Low enough?

mattp · 15-10-2006, 01:53 PM

G'day all, well I finally went ahead and got my car lowered on Friday... I talked to the guy a fair bit before it got done, he's a top bloke and matched parts prices etc and I got an awesome deal. BUT, when we discussed it I said I wanted King SL's and Boge shocks. He asked me if I wanted it to still ride 'like a Fairmont' and I of course said yes, if possible. So I turned up very excited to pick it up, and the first thing I thought was 'it's not superlow'. I double checked the springs, saw that they were L not SL, then the guy came out it I asked him what the hell, and he goes, 'you wanted it to ride like a Fairmont', SL would ride like crap. Hmmmm. So I wasn't impressed. I was tossing up going L or SL for ages beforehand, and the main reason I got it done professionally was because I was going SL, otherwise I would have just done XR6 springs myself. He reckons if I go SL the car will be shagged in 12 months, and ride like sh!te. He did say however, that if I still wasn't happy with it at the 1000km check, he'd change it for me. I'd obviously expect a few more little problems at SL height, but is it really that bad? The car rides like a dream, still comfy but a bit stiffer, and bugger all body roll. Looks good too, I'm just not sure now whether I want to go that extra bit lower and 'risk' it. It should settle another 10mm too. Thoughts??? Another issue is that I'll be at uni for another 2 years after this, so I don't want to bugger all my bushes etc by going too low cos I'm basically going to be living on centrelink. So who's had problems with SL? Thanks guys, appreciate your input. Here's some pics of her as she sits now...

Matt.

Casper · 15-10-2006, 02:00 PM

Looks good to me. I would leave it alone. If you are already happy with the ride as is and still want the Fairmont comfort then just leave it. Go lower and ride quality does suffer.

IMHO I think it looks good. Subtle, balanced and "police acceptable".

JeffAU1 · 15-10-2006, 02:02 PM

I love it, perfect height without having to worry about it scarping on things, or being a stiff ride.

Bucknaked · 15-10-2006, 02:02 PM

I like it as well. It sits nicely

poolkeeper · 15-10-2006, 02:05 PM

Its your choice, I say dump it more.
But I agree with what casper said about, the lower you go the less fairmont it gets...

mattp · 15-10-2006, 02:13 PM

Yeah, I'm tending to agree with the majority... Even if it might look a bit better lower, it does look good as is and saves me having to worry about scraping and all that's associated with being so low. Thanks :Reverend:

JeffAU1 · 15-10-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattp

Yeah, I'm tending to agree with the majority... Even if it might look a bit better lower, it does look good as is and saves me having to worry about scraping and all that's associated with being so low. Thanks :Reverend:

Did you replace the shocks ?

Or just springs ? Anything else ?

Casper · 15-10-2006, 02:14 PM

The other thing is that the lower you go the more pronouced how much the rear wheels sit inside the guard. Any lower and it looks a little odd and you have to consider getting wider rims or a different offset to "fill out" the guards.

jaikai · 15-10-2006, 02:58 PM

Looks good...and I dont like AUs, except in burgundy and such. Nah, youd be mad to go lower without changing rims and the ride will suffer for the look...very nice.

JAIKAI

mattsAU1 · 15-10-2006, 03:43 PM

looks great, nice and even front to back, good looks without losing too much comfort.

HOTC2R · 15-10-2006, 03:49 PM

Looks good Matt. If you go lower and were to ever put a kit on it, it would be too low.

GlennBA · 15-10-2006, 03:59 PM

Hot c2r mines on superlows and its got a bodykit.. it doesn't scrape anywhere.

Hey matt, i think he's having you on. If you wanted superlows he should have put them in.

Sapper · 15-10-2006, 04:15 PM

Looks awesome as is mate, and the wheels fill the guards nicely. It sounds like there's not much of a case to lowering it further. There's nothing more satisfying than laughing at a ricer who's struggling to get out of a carpark cause the car is so low. :voldar02:

bangm001 · 15-10-2006, 08:16 PM

Yeah, did you do springs also, what did it cost ya if u dont mind me asking. You can pm me if u want! Cheers!

mattp · 15-10-2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bangm001

Yeah, did you do springs also, what did it cost ya if u dont mind me asking. You can pm me if u want! Cheers!

