Living with a lowered car - worth it?

[Caprice270]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to get my car lowered, and I'm wondering what life is like with a lowered car? Does it become a pain to avoid scraping the bottom, or are angled entries/exits enough to overcome this issue?

Thanks.

[NuffNuff]

My my VX was pretty low but just had a catback so it never scraped out the bottom, the body kit did a little bit. I learnt to park a few mm back from those concrete blocks in carparks and gutters when parking at the shops.

With my VE SS it is at legal height with the new springs/shocks but the flanges on my aftermarket cats get caught up on speed humps if not taken at an angle, the driveway at my GF's has a lot of gouges taken out... again I just try and avoid the concrete blocks etc to save the front end otherwise it's quite fine.

Drive it at an angle and slowly, but not too slow with the window down and your arm buldging out on your door panel... that will shit everyone behind you lol

I chose suspension on my VE that I can tackle potholes etc so it's nice driving around the place and doesn't smash your pelvis.

[Wonky]

My ute is quite low (King SSSLs all round) but in 11,000km of driving I've hardly ever scraped the exhaust or anything. Probably because KPM have got the 3" exhaust tucked up very well and the cats are welded in, not flanged, but I reckon I've only scraped something (probably the flange on the long 4-1 extractors) once or twice in that time.

I just take speed humps slowly and at an angle and fortunately never (so far) have to deal with steep driveways.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o274/gcovo/SSV%20Ute/SSVUte12Aug1509sm.jpg

[Nidz]

I had my car on very low springs.. Kept hitting the bump stops all the time.. Ride was terrible.. I ended up getting higher springs and selling those. I think they were SSSL Sedans. Sure it looked cool but yeah, speed bumps were sucky as and just getting out of driveways it hard.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/ride_images/1/2680/3521/6699260071_large.jpg

[NuffNuff]

My ute is quite low (King SSSLs all round) but in 11,000km of driving I've hardly ever scraped the exhaust or anything. Probably because KPM have got the 3" exhaust tucked up very well and the cats are welded in, not flanged, but I reckon I've only scraped something (probably the flange on the long 4-1 extractors) once or twice in that time.

I just take speed humps slowly and at an angle and fortunately never (so far) have to deal with steep driveways.



Yours is probably 1cm lower than mine, if mine was that low I wouldn't have an exhaust anymore, from what I can see looking at my exhaust from just ducking down under the front bar, it only hangs a couple of mm lower than the body of the car. I'm keen to get it on a hoist soon though as it's copped a beating lately.

http://nuffnuff.jademonkeys.com/photos/driveway.jpg

That's her driveway, on the otherside of that gate is so much steeper so as you get over that rise it drops down the oposite way so the car just bottoms out and grinds to a hault..

[pmac]

i was worried about it bottoming out in the hills so i went with lows and ive never had an issue. it rides a bit harder but its tolerable and it looks alot better than stock but i would love to have it lower.

[255-LS1]

get a new girlfriend lol

[NuffNuff]

get a new girlfriend lol

haha, it's wrecked the driveway that much that it gets in with ease now.. wore it in nicely ..

[Tony_Montana78]

You just need to approach things with more care. With the VE I find I have enough clearance for most day to day driving. I only tend to scrape the bumper getting in and out of some friends driveways that have curbs rather than a smooth entry at road level.

When you park nose first you just have to remember your bumper will touch, so just ease it in.

How low are you going? In most cases no angled entry/exit is needed for my car on Lovells super low.

[HSV_CRUZN]

My VT R8 is fairly low and I dont have any major concerns(with the exception of the SC Charity cruise and the swamp they called a car park) when taking it out. Im just very dilligent in carparks and the like. Slow and Steady keeps the exhaust and bars in tact =)

[Caprice270]

Is it normal to just lower the rear end? That would give me some comfort that the front bumper won't scrape.

The rear tends to sit higher on new cars anyhow.

[VUR801]

You definately get used to it and over time read the road better, bumps, potholes etc.
And take care over speed humps and driveways and you'll be fine.

