets in with the Air. Between the higher ride height and the quieter cabin, the Gravity can put you into unintended territory very easily if you're not paying attention.

I'm beginning to see a glimmer of suspicion that, once our second Gravity Dream arrives and all the kinks get worked out of both of them, we might start wondering what's the point of keeping the Air although that has long been our intent. The only thing that might stay our hand is the desire to keep a third car on hand for when family visits or a car is in the shop with no loaner available.

While I still think the Air sports the most visually fetching front end of any car on the road today, I actually like the rear countenance of the Gravity better. And with Superchargers seeming to work flawlessly with our Gravity, the loss of range compared to the Air is really of no consequence.

I hear what you’re saying. In a turn, the RWS really helps a ton. I still prefer the way the Air handles, but it’s just personal preference. Which is absurd for comparing an SUV to a sedan.

 

[hmp10]

Which is absurd for comparing an SUV to a sedan.

Amen to that.

 

[hydbob]

Amen to that.

@borski misspoke. When comparing a minivan to a sport sedan.

 

[borski]

@borski misspoke. When comparing a minivan to a sport sedan.

I hate this thread

 

[iThinkEV]

I've been driving an Air Dream Performance on 21" Pirelli summer tires for over three years and have been mightily impressed with its handling. But something weird happened last night.

We were heading home from a late evening with friends with almost no traffic. There is a large intersection of two eight-lane roads where I usually make a wide sweeping right-hand turn that I like to take at real speed if no one is around. But the crown of the road I'm turning onto banks against the direction of the turn instead of into it, so it really puts the car's chassis through its paces.

Last night we were in the Gravity Dream on the 21/22" Michelin all-season tires. I was astonished to find that on that turn the Gravity -- despite its greater weight and higher stance -- actually stayed flatter and turned in more crisply than the Air, glued to the pavement like a fly stuck to flypaper. Credit the rear-wheel steering in part and the Gravity's air suspension leveling. It brought back to mind Kyle Conner's and Jason Cammisa's comments on the Gravity's handling back in January when Conner told David Lickfold that he thought the Gravity out-handled the Air, and Cammisa said the Gravity threatened to make sports cars obsolete. I can only imagine what our Gravity Dream on the 22/23" wheels and phenomenal new PZ5's will be like.

Something else I have noticed as we build more time in the Gravity. The speeds at which I start to notice that my speed has built more than I intended seem to be around 10mph faster than when the same sensation sets in with the Air. Between the higher ride height and the quieter cabin, the Gravity can put you into unintended territory very easily if you're not paying attention.

I'm beginning to see a glimmer of suspicion that, once our second Gravity Dream arrives and all the kinks get worked out of both of them, we might start wondering what's the point of keeping the Air although that has long been our intent. The only thing that might stay our hand is the desire to keep a third car on hand for when family visits or a car is in the shop with no loaner available.

While I still think the Air sports the most visually fetching front end of any car on the road today, I actually like the rear countenance of the Gravity better. And with Superchargers seeming to work flawlessly with our Gravity, the loss of range compared to the Air is really of no consequence.

Agree on the speed sensation. When I was doing trips up and down I5 in CA. I was passing cars in the fast lane, and I though 'damn, these guys are driving slow on the fast lane, should move over, then I look at speedo, I'm passing cars moving at 90mph, and I though they were like doing 60mph. Crazy change of perspective. When I was passing on the same stretch of road on the X. I can feel the road vibrations, the road noise, and so I know I was speeding up, and passing people on purpose. But the Gravity, it just feels like I'm passing people that are doing 45mph, and I'm just barely touching 60mph. This can lead me to a lot of tickets. lol.

-iThinkEV-

 

[PhotoEye]

Agree on the speed sensation. When I was doing trips up and down I5 in CA. I was passing cars in the fast lane, and I though 'damn, these guys are driving slow on the fast lane, should move over, then I look at speedo, I'm passing cars moving at 90mph, and I though they were like doing 60mph. Crazy change of perspective. When I was passing on the same stretch of road on the X. I can feel the road vibrations, the road noise, and so I know I was speeding up, and passing people on purpose. But the Gravity, it just feels like I'm passing people that are doing 45mph, and I'm just barely touching 60mph. This can lead me to a lot of tickets. lol.

