lowering the car worth it?

rice eater · 12-24-2009, 10:50 PM

i've been wondering, are many of you guys lowering the z? or do you feel that the stock springs sit the car low enough. looking at some of your rides, i can't even tell if its lowered.

SilverBullet · 12-24-2009, 10:55 PM

Get rid of the wheel gap. Lower springs also equal better handling.

motoextreme · 12-25-2009, 02:24 AM

I wasnt going to at first but after changing the rims out my wheel gap is a bit more then I can bear. I'm putting coilovers on and taking it down an inch or so.

Lowered cars are kind of a pain in the a#$ for driveways and such but you'll definitely pick up some corner speed. To me..thats more important then HP any day of the week!

12-25-2009, 02:34 AM

do you live in nyc? if so....be careful

MightyBobo · 12-25-2009, 07:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverBullet

Get rid of the wheel gap. Lower springs also equal better handling.

Not necessarily...

G37Sam · 12-25-2009, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Not necessarily...

From what I know a lower center of mass always equals greater handling due to:

1) Lower center of mass
2) Less air going under the car = improved aerodynamics at high speed

Correct me if I'm wrong please

MightyBobo · 12-25-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G37Sam

From what I know a lower center of mass always equals greater handling due to:

1) Lower center of mass
2) Less air going under the car = improved aerodynamics at high speed

Correct me if I'm wrong please

Well you cant just simply say "its better because its lower" due to all those things. Slapping lowering springs on with stock everything-else may, in the end, prove to be an unwise modification. Car may sway too much and cause rubbing issues w/ stock sways. Stock shocks may not be able to dampen enough and you may bottom out. May cause camber issues.

Lowering a car may be fine, as long as everything else is working in harmony, suspension wise. Ive seen so many people slap some springs on and wonder why it rides worse, or their shocks blew out. Granted, we're already FAIRLY low as it is so I doubt that'll happen, but I still wouldn't throw on "just springs" and expect everything to be kosher...

G37Sam · 12-25-2009, 09:53 AM

Yeah of course mate I meant all else equal, I mean lowering to the point where the chassis rubs against the ground wouldn't exactly make it handle better now would it? haha

MightyBobo · 12-25-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G37Sam

Yeah of course mate I meant all else equal, I mean lowering to the point where the chassis rubs against the ground wouldn't exactly make it handle better now would it? haha

No sir, not at all.

My photos in stock form from VIR tells me I'd definitely want a stiffer setup, because my front tires on high braking zones were definitely getting up in those wheel wells

rice eater · 12-25-2009, 11:16 AM

i do live in new york, thats my problem. on my tc, i had enough problems with my front lip that only made it lower by about a half inch, on stock springs too. i'd only lower the z for looks, not performance.

MightyBobo · 12-25-2009, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rice eater

i do live in new york, thats my problem. on my tc, i had enough problems with my front lip that only made it lower by about a half inch, on stock springs too. i'd only lower the z for looks, not performance.

Doesnt that contradict your board name?

SilverBullet · 12-25-2009, 11:33 AM

If you drop, you will have less body roll and therefore handling will improve.

rice eater · 12-25-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MightyBobo

Doesnt that contradict your board name?

what, because i have a front lip? my car wasn't too quick but it certainly wasn't rice. it would be lovely if i had some more money to do a lot more engine work, but unlike your average teenager riding around in a G35 that mommy and daddy bought them, my parents pay for my college tuition only and not a dime towards anything car related. so, i do what i can, it was a clean car.

MightyBobo · 12-25-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rice eater

what, because i have a front lip? my car wasn't too quick but it certainly wasn't rice. it would be lovely if i had some more money to do a lot more engine work, but unlike your average teenager riding around in a G35 that mommy and daddy bought them, my parents pay for my college tuition only and not a dime towards anything car related. so, i do what i can, it was a clean car.

Uhmmm, no, just that "ricing" is generally a term reserved for people who are doing the LOOK of a fast car without actually doing any performance mods lol.

