Too low?

[Rocket88]

Don't like it at all, do they not have speed bumps where the car is from? I don't ever see lowering a s a good idea. I know you don't modify/customise to be piratical, but unless you are building a trailer queen what's the point if you can't drive it far?

Most "performance" examples of a model are lowered in the factory, and I presume they know what they're donig. Most cars look better for a bit of a drop, although that Trabby is a bit extreme. I agree that chopping out coils willy nilly is daft, but if it's done properly, fair enough. [Voice of reason now leaving the building]

[Guest greenvanman]

I know you don't modify/customise to be piratical...

[AXrescuer]

Garrrrrrr!

[TheScrapman]

Has this place always been a bit "let's slag off what's on Retro Rides" or is a recent thing? Can't say I like that attitude much. Live and let live!

Indeed. It's spoiling an otherwise inspiring and entertaining forum.

Nothing beats a well 'slammed' retro .Bit of satin black slap and some split rims and it'll be the shizzle!

AX, why do you have such a bee in your bonnet about RR, and anything low and/or matt black? This is at least the third thread you've written in, whinging about the good folk of RR and their cars in recent days. You may have noticed that quite a few of us are regulars here too.Some people like old low cars. The subscription level on RR shows this quite clearly. Some people like them matt black. We're not bad people. We're not sheep. Some of us do understand the engineering principles and results of playing with suspension geometry. Please give us a break!

[AXrescuer]

Has this place always been a bit "let's slag off what's on Retro Rides" or is a recent thing? Can't say I like that attitude much. Live and let live!

Indeed. It's spoiling an otherwise inspiring and entertaining forum.

Nothing beats a well 'slammed' retro .Bit of satin black slap and some split rims and it'll be the shizzle!

AX, why do you have such a bee in your bonnet about RR, and anything low and/or matt black? This is at least the third thread you've written in, whinging about the good folk of RR and their cars in recent days. You may have noticed that quite a few of us are regulars here too.Some people like old low cars. The subscription level on RR shows this quite clearly. Some people like them matt black. We're not bad people. We're not sheep. Some of us do understand the engineering principles and results of playing with suspension geometry. Please give us a break!

Er, I too am a regular on RR. This a forum and I'm entitled to my opinion am I not? And it seems that other people agree with me doesn't it.Not sheep? I'm not so sure about some people to be honest. Suspension geometry, yeah, I'm sure that Trabant owner is well versed with such engineering principles as are the owners of several similar monstrosities.Spoiling the forum? You are not obliged to read or contribute to threads you don't agree with.

[TheScrapman]

Er, I too am a regular on RR.

So why come on here to slag it off?

You are not obliged to read or contribute to threads you don't agree with.

No, you're right. I shouldn't bite.

[AXrescuer]

Er, I too am a regular on RR.

So why come on here to slag it off?

You are not obliged to read or contribute to threads you don't agree with.

No, you're right. I shouldn't bite.

A: I can speak relatively freely here without silly warnings.B: No you shouldn't.

[Mike D]

I too am partial to a spot of lowering and some rimz, and have applied it to some pretty rare tin, but then it's my car, I bought it, and I can do what I like with it. Modified cars aren't a bad thing, I like my Datsun a lot, but it's 37 years old, has 120K on the clock and drives frankly pretty appaulingly as a lot of bits are getting worn out.

 

So I lowered it, put some wheels on it, and am in the process of fitting a CA18DET engine, along with its 5 speed gearbox and appropriately narrowed and strengthened rear axle and uprated brakes. I'm pretty happy with the result to be honest, and if no one else likes it, tough! Although thankfully the majority of comments have been positive so far

 

Here it is stock:

 

And here it is now:

 

Just my 2p worth,

Mike.

[155V6]

That looks just right to me

[Rocket88]

Yup, that's spot on, lovely job

[FredTransit]

O love those wheels, they suit it, and if fitting a more modern engine keeps it on the road, good. I have a Mk1 transit with a pinto in it, and all out diesels come from 90s transits. Buy I still don't like the low look. It's just not piratical, oo arr!

[pandamonium]

The Trabbie is a little ridiculous, I'll concur, but lowering is not a crime.

My evidence?

 

I rest my case.

[AXrescuer]

The Trabbie is a little ridiculous, I'll concur, but lowering is not a crime.

My evidence?

 

I rest my case.

But that is neither matt black or sitting on its sills is it? Nor is it wearing uber-wide banded wheels. It's been modified sympathetically which I think is pretty cool.

 

Actually, my Astra Sport has pretty much the same stance as that car right now.

 

My argument is more about unusable garbage like that Trabant and the outbreak of matt/satin black and nato green paint use over otherwise decent paintwork..

[The Main]

To me, this is low in a daft stylee, but am I just being a victim of my advancing years?

What do you think? My 17 year old son says it's 'boss'!

 

Boss? Doesn't he mean 'well sick'? Or 'peng'?

[AXrescuer]

Nah, 'the shizzle' is another expression he used as well!

[pompei]

The soon-to-depart 500 is lowered - shortened coils at the rear and a "reverse eye" transverse leaf spring on the front. It looks better (nice neg camber at the rear replacing the scary pos camber) and it goes round corners like its on rails, to over use the cliche. Problem is that the wheels rub on the arches and the ride is perhaps best described as non-compliant... I was going to put it back to standard if I was keeping it.

 

[AXrescuer]

That looks good, just right!

[M'coli]

The soon-to-depart 500 is lowered - shortened coils at the rear and a "reverse eye" transverse leaf spring on the front.

Did something similar to my 126 except that the front spring had sagged naturally, and used coil clamps on the rear springs. With new rear and fairly new (smuggled out of the scrappy's in my mate's jacket) front dampers, coupled to 155/70r12 tyres on the rear and 135r12 on the front, it made a huge amount of difference to the handling, I actually got power(sic) understeer on a roundabout at one point.Trouble was, the rear tyres lasted 1500 miles...

[CortinaDave]

Mild lowering can be good, but that floor scraping stuff is just crap. Yeah! Lets all make our cars thoroughly unpleasant to ride in and drive! Great!

[seth]

But no-one's asking you too! Anyway, he apparently rasied the Trabbant a centimetre or so so he could use it a bit more.

[AXrescuer]

But no-one's asking you too! Anyway, he apparently rasied the Trabbant a centimetre or so so he could use it a bit more.

By too do you mean as well or just to?Raised it by a centimetre did he? Well I suppose that now gives around 3mm of ground clearance. Better than nothing, like it was previously.

[seth]

Sorry, clearly got carrried away with my o's

[trigger]

You want low...

 

 

 

God knows how he drove it to the show?!

[Timewaster]

I think there is a fine line between the "lowered/slammed" look and the "collapsed" look!I don't mind a bit of lowering, I've done it a few times myself but things like the Trabby make no sense to me.Maybe its just cos I live in the fen and there are holes in the roads you could loose a small house in!