[VZMY06SS]

My car is reasonably low, with the extractors tending to scrape on everything. I had a set of BMR subframe connectors fitted to it around 8 months ago and since then it scrapes on almost everything. Even so, if you plan your route and are careful going over steep speedhumps, I think it is worth it. Initially when I got the car I hated looking at it sitting up so high and it still scraped on everything anyhow.. All depends if you want to go stupidly low or not. Mine is probably borderline too low, but I like it that way.


Steve

[VXSS346]

Just lower it sensibly. :idea:

We read all about SSL SSSL, SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSL etc, etc and most of the owners say its fine and easy to live with.

:bs:

There's no way you can live with springs like that in all road conditions, no matter what people say.

I guess it depends on your age too :lol:

I've got Kings 'lows' and that's low enough for me. It scrapes on some shopping centre speed humps as it is now.

But some (most) say its too high still. :weirdo:

Call me a sook if you like, but that's how I see it. :flame:

Personally, I've never liked the look of excessively lowered cars anyway.
Looks ridiculous and cheap to me, and it screams to the police 'pull me over'

My 2c.

Cheers :)

[Hellbent]

haha, it's wrecked the driveway that much that it gets in with ease now.. wore it in nicely ..

Lucky i saw the word driveway..... starting to think you were talking about your gf.... hahaha

[Lincoln87]

VZ calais.

4-1 long extractors.

3inch cats.

cat back.

bout 30-40mm all round lowered.

gt sports shocks front and rear.



headers/cats scrape on nearly everything..

tank scrapes on my driveway.



as long as you take things slow it shouldnt cause too much problems.

handles good. ride is abit on the hard side
but nothing like my VG ute was..


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_1986.jpg


theres my driveway with the utey..
my calais only scrapes if you got more than half a tank of petty
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/my%20ute/IMG_1202.jpg

[ccarinae]

I guess you have to ask yourself why you are lowering, looks or handling. In my experience they rarely go together.

<start rant>

Let me qualify that... Slamming a car to the ground f$%#s all the geometry and the car will handle like crap. Whether it looks good or not is subject to personal opinion. Ferrari dont slam their cars for a reason.

I have had three lowered cars out of 15+ cars and I'll tell you living with them is a pain in the neck. I've stuffed struts, ball joints, tie-rod ends, and top caps.

When I bought my current ride it was slammed. I dont have a difficult driveway in the slightest but it scraped on the exhaust (an expensive one at that). The steering had little feel and it didnt feel planted on the road. I got stuck on driveways at restaurants (embarrassing), stuck in dirt car parks (others to push me), smashed my front bumper leaving a servo driveway, and nearly ripped the exhaust at Doncaster shopping centre just driving slowly across the roof. I've lost count of how many times I took it to the exhaust shop for repairs.

I had enough about 4 months after buying it. I had it raised to FE2 height (which is low for a Commodore), put in Koni adjustables and adjustable swaybars with new rubbers and a damn good setup. It handles a million times better, doesnt scrape and I'm not holding up a long of cars behind me as I navigate suburban speed humps.

<end rant> :vpo:

[Number55]

I had it raised to FE2 height (which is low for a Commodore)

<end rant> :vpo:

:rofl:

Um no... its not even close.

I would never have it any other way thn low.
If you have always had nice low cars its easy to deal with. I know nothing else. My cars are slammed and my 4x4 is jacked...

But to go from driving a standard height car its takes lot of practice on concerntration. Which for most people isnt worth it.....

At the end of the day you have to drive it and experience it. If the look doesnt mean that much to you dont bother.
Personally aby car slammed looks 100% better.
Why do you think all the artists impressions of cars at the design stage are all slammed......

Well that my opinion!

[madmax05]

our standard VE GTS is about to go into the repairers to get the front bumper replaced, it has problems with curbs and those concrete wheel stops in parking spaces, this time it just touched it as it passed over it, but as it was backed out it caught on the top enge and pulled out most of the clips on the bumper, most of the holes are elongated and the clips will now just fall out again, so a new bumper is on the books, with $400 excess we might as well get a new bumper replacement.

madmax

[Hellbent]

our standard VE GTS is about to go into the repairers to get the front bumper replaced, it has problems with curbs and those concrete wheel stops in parking spaces, this time it just touched it as it passed over it, but as it was backed out it caught on the top enge and pulled out most of the clips on the bumper, most of the holes are elongated and the clips will now just fall out again, so a new bumper is on the books, with $400 excess we might as well get a new bumper replacement.

madmax

Clearly the car doesn't have a problem with curbs and concrete wheelstops.......more like the driver......