As for the name "rice eater", I would reserve for someone who was extremely OPPOSED to doing "looks" mods and actually doing some performance goodies in a tasteful manner.

Furthermore, nothing personal, but seeing as I paid for everything (INCLUDING my own insurance with a car under my own name...) since I started driving, and your rents seem to be covering not only your college but also are saving your arse on insurance...I'd say you have it pretty well off

. You definitely have it "better off" than many other 18 year olds. For reference, my first car was a 1989 Geo Spectrum. It was mad sic tyte.

motoextreme · 12-25-2009, 12:21 PM

Mine was a 1970 Maverick with no paint and no motor. Stepdad said pick any car you want at the junkyard and this one didnt even have a motor! Had to build my first V8 at 15...sucked!!

Cool your parents are helping, plan on doing the same for my kids in a couple years. I'm thrilled I have the ability to do so.

Anyway, back to point...Lowered cars are a bit of a hassle I'll admit, but they sure LOOK GREAT! I hear that's the beauty of coilovers, you can take it down a little, try it out and take it down a little more rather then just commit to one height.

Take your time, save up and get some Coilovers eventually. Heck, I'd have to think the snow would be a concern since this is your daily driver

Good luck

12-24-2009, 10:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
rice eater Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: new york Posts: 10 Drives: 07 scion tc FM AT Rep Power: 16	lowering the car worth it? i've been wondering, are many of you guys lowering the z? or do you feel that the stock springs sit the car low enough. looking at some of your rides, i can't even tell if its lowered.

12-25-2009, 02:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 369	I wasnt going to at first but after changing the rims out my wheel gap is a bit more then I can bear. I'm putting coilovers on and taking it down an inch or so. Lowered cars are kind of a pain in the a#$ for driveways and such but you'll definitely pick up some corner speed. To me..thats more important then HP any day of the week! __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

12-25-2009, 09:53 AM	#8 (permalink)
G37Sam A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dubai, UAE Posts: 1,507 Drives: RB'd G37 Rep Power: 21	Yeah of course mate I meant all else equal, I mean lowering to the point where the chassis rubs against the ground wouldn't exactly make it handle better now would it? haha __________________ '14 Viper GTS '08 RB'd G37S - Sold

12-25-2009, 12:21 PM	#15 (permalink)
motoextreme Track Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA Posts: 971 Drives: Nismo NO MODS! Rep Power: 369	Mine was a 1970 Maverick with no paint and no motor. Stepdad said pick any car you want at the junkyard and this one didnt even have a motor! Had to build my first V8 at 15...sucked!! Cool your parents are helping, plan on doing the same for my kids in a couple years. I'm thrilled I have the ability to do so. Anyway, back to point...Lowered cars are a bit of a hassle I'll admit, but they sure LOOK GREAT! I hear that's the beauty of coilovers, you can take it down a little, try it out and take it down a little more rather then just commit to one height. Take your time, save up and get some Coilovers eventually. Heck, I'd have to think the snow would be a concern since this is your daily driver Good luck __________________ Fast Intensions / NST / Mishimoto / Alpine / JDM / Volk / Brembo / Rotora / Seibon / Stillen / Password: JDM / KW / MR Works / RAW / Sun Auto / B&M / Amplified Motorsports

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12-24-2009, 10:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
SilverBullet Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 873 Drives: 2008 G37 Rep Power: 17	Get rid of the wheel gap. Lower springs also equal better handling.

12-25-2009, 02:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
blue660r01 Guest Posts: n/a	do you live in nyc? if so....be careful

12-25-2009, 11:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
rice eater Base Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: new york Posts: 10 Drives: 07 scion tc FM AT Rep Power: 16	i do live in new york, thats my problem. on my tc, i had enough problems with my front lip that only made it lower by about a half inch, on stock springs too. i'd only lower the z for looks, not performance.

12-25-2009, 11:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
SilverBullet Track Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 873 Drives: 2008 G37 Rep Power: 17	If you drop, you will have less body roll and therefore handling will improve.