Formula - '96 Firebird Formula/Trans-Am 90 day: 19.31 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf
The problem with the "why don't the car companies build them lower" is that through the SUV marketing and so on, they've got a large share of the public convinced that it wants to "sit up high". Look at the smaller, supposedly build for fuel economy models: they stick up like over-filled muffins. Compare for instance Honda CRX with Smart Fortwo.
I'm not sure if you're talking about vehicle hight or ride height, but the ride height on my '87 CRX is very similar to current hot hatches, and the over all height is lower, but I'd certainly like another inch or so for a better driving position. Also, the Smart 4-2 looks taller than it really is due it it's silly-shot wheel base, it has very odd proportions.
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Lets see how far it can go
"All I know about music is that not many people ever really hear it. [...] But the man who creates the music is hearing something else, is dealing with the roar rising from the void and imposing order on it as it hits the air. What is evoked in him, then, is of another order, more terrible because it has no words, and triumphant, too, for the same reason. And his triumph, when he triumphs, is ours." -Sonny's Blues
I bought a set of eibach springs and struts for my civic vx... no change in mileage over the course of almost two years, after that two years I replaced them with stock parts due to the eibach parts being wore out, leaking dampening fluid and wearing out the rest of my suspension, needless to say it was an expensive lesson.
It was also one of the roughest, harshest most uncomfortable things I've ever done to a car.
But I suppose, if you put lowering springs, a cold air intake, a header, 17" rims and who know what else on your car your mileage should double, right?
I would think when you put in new springs, the car should have to go in for an alignment. Perhaps it was pretty out of whack originally, which could be part of the 13%.
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Increased cost to build the car = 0.
Increased costs in warranties and repairs and volume of customer complaints due to bottoming out damage = substantial.
My thoughts exactly. Heck, there are paved county roads around here that are so bad I've bottomed out non-lowered cars.
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Winter daily driver, parked most days right now
The payback for lowering springs can be pretty long, if it ever pays off! For my Elantra, the springs are $250. But since the rear control arms are not adjustable and can't be fitted with camber bolts, you have to chip in an other $250 for adjustable arms. Add to that the front camber kit and the alignment and you now have a good $600 to make up in gas savings.
After reading through this thread, I am glad I did not lower my VX. Many times I have seen less than one inch clearance between the front air dam (lower VX specific bolt on part) and the curb, when I forget and pull up a little to far.
Many times I have seen less than one inch clearance between the front air dam (lower VX specific bolt on part) and the curb, when I forget and pull up a little to far
I had that happen alot, I lowered it only 1.5" and put alot of scuff marks on the stock front air dam, it did make it so I had to slow down going in and out of parking lots, driveways, around speed bumps.
I just wish I would have kept the stock parts because when I went to switch back I had to buy all new and Honda shocks don't seem to wear out from what I've seen.
I'm not sure if you're talking about vehicle hight or ride height...
Vehicle height. I've never looked that closely at ride height/ground clearance, though I'm pretty sure that my old Austin-Healey, for instance, had less than most modern cars.
No, with modern cars it's primarily seating posture. The seats are made for an upright posture (like say dining room chairs) so your knees have to bend instead of allowing your legs to stretch out comfortably. Then they jack the seat up farther from the body pan than it needs to be. And if on top of that they add a couple inches to the ride height, then 17" rims for more "sit up high"... Well, if the trend continues, in a couple of decades I expect cars to have become motorized high chairs :-)
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