[madmax05]

Clearly the car doesn't have a problem with curbs and concrete wheelstops.......more like the driver......

touche :)

actually drivers, we have both gotten too close to the curbs, and we have already have had the rims repaired and painted, have been very carefull since

[Hellbent]

touche :)

actually drivers, we have both gotten too close to the curbs, and we have already have had the rims repaired and painted, have been very carefull since

Hahaha........i know a bloke with a ve maloo....knocked the front bar close to being off twice.....side skirts belted around.......wheels are so gutter rashed.......
Pisses me off........thinks he is driving a bloody Nissn patrol... :banghead: :nono:

[VZMY06SS]

[QUOTE=ccarinae;1640194
<start rant>

Let me qualify that... Slamming a car to the ground f$%#s all the geometry and the car will handle like crap. Whether it looks good or not is subject to personal opinion. Ferrari dont slam their cars for a reason.

<end rant> :vpo:[/QUOTE]

My car handles a million times better at its current height than it did when at stock height. Stupidly low is not good, but imho a car can be lowered to a point where it both looks good and handles well. My car scrapped those stupid concrete blocks at safeway at standard height, so less clearance makes no difference to me. Parking back from high curbs etc just becomes second nature eventuallly.

Steve

[DCV1NU]

I've kings springs ssl with munroe gt shocks in mine, the car sits bout 40mm lower all around which is perfect for me as i can still clear most speedbumps & driveways. Having said that ive found since having my difilippo exhaust fitted ive been scraping big speedbumps & at the top of ramps in the secure car parking garage at my work, it's alrite most times as i try & attack them at an angle but im contemplating getting the same exhaust system as Wonky's which would most likely eliminate my problem.

[Party Pete]

Maybe it is an age thing but I can't see any benefit in lowering a Commodore below FE2 height. They lack wheel travel even at that height. I swapped out the FE2 springs on my Monaro for King lows and there was no benefit in grip, it might have been slightly sharper on turn in but then it was also twitchier. The ride was terrible. They lasted less than a week before I put the standard FE2 springs back on. Still, some people love that really low ass dragging look look and will compromise for it, me, I'd go with ride and handling over looks any day.

[VZMY06SS]

Maybe it is an age thing but I can't see any benefit in lowering a Commodore below FE2 height. They lack wheel travel even at that height. I swapped out the FE2 springs on my Monaro for King lows and there was no benefit in grip, it might have been slightly sharper on turn in but then it was also twitchier. The ride was terrible. They lasted less than a week before I put the standard FE2 springs back on. Still, some people love that really low ass dragging look look and will compromise for it, me, I'd go with ride and handling over looks any day.

http://www.johnhart.com.au/hrt/car2009.jpg

Maybe somebody should tell this to the boys at HRT...

http://www.gotbroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2006-holden-ve-commodore-ss-v-side-view-588x441.jpg

[OMR346]

I have had a few cars now that have been prety low. The lowest one i had was a VL Executive. Just a RB30 auto, so it was far from the fastest thing out there lol. but it had big dollar suspension, and sat very low (tucked 15" rim (rim, not tyre) on the back). It had next to no body roll, but it handled like a go cart. I could throw it in to corners and it would love it. It wasnt practical on driveways, speed bumps, ect though.

I also had a VR V8 ute that has SL front and SSL rear kings, with all the right shocks/struts aswell, and most of the rest of the suspension had been replaced with good bits. That handled great, and drove great aswell.

Had a VP SS that has SSL rear and SL front aswell. That thing sat at a great height. I could throw that in to corners at high speeds, and it would handle like it was on rails. That had all the good bits thru out. This car is what got me in to drag racing (at Willowbank), so eventually, i had planned to change the suspension for something more suited to drag racing. But i sold it not to long ago :( (it was my first V8, and the longest i have ever had a car, so it had a lot of memories)

Im taking a different route with my SSZ though. I have left all of the standard FE2 suspension in it, with exception of SL kings in the rear. I had to do something about the stupid high ass end it had (even with FE2 springs). I love the look of a dumped car (depending on what it is), but wanted to keep it with a good setup for racing. Eventually i will lower it a bit more, but not until after i retire it from strip duties.

