Purchasing advice - lowered 86

[ymshulman]

Hi all you experts!

I'm looking to buy a Triplet, and found a potential one a few hours from me. From the photos it seems to be lowered a bit - I'm looking for a year-round daily, so I'm not thrilled about that. What questions should I be asking, or what photos should I be requesting, of the dealer to figure out how it's been lowered?

Photo attached here.

[YamahaR86]

Photo is terrible, since it's angled.



Ask how it's lowered, springs only or on coilovers. And what brands.


Looks like a modest drop to me, like TRD/eibach springs which is 1 inch.

[DarkPira7e]

If you don't want a lowered car, don't buy a lowered car

[ymshulman]

Thanks. Here's another photo - I'll ask about the brand.



I'd prefer not lowered, but if it's done with street-minded parts and it's just a 1" drop, should daily ride quality should be fairly similar? Or still not a good idea (especially in some snow).

[DarkPira7e]

Originally Posted by ymshulman

I'd prefer not lowered, but if it's done with street-minded parts and it's just a 1" drop, should daily ride quality should be fairly similar? Or still not a good idea (especially in some snow).

Depends on the springs and other modifications. Honestly if it's just eibach pro/trd springs, or even RCE yellows it'll ride just fine and you shouldn't have an issue; ride quality should be very similar.
What concerns me with lowered cars is-
Have they bottomed out on anything?
Did they swap out coilovers before trading it in?
Did they get an alignment?
Is everything completely tight and sound?

It's possible to search by VIN to see if the car was outfitted from factory with the TRD springs. If so, you have less worries

[ymshulman]

Thanks, that's super helpful. The car only has 6K miles, so I don't think there's really a worry about abuse if the ride is fine.

I'll do my homework - thanks for your help!

[ymshulman]

Found the info - Toyota VIN decoder says that it has "S2 TRD LOWERING SPRINGS" installed at Port.

This should be similar enough to a stock ride that I should be fine with it as a daily?

[Mr.ac]

Test drive it. It's the only way you'll know how it handles.
If you don't like it find another.

[HaXx]

theres no real reason to not be lowered. many people drive year round in the new england area dropped 1in. if anything, it just saves you having to buy and install lowering springs yourself. im lowered an inch or inch and a half and snow tires fit fine. the snows i run are 205/50/17. thats the gold standard size for a winter wheel, some even run 16in but its not like itll be any better or worse dailying a car dropped one inch. if anything itll be better.

people act like doing anything to the car will ruin its daily ability. hell, im on 9k/8k springs and everyone will tell you it'll be terrible to daily. reality is its hardly a perceivable difference in ride comfort. granted they are decently expensive. the car isnt going to ride like a tahoe at the end of the day, stock or modified.

id think that its a nice little bonus that ur cars lowered already

[NWFRS]

If you haven't already driven a new bone-stock FRS/BRZ/86 then you should do that first. Otherwise you'll have no benchmark to judge ride quality, handling, noises, etc. Be sure to test-drive a car with the same gearbox option you'll ultimately want.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by ymshulman

Found the info - Toyota VIN decoder says that it has "S2 TRD LOWERING SPRINGS" installed at Port.

This should be similar enough to a stock ride that I should be fine with it as a daily?

You'll be fine.

- Andrew

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Racecomp Engineering

You'll be fine.

- Andrew

To add to that, mine has been lowered for most of it's life (this is the 8th winter with it) and no issues in winter here in the Toronto Canada area.


Don't try to drive through 12" of loose snow and you'll be fine

[ymshulman]

Glad to know it can still get through snow lowered a little! Thanks for all your responses. I've driven a stock 2017 and felt it was fine for me but definitely on the edge of how rough I'd like (roads here can be pretty bad). I'll see if I can find one a little closer that's lowered a bit to test drive before driving the few hours to this one.

[soundman98]

It's not like it's dragging frame everywhere. But I'm one of the rarities around here that is extremely happy at stock height. Just enough to clear most parking curbs front and rear. I already need to back up my driveway because the front overhang kisses the gutter if i pull straight in. 1" lower would be a lot of damage and worry for something that's unnecessary to me.