[mikegh]

Is it a bad idea to lower your car if you live in Canada, more specifically Alberta? I love the aggressive look but the roads here really blow during winter so I just wanna know if its practical to do.

[JDane07]

I would imagine you'd be fine if you get coilovers.
Adjust them how you want, when you want.

[Catalina Wine Mixer]

Originally Posted by JDane07

I would imagine you'd be fine if you get coilovers.
Adjust them how you want, when you want.

what he said

[cuiter23]

Lowering your car is not practical at all. Do it for the looks, depending where you live, you will have to drive slow to avoid rubbing/scraping due to road imperfections.

Personally, due to the potholes, cracks, bumps, construction etc around my campus, I do not think I will lower my car anytime soon. I have scraped many times already even with the stock sport suspension.

[Amini77]

Never a bad idea to lower your car!! lol! just for looks really and cornering

[CombatNinja]

Been there, done that. It was important when I was younger. I just had to have that look. Got tired of the scraped paint, having to actually divert from my intended route due to steep inclines, nearly getting rearended when slowing for every little dip in the road and the horrible, horrible ride. Some guys with really low cars will tell you they ride just fine but they're lying to you and to themselves. I live in the American South and wouldn't even think of lowering my sport pack car. You are insane to consider doing it in Canada. Do you want to plow the street every time you get 3" of snow?

[mrunner]

Already at regular height it's a snow plow and I sometimes scrape getting up and over into drive ways or underground parking lots. I'm not going to say don't do it, but you have to be willing to put up with it. I spent so much money on a car it's already aggravating to see a toyota corolla just drive out of a snow mound while I'm stuck shoveling. That being said if you are willing to put up with it you may need to change your driving habbits or plan to leave earlier. Height adjustable coilovers could be a good idea if they dont corrode with salt and snow and get stuck in the raised height.

After modifing a few cars before i'm more of the mind set of keeping a daily driver stock and modify a weekend car or track car.

[bing240sx]

get a good set of lowering springs / struts if you are in Alberta.

most coilovers cannot handle the temperature changes into extreme cold and will blow after two winters. and i'm from Ontario... it doesnt get nearly as cold as it does in Alberta so you may blow your coilovers in a single winter out there.

i've never tried the higher end stuff (PSS9, KW) with stainless steel bodies but it's the seals that go and lose oil pressure in extreme cold-cycling so not sure that the better stuff would hold up any better.

spring / strut combos are less aggressive of a drop but much more durable.

lowering your car is only impractical is not done properly.

[mikegh]

Thanks for the replies guys. Looks like I won't be lowering my car lol. Sounds like hell

[T-Dubbs]

I rock coils all year in Calgary
I dont even raise it in the summer. Never had a problem

[DrAmazing]

Originally Posted by bing240sx

most coilovers cannot handle the temperature changes into extreme cold and will blow after two winters.

is this true?

[will bleich]

Originally Posted by mikegh

Is it a bad idea to lower your car if you live in Canada, more specifically Alberta? I love the aggressive look but the roads here really blow during winter so I just wanna know if its practical to do.

You can raise it back up in winter just get coilovers

[Saintor]

I went with just short springs (Eibach).

I love what it did to my car. I hate the standard height of recent Bimmers. Couldn't live with it.

My ride quality is just fine. However reality check means that you can be vulnerable to snow accumulations. I rolled over a block of ice and it cost 521$ to fix the under covers. Unsure if that would be the same with regular height. C&D also had this issue on their long term M3 to fix a similar incident.

Would I do it again?

*Of course*.

[cbad335]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Been there, done that. It was important when I was younger. I just had to have that look. Got tired of the scraped paint, having to actually divert from my intended route due to steep inclines, nearly getting rearended when slowing for every little dip in the road and the horrible, horrible ride. Some guys with really low cars will tell you they ride just fine but they're lying to you and to themselves.

+1 Well said. Lowered cars look good, stationary, in pics. They are a PITA to drive.

[bing240sx]

Originally Posted by DrAmazing

is this true?

yeah let me qualify that though. this is only on coilovers under $1,500 and made in Asia. d2, K-sport, HSD, Stance etc. etc.

most JDM coilovers that come over here on containers are useless after a couple years.

i have no winter experience with KW or Bilstein etc.

[NjPrince]

Doesn't seem worth it for all the trouble you have to go through during local driving if that's your primary car. Lowering your car is mostly beneficial on the track otherwise it's dominantly done for looks.

[StevenY.]

Originally Posted by CombatNinja

Been there, done that. It was important when I was younger. I just had to have that look. Got tired of the scraped paint, having to actually divert from my intended route due to steep inclines, nearly getting rearended when slowing for every little dip in the road and the horrible, horrible ride. Some guys with really low cars will tell you they ride just fine but they're lying to you and to themselves.

+2 Ride quality> Looking nice. Honestly I love the look of lowered cars but I'd much prefer a better ride quality and not have to worry about scraping or any other troubles that may come with lowering cars.

[cbad335]

Some here have recommended coilovers, claiming that you can change ride height at will, like it's a piece of cake to do so. Coils ride height can be adjusted, to a point, but it's not like spinning a dial. It requires removing the wheels and adjusting the spring height, evenly, with the required specialty wrenches. So, you'd better have a low profile jack, breaking bar, deep socket with extension, torque wrench, and preferably a garage for all the necessary paraphernalia. Then, once the desired ride height is achieved, the alignment needs to be adjusted, which costs time and money. Coils are great, but not as simply utilized as often made out to be on this forum.

[MrRager]

you came to the wrong place for an unbiased recommendation

[Tinaphpc]

Looks awesome, thanks mate.

[AGO 530]

I’m in an E90 MSport on stock sport suspension, just plowed 45km of road on my way to the office. 15 cm of snow fell last night. I almost don’t want to look at the frontend this afternoon.

[e1001usa]

I wouldn't do it