[Sime]

Hey Caprice 270
You mentioned perhaps just lowering the back. If your car has auto levelling suspension, I've read you can trick the sensors into thinking the rear of the car is too hi. I can't remember exactly how to do it but it was pretty simple. It was something like rotating a bracket or something on the sensor.
If you buy a set of king springs, they would generally lower the rear about an inch lower than the front so I can't see a problem with just lowering the back an inch.

[Party Pete]

There is no comparison between a v8 supercar and a commodore road car so the statement is stupid. It isn't the height of the body that compromises the road car it is the suspension travel. Have a look at the hrt jumping curbs and compare it to a road car. You'll see that the trck car has tons of travel left whereas a lowered road commodore does not. If you are bouncing off the bump stops your suspension isn't keeping the weight properly on the tyres and you are losing grip predicability and ride. Especially on the bumpy roads that australia has.

[Wonky]

Admittedly I don't go too fast over bumps, though when the Vic guys went over to Tas in October and did part of the Tassie Targa route with the Tas guys there were quite a few bumpy corners there and yet I have never yet in 11,000km hit the bump stops with mine, even there! Have felt a rear wheel lift though ...... :lol:

Probably only ever hit the bumpstops once or twice in my SSV sedan (26,000km on SSLs) but only on potholes which appeared out of nowhere.......... :bawl:

[Shulkor]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to get my car lowered, and I'm wondering what life is like with a lowered car? Does it become a pain to avoid scraping the bottom, or are angled entries/exits enough to overcome this issue?

Thanks.

Its Surprising how much bigger a driveway you can go down when ya angle it but there are still some places i cant go.
Mines a weekender so it's pretty low but it's still not stupidly low.
Its a prick to park a WM being low with the extra length they only just fit in most parking spots normally let alone parking away from the curb basically have to back in to fit when there's a gutter.
If you just lower it abit you will just need to be careful if you go alot it will be a pain in the ass just depends if your willing to put up with it for looks.


Ian.

[Luke_]

All 3 of my cars are fairly low, they all have short shocks to suit, and 2x have front coilovers.

Is it something I can live with now? Yes.

Is it something I can live with in 10 years? Probably not.

[BlackNinja]

I had the FE2 suspension changed on my VE as it was too high. I opted to take wholesale suspensions advice and go with 30ml lowered Kings at the front and 40ml at the rear (sits higher than the front). I didn't change the shocks as waiting to save up for a decent set. I rarely scrape on anything and it rides nice. It is much sharper however not as refined as my previous VN which had Bilsteins fitted to Kings, and the ride was much smoother.

My previous car was a VY Calais and although comfortable, it steered like a boat and it annoyed the the crap out of me. The first thing I did when I got the VE was lower it for ride and for looks. I am very happy with both and would never go back...

[Merlin]

My curent car is lowered (didn't realise when I bought it as its not THAT low just lower than factory) and I really can't stand it. Have to crawl over speedbumps, go at an angle over driveways really slowly (and still scrape the crap out of the gearbox) - which is a pain as you can't pull in/out of traffic quickly you have to wait for large gaps.

Yeah not really for me.

[duke5700]

Mines 1" lower than FE2 or so and its fine. It does however have the full package suspension wise. Its quite rough and stiff as it has body bracing, front and rear strut braces etc but its a compromise in not having a race car and street car.

[VX2VESS]

i'd rather ease of use rather than the good looks of a very low car.

I've said this before, most ppl like the look of a lowered car. its not so much 'how low' the chassis is, but the wheel to guard clearance look.

Manufactures only need to produce guards that are level with the wheels. then you still have lots of travel but look lowered, and have no clearance issues...

[Angelo_XLR8]

i run SSL's all round, u cop the od scrape but its worth it. just watch for driveways
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs004.snc3/11165_199307318377_606903377_4051278_2858782_n.jpg

[Drewie]

I have had a few lowered cars in the past, all looked good but they did have issues. I love the fact that with my VX SS at standard FE2 height I can pile 5 people on board with a full tank of fuel and luggage and not have any issues, no scrubbing or scaping makes for a more pleasureable trip when you have a full load on board. So I will leave mine as the good General and his engineers designed it.

