Someone please educate me...

anarchyok

anarchyok

Forum Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2011
Messages
66
Location
Ringwood, Victoria, Australia
...on why on earth would you lower a Forester?!

I just joined another forum (cough...ozfoz....cough) to try and broaden my chances of picking up a 5th XTP rim and Geolandar tyre...had a quick browse thru the forum and saw more Foresters that had been lowered than anything else...

I'm genuinely curious, and I hope I'm not coming across as arrogant/offensive etc, but surely the point of the car is that it is off road capable? Am I missing something? Why not just buy a WRX or Liberty for something that I would imagine would handle even better lowered etc??

As I said, genuinely curious, and please don't take offence if you own a car like this...just wondering what makes them a good car to lower over perhaps a more standard car to street pimp...
 
Now I am with you.. if I wanted a lowered street machine with a boxer engine there are a lot of other more easily built choices out there... but although I don't think the forester in this video is actually lowered, it may give you your answer ;)

https://www.youtube.com/user/suba400


He is also a member of this forum
 
Probably because they have identical floor-plans to a WRX and everything fits from car to car so they want something a little different + they have a bit more room in the back of an Impreza wagon, and then again you get nutjobs lifting Liberty's and WRX's for the opposite reasons.
 
That's one particular reason why we get so many members coming over from SF.org. D_generate summed it up for ya though. Atleast from what i've read from other forums that seems to be it.
 
There's alot of lowered foresters around here, i quite like them they look nice with bigger wheels and tinted windows, especially white GT's, but thats all they do, look nice.....
 
You took the words right out of my mouth. Some say it is because insurance is easier with a Forrie than a WRX for the young 'uns. When I went on a run with a bunch of similar people, they had all these lowered and turbo Forries- not one of them could keep up with me in my poverty pack non turbo standard Forrie on a spirited drive around Oberon. One even came up with some mates and said, "I thought you said your car did not have a turbo?" So then what is the point????

But why on earth would you want a Geolander tyre? They are a shocking tyre- good for nothing but squealing- hence the name Geosquealer

anarchyok said:
...on why on earth would you lower a Forester?!

I just joined another forum (cough...ozfoz....cough) to try and broaden my chances of picking up a 5th XTP rim and Geolandar tyre...had a quick browse thru the forum and saw more Foresters that had been lowered than anything else...

I'm genuinely curious, and I hope I'm not coming across as arrogant/offensive etc, but surely the point of the car is that it is off road capable? Am I missing something? Why not just buy a WRX or Liberty for something that I would imagine would handle even better lowered etc??

As I said, genuinely curious, and please don't take offence if you own a car like this...just wondering what makes them a good car to lower over perhaps a more standard car to street pimp...
Click to expand...
 
^ That's only the road tyres Rally. The AT's don't squeal.

I know what you mean about ozfoz. Don't get me wrong there are some great members on there with great info..... But I wouldnt lower a foz.or probably any car. You smash your bumpers on curbs and whats the point in having a car with 200kw in aus. It's not like you can legally do 250km/hr anywhere!

But that's me. If I went and said on their my foz is going to hvave 350mm clearance from the ground they would die in shock! Most 'slam their foz's' and have them 50-100mm from the ground.

Taza
 
I think he was referring to the tyres that come standard on the Forrie- and they're the ones that squeal. It wasn't OzFoz- it was GT Rydaz- but I think most of them have moved over? My WRX is standard height because lowered cars are a pain. Most of them are lowered so much they handle far worse than when standard. It's all for looks those cars, because the people who do it only do it for looks. I don't mind doing things for looks- but not to the detriment of performance. None of those blokes seem to understand things like roll centres and centre of gravity. If I'd done that much work to my turbo Forrie and then have some bloke blow them all to the weeds in a standard non turbo, I'd have to have a serious re-think about what I'd done.
 
anarchyok said:
...on why on earth would you lower a Forester?!

I'm genuinely curious, and I hope I'm not coming across as arrogant/offensive etc, but surely the point of the car is that it is off road capable? Am I missing something? Why not just buy a WRX or Liberty for something that I would imagine would handle even better lowered etc??
Click to expand...

d_generate said:
Probably because they have identical floor-plans to a WRX and everything fits from car to car so they want something a little different + they have a bit more room in the back of an Impreza wagon,
Click to expand...

Rally said:
You took the words right out of my mouth. Some say it is because insurance is easier with a Forrie than a WRX for the young 'uns.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on this one anarchyok :)
I just can't understand how you could even think of lowering a Forry :shake: It's just beyond me :shrug:

But what d_generate & Rally say does make sense though. The Forry, I'm sure, would have more room & the insurance is a little cheaper, especially for the young ones :iconwink:

If I ever wanted a lowered Subi (& I admit that I have age on my side insurance wise) I would go the WRX for sure.

Regards
Mr Turbo
 
Rally said:
You took the words right out of my mouth. Some say it is because insurance is easier with a Forrie than a WRX for the young 'uns. When I went on a run with a bunch of similar people, they had all these lowered and turbo Forries- not one of them could keep up with me in my poverty pack non turbo standard Forrie on a spirited drive around Oberon. One even came up with some mates and said, "I thought you said your car did not have a turbo?" So then what is the point????

