Lowering Prius - raked or level?

[aerohead]

Originally Posted by F8L

I am going to lower my new Prius Plug In and I can choose between springs that keep the car level or ones that create a slight rake.

The TRD springs that come on special package Prius will lower the car approx. 1" all around.

H&R springs will create a more raked look and lower the car approx. 1.2" front and .75" in the rear.

My question is which drop is better aerodynamically speaking? The raked stance is good for downforce and may reduce the amount of air going under the car while accelerating aiding the evacuation of air out of the rear. The extra downforce scares me though. Wouldn't that increase rolling resistance?

The level stance is how Toyota set up the car and how the Performance Package comes but with the extra weight of the Plug In, I am worried that the rear may go lower which would create a very slight reverse rake or at least stay level.

The bottom of the Prius is pretty clean so I am not sure how much lowering will help or hurt.

Long ago,HOT ROD Magazine published an aerodynamics article which included 'inclination' research conducted by General Motors.This would be something you'd only be able to dial in in the wind tunnel,so I don't know about advice.
Some really low-drag concepts will drop the nose while raising the tail for optimum low drag.
I don't know if you could just get lucky.

[Sven7]

Recall Hot Rod's article about the LSR Camaro... they went through a few myths and told us that any lowering if useful lowering as far as drag reduction goes.

I would say go with the H&R springs. The car likely favors reverse rake anyway, and performance parts like that are meant partly to "fix" the look. TRD and H&R are both reputable companies and both kits lower the car about the same, so get whatever you like better. However, if the car has a warranty I'd go with TRD parts for obvious reasons.