[vlcalais2005]

yeah its worth it

[Wonky]

All 3 of my cars are fairly low, they all have short shocks to suit, and 2x have front coilovers.

Is it something I can live with now? Yes.

Is it something I can live with in 10 years? Probably not.

Jeez ya old bugga Luke!! :lmao: I'm sure it's not long since you turned 21??? I'm over two and a half times your age and love mine nice and low! :D

[team illucid]

Maybe it is an age thing but I can't see any benefit in lowering a Commodore below FE2 height. They lack wheel travel even at that height. I swapped out the FE2 springs on my Monaro for King lows and there was no benefit in grip, it might have been slightly sharper on turn in but then it was also twitchier. The ride was terrible. They lasted less than a week before I put the standard FE2 springs back on. Still, some people love that really low ass dragging look look and will compromise for it, me, I'd go with ride and handling over looks any day.

You can't lower a vehicle and just leave in the standard shocks, that is asking for trouble.

Shocks - Springs - Swaybars all at the same time, or don't do it at all.

[Luke_]

Jeez ya old bugga Luke!! :lmao: I'm sure it's not long since you turned 21??? I'm over two and a half times your age and love mine nice and low! :D
Yes yes I know I know :lol:

We will see when I get there won't we Wonky

[AndrewR8]

As much as it looks sooooo much better, I would say no if its a daily driver and yes if its a weekender/toy. I lowered my old VE SS and it really started to shit me, very bumpy ride and it created a lot of internal rattles to the dash/console area. But it was my daily driver. I haven't touched the R8 and won't, its bumpy enough stock and low.

[feistl]

It depends HOW you lower your car. I had a VR wagon on Ultra Low (SSSL), and i never hit the bump stops... And i drove the car hard through mountains etc.

If you change the shocks (shorten shocks) and proper camber/adj pan-hard rod you'll find there is heaps of travel and the ride is still quite good. If you chop springs then the ride goes to crap, or just change the springs alone...

But if you've setup the suspension properly then lower is better.

For the record, my VX is only on lows... and at high speed while going through a dip in the road it did scrape once (in the middle of the car at about 140/kph).

Low suspension/big wheels is a thing of the past. These days big brakes are the new bling.... ;)

[HOLDAN]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to get my car lowered, and I'm wondering what life is like with a lowered car? Does it become a pain to avoid scraping the bottom, or are angled entries/exits enough to overcome this issue?

Thanks.

I put King SSl's on my VE. I learned to handle driveways, speed bumps etc but the two things that made me change back to the factory springs were the car scraping on certain roads at 100km/hr and couldn't tow my boat properly - too low for the tandem axle trailer.

Regards, Dan

[VZSS57]

haha i say go for it!!! i have sssl's in the back and ssl in the front of my ute scratch on just about everything o well.. just take it easy going in driveways and carparks... only other thing is camber which is a bit of a pain..

[vlcalais2005]

I have shocks and not new springs i havnt found any issues yet

[Party Pete]

You can't lower a vehicle and just leave in the standard shocks, that is asking for trouble.

Shocks - Springs - Swaybars all at the same time, or don't do it at all.

I had already replaced the shocks with Bilsteins and decided to go the extra with the lower springs. So, I tried the package but frankly there are substantial compromises in lowering a car beyond where it was designed to sit. Of course, the VE does have better travel from the factory so it has more room to change but I don't see the current HSV GTS sitting that low either.

[Derek ve ss]

I went for the Pedders Extreme XA's . Original heights on FE2 were 630mm front and 650 rear.. Initally lowered it to 610mm all round as I wanted it to look flat.. Hit the exhaust and front on every thing in sight.. Had it lifted 15mm to 625 all round and no drama except for stupid angles and of course the front when parking up to kerbs etc. Benefit with the XA's is I can adjust suspension stiffness when ever I like

[TAKEITEZ]

i had custom built coil overs in the front, and King KHRL46SSSL in the rear of my maloo........

lasted about 6 months...

