These dratted lowered cars

[littleowl]

Well my Merc is the first car I've ever had that has got lowered suspension with the accompanying lower front spoiler (possibly with the exception of a Mini Clubman I once had many years ago), I wasn't even aware that it was lowered when I bought it - just saw it and thought 'I like that!'. Anyway I still like the car, but this lowered spoiler takes some getting used to. So far I have caught the spoiler reversing over a ledge at home (something I have done many times without problems in my previous cars). Then it scraped a mini roundabout (again never had this happen - ok I know I am supposed to go round not over it but sometimes a bit tricky ), and I'm always having to look for potholes and uneven ground. Today I was almost home when I met the refuse truck in my lane. We met face to face at a field gateway and I couldn't even go into the gateway as there was a deepish crater so I looked at it and pulled a face, the refuse lorry had to reverse, and behind him was another lorry which also had to reverse! Can you imagine that

Mind you, I parked at my son's home and saw a Mercedes which was so low the front end must have been about an inch off the ground. I mean, how and where do you drive these cars apart from on a race track?

 

[whitenemesis]

My S203 was lowered, on coil-overs, a good 25mm from it's already low Sports suspension height. Never had a problem, just needed a little extra care over the more aggressive speed bumps. I always stayed well clear of kerbs though.

 

[John]

Takes me right back. I lowered my first car (Opel Manta GTE) and my fifth car (Ford Escort XR3i). Both were problematic with the usual things. My first car had to be lifted onto the MOT rolling road!

and I'm always having to look for potholes and uneven ground.

I do this anyway to avoid damaging my wheels.

Mind you, I parked at my son's home and saw a Mercedes which was so low the front end must have been about an inch off the ground. I mean, how and where do you drive these cars apart from on a race track?

You can have a lowering module fitted on some cars with air suspension and you can leave the car in a "very lowered" state which you wouldn't normally be able to drive like that as it is too low. So could be that...

 

[baxlin]

Never had a lowered car, I tend to think that the £0000's the manufacturer spent developing the car would most likely result in them getting it approximately right.

But then I don’t wear ripped jeans or walk about with the waistband of my trousers around my backside, and the crutch around my knees.

But then again I am a grumpy old man.......

 

[Alex225]

I once owned a car that was lowered. It was a VW Lupo that was lowered about 60-70mm on coilovers.

In one breath it was brilliant, handled completely flat and looks just right. Had a few other things done to it including a new manifold, exhaust etc. Used to pop and bang and was just a fun car.

By contrast it meant I’d never own an extremely lowered car again. Speed bumps were a no go, I mean not a chance. Turn round and find another way. I cracked the bumper on a dip most cars would survive no problem.

Admittedly it was lowered to an extreme despite not looking stupid but was enough to deter me. Certainly from a huge drop on a daily anyway.

That said I’d love to see how my W211 would look dropped haha

 

[littleowl]

Visually they look good but that's about it . Mine isn't even lowered like some of them are, it just has the AMG styling. Probably not the most practical thing I could have bought living in the country and having to negotiate narrow muddy farm tracks half the year - but I'll try to enjoy it for the summer anyway!

 

[oldguy57]

Visually they look good but that's about it . Mine isn't even lowered like some of them are, it just has the AMG styling. Probably not the most practical thing I could have bought living in the country and having to negotiate narrow muddy farm tracks half the year - but I'll try to enjoy it for the summer anyway!

Ah but think of the "street cred" you have when driving around looking cool.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

Wow your car must be really low....mine is low and generally I have no problems with speed humps etc. Fortunately I do have a button to raise the car if it looks like I might scrape the speed hump.

 

[renault12ts]

I had a lowered Morris Minor with a deep front spoiler...had to cut an inch off the spoiler on that...I feel your pain.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I’ve only ever had one lowered car. The standard and Mercedes springs broke several times so I had H&R springs fitted with the standard AMG dampers. Jaymanek (Mercland) did it. I think he was worried I might not be sufficiently down with the kids, but I loved it. It was low though!

 

[SW18]

I followed a lowered Corsa along a road full of speed cushions the other evening and it made a painful loud scraping noise at the entry to, and exit from, every speed bump. I was on my bicycle and making much smoother progress, in fact I had to slow up a bit to wait for the Corsa.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

I’ve only ever had one lowered car. The standard and Mercedes springs broke several times so I had H&R springs fitted with the standard AMG dampers. Jaymanek (Mercland) did it. I think he was worried I might not be sufficiently down with the kids, but I loved it. It was low though!

 

[flowrider]

Saw this one at a car show yesterday.......

 

[baxlin]

Saw this one at a car show yesterday.......

View attachment 78562

Harpenden by any chance?

 

[whitenemesis]

My S203 was lowered, on coil-overs, a good 25mm from it's already low Sports suspension height. Never had a problem, just needed a little extra care over the more aggressive speed bumps. I always stayed well clear of kerbs though.

 

[flowrider]

Harpenden by any chance?

It was Harpenden Classics on the Common show. As usual an excellent car show with loads of MB's (I took lots of pics) plenty of food and drink available and only £2 per person to get in.

 

[baxlin]

Must admit I’ve stopped going to Harpenden, having queued for over three quarters of an hour to get onsite with my JZR a couple of years ago.

I prefer the more relaxed Classics on the Green at Croxley Green next Weds.

Apologies for mini hi-jack of thread.

 

[Londonscottish]

I wanted to tighten up a 200SX I had in the 90's. Went looking for update springs of the same length but there were none. ended up with uprated dampers and shorter springs which were annoying over speedbumps as my very expensive replacement exhaust scraped over ever single one.

Getting into a C43 after that was bliss.

Recently experienced the same thing and more with an R53 Mini Cooper S. It was grinding things on the way up, halfway across and then again on the way down. Shame as I really fancied getting one but that really put me off.

 

[Blackbird1]

Never had a lowered car, I tend to think that the £0000's the manufacturer spent developing the car would most likely result in them getting it approximately right.

But then I don’t wear ripped jeans or walk about with the waistband of my trousers around my backside, and the crutch around my knees.

But then again I am a grumpy old man.......

Ditto

 

[horatio]

Maybe the roads round my way (s.herts) are especially bad but I can't imagine driving a daily car that low. Potholes, speed bumps etc everywhere. I even found my avantgarde W211 a bit low. I deliberately searched for an Elegance last time.