VXR8 lowering kits

[mogv8]

Any feedback from those who have had their VXR8 lowered? (ie with with no other suspension mods). In particular I would be interested in:

a) whether you think it does anything significant to the handlingm either good or bad. I know its supposed to lower the centre of gravity but does it really make a difference ?

b) any issues with clearance, my benchmark being .... can you get on a cross channel ferry with 4 up and a boot full of wine without grounding?


Thanks

[toothrot]

why not just put bigger anti roll bars on?

[paramoreg]

The Carbon I had was 35mm lowered/slightly stiffer spring, looked a load better for being lower, but obviously it did catch bumps a bit more. Handling wise, to be honest it still wanted to throw me in the hedge through a series of fast bumpy bends.

The Pedders Extreme X Coilovers and road response pack made a huge difference to the handling and something I'd highly recommend if you have the dosh.

[Bonnie and Clyde]

paramoreg said:

The Carbon I had was 35mm lowered/slightly stiffer spring, looked a load better for being lower, but obviously it did catch bumps a bit more. Handling wise, to be honest it still wanted to throw me in the hedge through a series of fast bumpy bends.

The Pedders Extreme X Coilovers and road response pack made a huge difference to the handling and something I'd highly recommend if you have the dosh.

Sorry for the thread hijack but Gary we missed you yesterday Col said on the way home it would have been perfect had you have been there

[paramoreg]

Hello Mel, must admit I missed being at what sounds like a great day! Even with the car gone for now, I was going to come up and watch but my plans went awry the night before.

I will be grabbing a DVD at least so look forward to seeing who did what to who!

Hopefully I'll get my arse up to the next one to say hello properly and whilst I'm without a decent car, me and Col can sit there getting pd whilst watching you all!

tc sweetie!! xx

[Mystvxr]

Agree, springs were a bit rubbish, very bouncy at the back end, stock was better. Coilovers are the way to go tbh.

[mogv8]

The lowering kit comes as part of a tuning 'pack' so I can either

a)take them fitted as part of the deal (adds a few quid on the insurance) or..
b)walk away with them in the box and stick them on e-bay

If I had the choice to add a few hundred £ and get coilovers I probably would, but as this is close to being a freebie and (roughly speaking) the parts are worth £250 and the labour another £250, should I get it done? Worth doing? Boot full of wine + cross channel ferry... should I worry?

Probably make the car look meaner but beyond that not sure really.

Thoughts?

[Mystvxr]

Yes worry, what else do you get with the tuning pack? might even be worth ditching the whole lot. Then a few quid on a CAI and custom tune, that's what I should have done.

[mogv8]

The pack is Wortec supplied installed by Picador's so straight forward really,
-Wortec switchable exhaust
-Hi flow air filter
-Remap
-lowering springs

Happy with the rest, and it all forms part of the deal, just not sure whether I should have the springs done. Effectively costs nothing extra, and I can retain original parts if I want to revert, but its just the fact that I have no experience of the lowering kit and that makes me nervous. Also have to occasionally load up the car for holidays and dont want to find out at that point I am grounding out?

What do you reckon?

[vxr8mate]

I had the Wortec coils and they do make a difference, car is stiffer through the corners, more planted etc. Looks better also.

[paramoreg]

mogv8 said:

The pack is Wortec supplied installed by Picador's so straight forward really,
-Wortec switchable exhaust
-Hi flow air filter
-Remap
-lowering springs

Happy with the rest, and it all forms part of the deal, just not sure whether I should have the springs done. Effectively costs nothing extra, and I can retain original parts if I want to revert, but its just the fact that I have no experience of the lowering kit and that makes me nervous. Also have to occasionally load up the car for holidays and dont want to find out at that point I am grounding out?

What do you reckon?

If its part of the pack, I'm not sure you can break it.

The lowered and 5%(?) stiffer springs do make the car look better for sure but it did nothing for the handling in my experience.

Coilover kit is so much better than lowered springs, personally I found the change to Pedders Extreme X (fully adjustable) kit was great and I'd heard the Tein kit from Walkinshaw was overly harsh.

I'd say if you are unlikely to stump up ~£1800 for the fully adjustable coilovers, accept you've spent nearly £500 on lowering your car for looks but no real improvement in handling or get Picador to remove the suspension item and cost from the pack (they are all separate items after all).

You might get some parts money back selling on e-bay, but not more than £200-250 absolute max...

[mogv8]

Decision made.... the springs used for lowering are the same as in the standard (non coilover) suspension upgrade, so while stripped down I can just pay for the upgrade dampers at £600 and job done.

Not quite as good as coilovers but much better than standard for modest additional outlay and should make a material improvement rather than just the cosmetics.

A happy compromise I think. Thanks for the input as it made me do the extra research.