BAD POINTS:
rear guards kept getting peeled open when tyres hit front edge... were rolled but still got snagged sometimes
rear bar got caught on a driveway and broke
front bar got gouged to the shit every time i went in a driveway
side skirts were stuffed from dragging on speed bumps
my back was buggered from the ride stifness
the dash rattles because of the bangs and bashes on bumps
my upper strut mounts only lasted a few months then had to be changed
my rear tyres didn't last more than 10,000kms no matter how gently i drove it
i couldn't put anything in the tray that weighed more than about 75kg
axle tramp was completely impossible to cure
traction was totally garbage in the dry, dangerous in the wet
the exhaust copped it under the diff
springs fell out every time the car was jacked up
drive shafts were never going to last long


GOOD POINTS
it looked good from the outside... but i spend very little time looking at my car. i spend more time driving it


springs:

KHRL46SSSL vs KHRL127SL vs HSV Maloo VYII

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/dwaynE2099/VY%20Maloo/25072007667.jpg




ground clearance - special attention to be payed to drive shaft angle - allllll wrong!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/dwaynE2099/VY%20Maloo/DSCF0567.jpg




the look on the road

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/dwaynE2099/VY%20Maloo/IMGP5885.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v466/dwaynE2099/VY%20Maloo/IMGP5945.jpg










in closing...
if you like the look, it's worth lowering the car heaps...
- i can't put up with the ride quality, and it's useless at the drags.

if you want it to handle, don't lower it too much...
- spend the money on the total package, everything.

if you want it to be practical and comfortable and good for daily driving, leave it standard...
- i went back to stock and love it.

[Wonky]

That was bloody low!! :eek: No wonder you had so many problems!!

[TAKEITEZ]

yeahp, lots of problems... haha...
those pics are on 19's too, not 20's... so it was almost tucking rim at the back, and heaps of tyre up in the front...

good for photo shoots, not driving!

[team illucid]

I had already replaced the shocks with Bilsteins and decided to go the extra with the lower springs. So, I tried the package but frankly there are substantial compromises in lowering a car beyond where it was designed to sit. Of course, the VE does have better travel from the factory so it has more room to change but I don't see the current HSV GTS sitting that low either.

fair enough - that wasn't clear in your initial post :)

[ls1vxss11]

I got a vx ss with sl front and ssl rear and running 20s just scrapes on big speed humps, you get used what your car can go over and what it cant.

[vlcalais2005]

^^^ thats exacly right know your limits

[monta7]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to get my car lowered, and I'm wondering what life is like with a lowered car? Does it become a pain to avoid scraping the bottom, or are angled entries/exits enough to overcome this issue?

Thanks.

Do wat i did get bags in ya car there awsom :D

[pah]

I dropped my SV8 25mm below std FE2 height using Pedders springs. After that, it started scraping on some driveway crossings. Not real happy that it did that.

If I'd known that, I would have bought custom made KMAC springs only 10mm lower but stiffer. The KMAC package was a few more $ but came (from memory) with KYB shocks.




PAH

[WOMBIE]

I recently went from king hdsl to ssl in the rear I haven't encounted any problems yet!

That's not to say that I won't in the future but I'm loving the stance atm :)

[VendeTTR]

Ive had my HSV lowered for 3 years.. and eventually got sick of the ride quality.

Pedders coilovers have solved everything for me. I can have it as low as i can and still remain stock ride quality.

I do however miss the rigity of the old set up but thats only a few clicks away lol

[ebbett21]

wish i read this thread before. I had dobi superlow springs fitted (NO SHOCKS) stand FE2 and definetly the lowered look does look nice.....but its been two weeks of driving and im annoyed with the quality of the ride you feel every bump to the point if i hit a small pot hole is like JESUS. It kind of bounces abit up and down driving over bumps at low speeds. It seems to take corners abit better and you feel like the car is going faster than before.

Would go aftermarket shocks make much more of a difference?
Im seriously thinking of getting the old springs put back in..which is a shame because its transformed the look of the car but cant live with shock of bumps it feels like the wheels are getting hammered

[XUV]

I would never ever have a lowered car again , had a mega low WB Ute ,
what a pain it was , was constantly wearing out the 3 inch extractors .

