Regrets that are my own fault

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by norcalpb

To be fair there is a middle ground between staying stock and lowering your car 2 inches.

I can’t remember where it was posted, but in one of the launch interviews for the FR-S there was a bit where Tada explained the car’s geometry does really well when lowered 15-20mm.

[norcalpb]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

I can’t remember where it was posted, but in one of the launch interviews for the FR-S there was a bit where Tada explained the car’s geometry does really well when lowered 15-20mm.

Yes that is totally the sweet spot, whereas lowering the car 50.8mm is getting away from the sweet spot.

[KMA KiCKz]

Thank you for sharing this.

We've all felt this way at some point but aren't willing to publicly speak against the norm.

This is refreshing and makes me think back to basics of modifying my car.

[ZDan]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

I can’t remember where it was posted, but in one of the launch interviews for the FR-S there was a bit where Tada explained the car’s geometry does really well when lowered 15-20mm.

Originally Posted by norcalpb

Yes that is totally the sweet spot, whereas lowering the car 50.8mm is getting away from the sweet spot.

So how far off you reckon I am at 12.85" from hub to fender? Seems to be workin OK...

[RToyo86]

Live and learn.
Coilovers and wide sticky tires are over prescribed on this platform. They do accomplish making the car handle on rails. A complete departure from the stock handling feel of the car.

I am very satisfied with RCE yellow/B6 combo. Very much a OEM+ feel to it.
I swapped keys recently with a friend who has a track focused setup with 255/40 RS4s and a set of coils. Both of got out smiling for different reasons.

[Yoshoobaroo]

Originally Posted by RToyo86

Live and learn.
Coilovers and wide sticky tires are over prescribed on this platform. They do accomplish making the car handle on rails. A complete departure from the stock handling feel of the car.

I am very satisfied with RCE yellow/B6 combo. Very much a OEM+ feel to it.
I swapped keys recently with a friend who has a track focused setup with 255/40 RS4s and a set of coils. Both of got out smiling for different reasons.

RCE yellow/B6 and eibach pro/B6 are probably the best setups for this car that don’t change the fundamental character of the drive, IF you want to lower it.

[Brz-123]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

RCE yellow/B6 and eibach pro/B6 are probably the best setups for this car that don’t change the fundamental character of the drive.

Only needed if one wants to track or drop height. For a road car the OE suspension set up is more than sufficient. Dont think the OP was doing a track build

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

[Dirty Harry]

Originally Posted by Yoshoobaroo

I can’t remember where it was posted, but in one of the launch interviews for the FR-S there was a bit where Tada explained the car’s geometry does really well when lowered 15-20mm.

Interesting, the STI pink springs lower the ride height by 15mm, so that correlates with this.

On my car I thought the ride felt about the same, the wife thought the ride was better, lol. The car definitely handled better, flatter through corners.

[Dirty Harry]

To the OP, sorry to hear about your experience with modding, I guess try and learn from the experience.

I used to have an underpowered Nissan Micra hatchback and decided it would look cooler with larger rims. Not taking weight or anything else except looks into consideration, I got the wheels fitted (I was a lot younger). Then once I drove out of the auto shop I was shocked at its sluggish performance and instantly regretted it. . I guess some of us have been there.

Also, sometimes with modifying cars, less is more.

[FrickingReallySlow]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

- I want to reduce the wheel gap to 2" or 2 fingers - Achieved, but at a substantial loss to highway stability and lowspeed comfort

I think this may have compounded by your choice of coilovers and 245/35/18. thin tires with little room for comp/rebound. The tS is 215/40/18. If you wanted a slammed stance for cruising around suburbia that might have worked as long as your avoided the 4-6 inch speed bumps. You did your coilovers so many times why is it so hard to go back to stock? ( I see these sold on the forum and facebook marketplace for $25-50 for the entire set)

We all have the inner mod itch we want to scratch, its just how well we talk ourselves down from that ledge.

[soundman98]

Originally Posted by Lakitu

I've been thinking about getting something conventional that I won't be tempted to modify.

been there, done that. even drove the parents truck for a while back in 2007-ish when the housing market fell apart, and i got laid off from my first full-time job. the idea was to get my finances back in order, and drive something reliable, boring, and unmoddable for that time.

the reality is that anything can be modded. that boring unmoddable truck suddenly had a 'new' stereo in it a few months in... old habits die hard. but with age, other interests, and just general 'life' stuff, modding starts to take a little more of a backseat to everything else.

my brz, i've been 'working' on the same reverse light led project since 2015..
suddenly getting a house, a bathroom remodel, getting my own truck, and helping where i can with the nephews while they're still young is a whole lot more important.

[PetrolioBenzina]

OP, at least you passed on a Rocket Bunny and pop-tune!

[Ernest72]

Originally Posted by Brz-123

Only needed if one wants to track or drop height. For a road car the OE suspension set up is more than sufficient. Dont think the OP was doing a track build

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I tend to agree but 16 and earlier cars was a bit stiff with damping. So if you don’t want to lower, just adding B6 is a nice improvement over stock. This is what I plan on doing, was gonna do yellows but my daily commute sees speed bumps and some rough highway, so no need to lower for a DD.

OP your situation is fixable. Sell what did not work and buy what has been proven to work. If you buy another car, the taxes and fees alone could have paid for the mods to get the car back to something you enjoy.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by MJones_RB

The truth was (and is) that they are perfectly capable just as they are.

What I have seen on here over the years is that people expect bigger gains from their mods because there are plenty of cars that will get those gains since they started life as an econobox.
Replacing the cast straight exhaust manifold, under hood hot air intake, squishy sedan suspension and 1 1/4 exhaust on your mom's old 2004 Civic DX will transform the car.
Most of what you could do to the Twins was already well thought out from the start. Changing the existing header to a slightly different type or changing the already effective CAI isn't going to get you much.