Steep drives and ground clearance?

P

paddy1000111

New member
Hi all,

I'm due to finally purchase the f-type of my dreams on Saturday. I have however had a bit of a realisation with the driveway. We are in a new build home and the road level is yet to be finished, it's not due to be done for around 9 months apparently so waiting it out is out of the question. I've attached a photo of the current drive.

I currently have a Volvo V50 which has a ride height of 138mm and a wheelbase of 2640. From what I've seen the 2016 V6S f-type wheelbase is 2622 with a ride height of 107mm? It would have 20" wheels if that helps.

At any point on the drive I seem to have around 50mm clearance mounting it. Do you think this would be okay? Curb height is 140mm, I always reverse on.
 

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I spent the first year in my new build from April 2021 with a near identical situation. Never proved an issue, but just had to always reverse in, usually with a slight turn and never attempt it forward.
Not sure what the temp ramp is but mine was tarmac and the builders offered to make it more gradual if an issue but it wasn't so you can always ask as they are duty bound to ensure you can access your drive.
Don't count on how quick it will be surfaced either. Lots of inspections, road levels, drains, damaged kerbs, tarmac density, all need fixing before sign off for final tarmac or paver layer by local authority.

For the first week after the road level was raised I still drove out with caution even though there was only a 1cm drop :)
 
cj10jeeper said:
I spent the first year in my new build from April 2021 with a near identical situation. Never proved an issue, but just had to always reverse in, usually with a slight turn and never attempt it forward.
Not sure what the temp ramp is but mine was tarmac and the builders offered to make it more gradual if an issue but it wasn't so you can always ask as they are duty bound to ensure you can access your drive.
Don't count on how quick it will be surfaced either. Lots of inspections, road levels, drains, damaged kerbs, tarmac density, all need fixing before sign off for final tarmac or paver layer by local authority.

For the first week after the road level was raised I still drove out with caution even though there was only a 1cm drop :)
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Thanks for this, I have emailed and asked for an extension. All the other houses have normal drives but mines a curb as I'm on a junction so the whole area will be slightly raised apparently.

Just super nervous about picking up my new baby after having my last car for 10 years 😂
 
My situation was the same. As the last house before it becomes private drives, mine is block paved road to indicate the end of the road. As a result I too had the big drop due to no dropped kerb.
Seems to be the current design language of developments, but works as people tend to drive slower or turn around instead of continuing to see where the road goes..
 
Slope needs to be less than 10 degrees to avoid the air deflectors, even then would be best approach at an angle.
 
You should be ok going gently but just keep an eye on the edge of the rough concrete where it might come away over time.
The air deflectors are somewhat sacrificial, but no one wants to catch them - being reasonably flexible they do make a sound much worse than the reality!
 
I have a sloping drive and as I come in and go out of my house the front rubber bib scrapes on the public footpath due to the angle of my drive unfortunate, however I will eventually replace the damaged bib.
 
So I've got them to extend the ramp making it 700mm long so an incline of around 10%. I'll get someone to see me in the first time and I'll pull in and out a few times and check. Am I right in saying the front lip is the lowest point?
 
Personally, I would reverse in at an oblique angle and park the car diagonally if you have a wide enough drive.
 
Well I've pulled the current car in and out and taken about a million measurements and I'm sure it's fine. My only other worry is upsetting neighbours when I go to work with the cold start exhaust flare but time will tell with that one 😂
 
scm said:
You can minimise the noise by selecting D immediately it starts.
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I'll feel bad for the car every time but if it fixes that initial flair issue then great. Hopefully it's not an issue, i live in an area surrounded by retired couples and I think most of them are part deaf anyway having spoken to them 😂
 
paddy1000111 said:
scm said:
You can minimise the noise by selecting D immediately it starts.
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I'll feel bad for the car every time but if it fixes that initial flair issue then great. Hopefully it's not an issue, i live in an area surrounded by retired couples and I think most of them are part deaf anyway having spoken to them 😂
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Perfect F-Type neighbours! :lol:
 
Thanks all for the help. It went up on the drive without issues, had about an inch and a half of wiggle room on the front splitter. They're extending the ramp anyway.

I'm still slightly anxious and a little shocked that I finally got one. Good night's sleep and a day detailing it and "making it mine" tomorrow as it feels like someone elses car still!
 

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Lovely car and glad you can get onto the drive. Not just me then that likes to clean the last owner out of a car :)
Don’t go out fast as the drop down will compress the suspension to take up your clearance as you hit the road surface..
 
IRR is my favourite colour, a great choice.

The ground clearance isn't that bad on these cars, I've never had any problems with traffic bumps, as long as taken slowly as suggested. Although the odd steep camber when turning out of a side road caught me out to begin with.

You begin to spot the situations that might make it ground out pretty quickly, and then taking them at an angle.
 
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