My XUV is just right ,
but if there was a lift kit avaliable , so I could fit 30-31 inch tyres ,

I'd fit it , it's the only thing wrong with the vehicle , lack of off road tyre choice :rant:

[smokey777]

ya i miss the compliant ride of me VE ute lol and mines not even that low...

[Lincoln87]

love lowered.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_8348.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs395.ash2/67316_166746483341417_100000182006889_582362_31975 21_n.jpg


i havent got a vagina so i can deal with a few bumps here and there.

...admit tho, it is fair bumpy here and there. Not as bad on my SLHDs.
And i would assume terrible for drags.


i do have lowered shocks front and rear. plus camber kit rolled guards etc.



driveways. angle her in. speed bumps not that bad if there long. but "short" ones are abit hard.
multistory carparks can be a hassle if there is steep ramps etc.


and people complain about there driveway.
check mine yo.


This was with my SLHDs.
Can back in and up the driveway.. the rear lower made the front bar come up abit.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_2524.jpg

*have a tafe across the road, so sometimes people park close to the drive, so sometimes wooden blocks are needed.

[ebbett21]

love lowered.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_8348.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs395.ash2/67316_166746483341417_100000182006889_582362_31975 21_n.jpg


i havent got a vagina so i can deal with a few bumps here and there.

...admit tho, it is fair bumpy here and there. Not as bad on my SLHDs.
And i would assume terrible for drags.


i do have lowered shocks front and rear. plus camber kit rolled guards etc.



driveways. angle her in. speed bumps not that bad if there long. but "short" ones are abit hard.
multistory carparks can be a hassle if there is steep ramps etc.


and people complain about there driveway.
check mine yo.


This was with my SLHDs.
Can back in and up the driveway.. the rear lower made the front bar come up abit.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_2524.jpg

*have a tafe across the road, so sometimes people park close to the drive, so sometimes wooden blocks are needed.

looks mean. How bumpy is it with new shocks. Im running standard shocks on dobi SLs and its doing my head in.

[Lincoln87]

been in a few mates cars with lowered springs and stock (fe2) shocks.

just feels like poo.


ive only got the monroe GT things. but they go alrite.



Yeh. with the SSSSSSSSLs its bumpy but still fairly solid
where stock calais is soft smooth and boat like round corners.

with the SLHDs its a nice balance tho. not to bumpy. not to boaty. JUUUUUUSSSTTT RIIIIIIGGGHHHHT! =P

[smokey777]

love lowered.


http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_8348.jpg



see that ridiculously low IMO

[ti0350]

I was going to lower my VY when I got it but a mate took me for a ride in his VY that hew had lowered and I found the ride terrible so I didn't do and I'm glad.
I had to do an Emergency trip up the country last weekend and would off hated to try and drive a lowered car around there was bad enough in mine..
But each to there own if you like the lowered look and can live with go for it, I know I couldn't..

[Dreamer]

Depends why you want to lowere the car really, do you want it lowered so it looks good or do you want it to handle better, either way you will end up with a ruff ride especiallly in comparison from the factory soft WM suspension you have now, if your used to the comfort of stock suspension i would so go in some cars which are lowered to a similar height you want and see if you could put up with it everyday

I have always driven and owned lowered cars and consider the ruff ride standard now and it doesnt bother me (Current ve is on pedders coil overs set at the lowered possibly setting) I have to reverse park at shoppin centres and have to avoid the longer speed bumps but otherwise it doesnt really scrap that much although i naturally take most drive ways on a angle, because its habit and i do it in any car i drive

I think its worth it for me, because the car looks 100x better and handles heaps better which is what i wanted, ride comfort wasnt a priority

[Lincoln87]

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_2911.jpg
SSLs

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/0calais0/IMG_2406.jpg
SLHDs




im in the same boat as Dreamer.

love the look of lowered.


And yeh, i agree that it would handle alot better with the SLHDs in. But. Always loved that slammed look.





Had these before too

gotta be low
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/DSC03891s.jpg

not low enough..
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/DSC05034.jpg

so.. lowered again
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2151/87/56/645447915/n645447915_1518517_9550.jpg


Utey
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d18/US063/my%20ute/IMG_1484.jpg