-iThinkEV-

Radar and laser detectors are musts with the Air and, apparently, the Gravity too!!

 

[Tommy G]

I've been driving an Air Dream Performance on 21" Pirelli summer tires for over three years and have been mightily impressed with its handling. But something weird happened last night.

We were heading home from a late evening with friends with almost no traffic. There is a large intersection of two eight-lane roads where I usually make a wide sweeping right-hand turn that I like to take at real speed if no one is around. But the crown of the road I'm turning onto banks against the direction of the turn instead of into it, so it really puts the car's chassis through its paces.

Last night we were in the Gravity Dream on the 21/22" Michelin all-season tires. I was astonished to find that on that turn the Gravity -- despite its greater weight and higher stance -- actually stayed flatter and turned in more crisply than the Air, glued to the pavement like a fly stuck to flypaper. Credit the rear-wheel steering in part and the Gravity's air suspension leveling. It brought back to mind Kyle Conner's and Jason Cammisa's comments on the Gravity's handling back in January when Conner told David Lickfold that he thought the Gravity out-handled the Air, and Cammisa said the Gravity threatened to make sports cars obsolete. I can only imagine what our Gravity Dream on the 22/23" wheels and phenomenal new PZ5's will be like.

Something else I have noticed as we build more time in the Gravity. The speeds at which I start to notice that my speed has built more than I intended seem to be around 10mph faster than when the same sensation sets in with the Air. Between the higher ride height and the quieter cabin, the Gravity can put you into unintended territory very easily if you're not paying attention.

I'm beginning to see a glimmer of suspicion that, once our second Gravity Dream arrives and all the kinks get worked out of both of them, we might start wondering what's the point of keeping the Air although that has long been our intent. The only thing that might stay our hand is the desire to keep a third car on hand for when family visits or a car is in the shop with no loaner available.

While I still think the Air sports the most visually fetching front end of any car on the road today, I actually like the rear countenance of the Gravity better. And with Superchargers seeming to work flawlessly with our Gravity, the loss of range compared to the Air is really of no consequence.

Having lived in Naples, FL, would love to know which road(s) and turn(s) you are referring to. Especially considering how flat everything is in Naples…and FL overall.

Reading all the positives about the Gravity, I think I’m going to push to replace the Land Rover with a Gravity.

 

[hmp10]

Having lived in Naples, FL, would love to know which road(s) and turn(s) you are referring to. Especially considering how flat everything is in Naples…and FL overall.

Reading all the positives about the Gravity, I think I’m going to push to replace the Land Rover with a Gravity.

The one turn I posted about earlier was a turn eastward onto Immokalee Road from Collier Boulevard. There is a real shortage of curves to try out in Naples, but there is a right-hand sweeper turn lane there that can take some real speed late at night with almost no traffic. (It's also the intersection that has the highest traffic accident incidence in Collier County, so I'm serious about doing it with no traffic.)

 

[Tommy G]

The one turn I posted about earlier was a turn eastward onto Immokalee Road from Collier Boulevard. There is a real shortage of curves to try out in Naples, but there is a right-hand sweeper turn lane there that can take some real speed late at night with almost no traffic. (It's also the intersection that has the highest traffic accident incidence in Collier County, so I'm serious about doing it with no traffic.)

I know exactly where you’re talking. By the Publix. It’s FL’s version of an “on ramp” considering most roads are 6-8 lanes across. Not a lot of margin for error there. Definitely peaked my interest in looking at the Gravity

 

[hmp10]

I know exactly where you’re talking. By the Publix. It’s FL’s version of an “on ramp” considering most roads are 6-8 lanes across. Not a lot of margin for error there. Definitely peaked my interest in looking at the Gravity

Another area road I want to try with the Gravity at the right time of day is Imperial between Bonita Beach Road and Coconut Point. It has some nice curves, including some tricky ones that are banked against the curve. Back in my Audi R8 V-10 days I used to get up at dawn on weekend days to take a few runs up and down it. Usually had the road entirely to myself.