Dropping a Z in New Jersey - Good or bad idea?

[capo190]

Thinking about lowering my Z but NJ is full of potholes and inclines.

Then again I also see plenty of slammed cars all the time.

Someone convince me to do it or not to do it....

Also, does lowering your car really help with handling?

[DavesZ#3]

Originally Posted by capo190

Also, does lowering your car really help with handling?

No, it mainly makes the ride rougher and harder. The improved handling comes at a price (ride quality) and is only noticible at the extremes, something you probably never experience on the street but only on the track.

[ryan350zpower]

I've destroyed all 4 of my PIAA super rozzas in NJ.... ugh

[davidv]

Originally Posted by capo190

Also, does lowering your car really help with handling?

It will alter handling yes. Maybe good maybe bad. But different.

EDIT: Drive an open road coarse. Hopefully you will not see pot holes or abrupt asphalt changes. This is suitable for a lowered car. The street? Pay your money and take your chances. Cool is not cheap.

[UMW350Z]

NJ will destroy your car either way Lowering will speed it up a little bit.

[Arnold K.]

Lower it a little bit, nothing extreme. Go with Hotchkis, you'll retain stock comfort, with a better stance and improved handling.

[plumpzz]

Get mild springs, definately get nice shocks like Koni's. I drive with Tokicos, and those lowered my Z quite a bit, a little too much.

[vthao]

Originally Posted by capo190

Then again I also see plenty of slammed cars all the time.

You've already answered your own question here. People have also given you good advice: lower your car but not too aggressively.

[Lightemup]

I doubt you'd see enough improvement in handling to offset the damage to your car and the anxiety you'll experience waiting for it. I scape the air dam on the front of my Z all the time in intersections and driveways. I cringe every time. The sides usually need to be snapped back in every time I wash it. Do I want to exacerbate this? Not so much.

[*Boose*]

Driving a slammed or lowered car in NJ is not that bad. I've done it on a few of my cars and the drive was not that harsh. But then again I'd like a streetable 911 RSR.

[tranceformer95]

It's not too bad, I've done it for a few years. You just have to get used to driving a certain way to avoid busting up your car.

[0jiggy0]

Originally Posted by plumpzz

Get mild springs, definately get nice shocks like Koni's. I drive with Tokicos, and those lowered my Z quite a bit, a little too much.

How did the struts affect your ride height?

[plumpzz]

They don't. They just affect the feel and drive.

[Miggz]

Originally Posted by 0jiggy0

How did the struts affect your ride height?

That's what I'm wondering too... The only Shocks/Struts that have been known to lower a car were Koni's on my old IS300.

[paposalsa]

Driving in NJ SUCKS!!!

[NyCSnEaK]

Driving a sports car in Jerz is not for the timid. When you lower it here. You better be ready to pay for replacements and paint jobs. If its for the track then i say yay, but for stuntin its a nay!

[da45king]

I dropped a 7 series bwm. Went to the video store in the middle of the night (stelton rd in edison). They were repaving the road ( took the top layer of tar off creating an abrupt 3 inch drop). I dropped into it ok.... but when I came back to the regular road height, I hit the edge hard. I heard a shatter ( like some one dropping a heinken bottle). I thought to myself " this trouble but I gotta make it home...too dark out here". Then the check oil message came on.....then the valve music started to play as I pulled in the drive way. $600 for the alluminum oil pan....$700 labor to put it on ( oil pan is a part of the transmission housing)

[Armitage]

There is no reason you can't drop your car in NJ, but I would recommend against a major drop. I plan on going with coilovers so I can control how much its dropped and get it cornerweighted.