But why on earth would you want a Geolander tyre? They are a shocking tyre- good for nothing but squealing- hence the name Geosquealer
Click to expand...


They do squeal, but I've come from an Au falcon that could never grip anything, so in comparison these things are great! I've got 3 on with about 65% tread, and one with 30%. I wanna swap it to one with equal tread to the rest while I save for some ATS's.
 
Well, this is as close as I get:

001.jpg
 
I struggle to grasp it (lowered Foreseter) - but have seen it down up close - a Mother at my daughters day care has a lowered SF GT - big bore exhaust and clearly a retune (probably bigger turbo at a guess) - the extra boot space is filled with prams, so functionally I guess they can get the best of extra space, good performance, handling and a safe car.

Each to his/her own, so whatever takes your fancy - me I prefer being able to get a bit further off the beaten track so make use of the clearance - and yep the XT always brings a grin on those back roads with little worry of a rock ripping off the exhaust
 
I do have to say that I do like the look of the Forester STI. and Yes I would probably buy one, just as spikeoo1 said I would like one of each :biggrin:
Then probably a stock one too for some unknown reason :)
 
Different strokes for different folks -and there's a lot of good folks and a lot of good knowledge on OzFoz. And - guess who won "Most Unique" at one of their meetings a few years back :iconwink:
 
Rally said:
I think he was referring to the tyres that come standard on the Forrie- and they're the ones that squeal. It wasn't OzFoz- it was GT Rydaz- but I think most of them have moved over? My WRX is standard height because lowered cars are a pain. Most of them are lowered so much they handle far worse than when standard. It's all for looks those cars, because the people who do it only do it for looks. I don't mind doing things for looks- but not to the detriment of performance. None of those blokes seem to understand things like roll centres and centre of gravity. If I'd done that much work to my turbo Forrie and then have some bloke blow them all to the weeds in a standard non turbo, I'd have to have a serious re-think about what I'd done.
Click to expand...

It may not be the lowering that reduced the performance of their vehicles...


You're forgetting one thing.

You can drive.
 
Cars are stock height for a reason. They are that height because usually it is optimal for design. I know of many cases where lowering a car has harmed handling quite significantly.
 
hmm maybe I should take back my comment "I struggle to grasp it"

I do take enormous pleasure at leaving numerous try hards for dead on the freeway on ramp - go the foz :biggrin: - but still my liking is off the black top rather than on it. (no I am not condoning street racing in any shape or form)

BTW as 5th gear said the kids would love being dropped off at school in the STI Forester - my daughters both love it when 2.5 XT throttle is open - always brings the inevitable "more" from the back seat.
 
Rally said:
But why on earth would you want a Geolander tyre? They are a shocking tyre- good for nothing but squealing- hence the name Geosquealer
Click to expand...

taza said:
^ That's only the road tyres Rally. The AT's don't squeal.
Click to expand...

The AT-s not only dont squeal but grip better than the Bridgestone Dueller (HT) onroad, & offroad there is NO comparison. The Geosquealers are a shocking tyre, very surprising to have as OEM :shake:

I know what you mean about ozfoz. Don't get me wrong there are some great members on there with great info..... But I wouldnt lower a foz.or probably any car. You smash your bumpers on curbs and whats the point in having a car with 200kw in aus. It's not like you can legally do 250km/hr anywhere!
Click to expand...
For outright acceleration...for a nice little "push-in-the-back"

But that's me. If I went and said on their my foz is going to hvave 350mm clearance from the ground they would die in shock! Most 'slam their foz's' and have them 50-100mm from the ground.
Click to expand...
Totally ridiculous & illegal...plus very annoying when following as they have to crawl over even gentle speed humps :rolleyes:

Rally said:
My WRX is standard height because lowered cars are a pain. Most of them are lowered so much they handle far worse than when standard. It's all for looks those cars, because the people who do it only do it for looks. I don't mind doing things for looks- but not to the detriment of performance. None of those blokes seem to understand things like roll centres and centre of gravity. If I'd done that much work to my turbo Forrie and then have some bloke blow them all to the weeds in a standard non turbo, I'd have to have a serious re-think about what I'd done.
Click to expand...

Dulagarl said:
It may not be the lowering that reduced the performance of their vehicles...


You're forgetting one thing.

You can drive.
Click to expand...

Davidov said:
Cars are stock height for a reason. They are that height because usually it is optimal for design. I know of many cases where lowering a car has harmed handling quite significantly.
Click to expand...

Most of the guys who lower their cars have no clue. If done properly it does increase handling, as seen by all road racing cars & epitomised by F1. However most "boy racers" cut their springs, which is not only illegal & dangerous but also can limit or even prevent wheel travel. As this is the ONLY thing that keeps the tyre in contact with the road over bumps, the effect on handling is disastrous!

But they think it "looks" good...Bet it doesnt look too good wrapped around a tree!!! :rotfl:
 
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