Yep, got King Lows and Boge shockies. Rides beautifully. Also, PM to be sent.

bodes-sh · 15-10-2006, 09:36 PM

i guess the main question is did he charge you the same amount to put the lows in as what he would have charged to put sl's in? i guess in the end if you're happy with it, that's all that matters

mattp · 15-10-2006, 09:42 PM

Yep, price was the same. I don't see any reason why it should be different though, he still did camber etc and prices are the same for the low or superlow springs. Same shocks as it would be for SL too. I'm happy. For $800 I reckon it was a good deal

:

Sick EB · 15-10-2006, 09:53 PM

i recon leave it. it looks good as it is.

Racecraft · 15-10-2006, 10:07 PM

I'd go lower, only about an inch though... I am not being nasty but to me it just looks like the springs and shocks have sagged over the years..

mattp · 15-10-2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Racecraft

I'd go lower, only about an inch though... I am not being nasty but to me it just looks like the springs and shocks have sagged over the years..

To be honest I'd like to go an inch lower, but I'm not going to. Some of the stuff you've mentioned, for example needing the XR length control arms, along with the reduced ride quality, makes me think I'll leave well enough alone. It's about 4cm lower than it was all round.

ronwest · 15-10-2006, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattp

To be honest I'd like to go an inch lower, but I'm not going to.

It's all about compromise, isn't it.

My Ghia is the same height as yours (XR springs). I think they look better a "little" lower but if they are too low they start to look a bit odd around where the back wheel arch bulges... the rims aren't wide enough.

I've decided to leave mine as is. I do quite a few country trips and there's no doubt that it would be a problem if mine was any lower.

All in all I think that XR height is a good looks/function compromise and it does suit your car ;)

Racecraft · 15-10-2006, 10:30 PM

40mm is pretty good..spring settling usually takes another 10mm out of it too.

You have to consider though a) how much fuel you have in the tank B) are you or do you want to have a pair of subs and audio kit in the boot c) are you going to change rims and/or the profile of the tyres and d) do you ever have a full car ie passengers in the rear

Alot of people go for dumpage first as they sit so high then when they do other mods later it turns to junk and has to be re-addressed

QIKAUII · 16-10-2006, 05:59 PM

id go another inch at the front and 2 inch on the rear then itl look hot
well thats to me it will

AU2PWR · 16-10-2006, 06:54 PM

Steady as she goes , leave it looks good ,

Mine Needs Lowering a bit more as the Tickford Suspension Whoosha Installed for me , is too High and only lowered the car by 1.34" Inches

Cheers
Daniel

Cloud 9 · 16-10-2006, 07:03 PM

looks good. i bought mine lowered and its really low doubt it legal check my gallery if u wanna c. and the comfort is pretty bad plus with 4 ppl in the car its scrapes on a hell of alot of driveways

ClassicAU · 16-10-2006, 07:16 PM

I agree with the majority, leave it. I have Lows on mine and, like you, at first wasn't too impressed, but it has settled a bit more than i was expecting and it looks great! I reccon you will be much happier in the long run this way.

Cam · 16-10-2006, 07:47 PM

i am gonna slam my car, its a weekend car so it wont worry me too much. Depends what u want, drivability or looks.

Cam

xr6 ausome · 17-10-2006, 05:41 AM

If your happy that is all that matters I have mine low SSL and SL front sits straight and it dose not rub at all even with a carload of people in it,so I dont know what people have done wrong that they say it scrapes all the time?

If u do go lower and imo it looks better u will have a lower ride quality.

AU-MUSTD · 17-10-2006, 06:08 AM

Love the wheels and love the hieght. Leave it l say.

kryzak260 · 17-10-2006, 09:34 AM

This is the dilemma i will be in when i get my car lowered. I want the SL look of being able to put my finger between the tyres and the guards, but only just. But i also want to retain as much of the fairlane ride comfort as i can whilst still getting rid of a bit of body roll (geez, i dont want much!)