Lowering the Prius: problems?

Reduced ride height makes it difficult to go up and down steep driveways.

Harder to sell the car because it is modified.

Could increase wear on struts/shocks.

 

Don't run over stuff.

 

The spring design play a part in how rough the ride would be. Additionally, "too rough of a ride" is subjective and really depends on the person.

Springs for the generation three Prius range in how much they lower the vehicle anywhere from 1.1" to 1.6". The lower you go, the more likely you are to impact debris on the ground or stationary objects like parking curbs

 

Which could result in damage to your front spoiler/lip. You can try to mitigate the possibility of damage by taking an extreme angle so that your front wheels go past the dip/rise at different times, but it tends to irritate other drivers because you would be blocking the other direction of travel when performing the maneuver.

 

*Goes out to measure the height of skunk roadkill pre-flattening*

You need this *spreads his fingers apart wide* much height!

 

The Prius Plug In is heavier than the non Plug In due to the extra battery capacity. It might affect the ride height, especially in the rear, where the traction battery weight is if a lowering spring is installed that was engineered for the non Plug In. The weight difference might affect the spring rates, possibly causing some bouncing, etc. at certain speeds.

You should probably be posting and seeking input in the Plug In forum.

 

I think this was the correct forum to post in. A lot of the Plug In folks don't get it and they never leave that section.

 

Yep.

Yep.

OP, I'm still kinda confused about you. From your earlier posts, it seemed you had buyer's regret about paying so much for a PiP and that it "might not have been worth it", yet somehow it's "worth it" to spend more $ on lowering, different wheels and tires, mods, etc., even though these might even lower your resale value and risk damage (mainly due to scraping)? IMHO, it will almost certainly lower resale value. If it doesn't, you likely won't recover any $ on the mods.

Cars aren't investments. They're depreciating assets... and to put more $ in and have it depreciate more just doesn't compute to me. My very close to 7 year old Prius is unmodded. About the only thing I can think of is the possibility of replacing the stereo if the stock JBL HU craps out and is too much $ to replace.

FWIW, when a car shipping company slightly damaged the the front bumper cover of my former Z and also put 2 gouges in the front plastic lip, it cost ~$900 to get the lip replaced and the bumper cover refinished and repainted. Luckily, it wasn't out of my pocket. Just think about that...

Yeah yeah.. it seems like So Cal people seem to have a greater tendency to want to mod (as I observed by be at a Priuschat meet in Irvine), but still.

I will admit I wanted to replace the stereo and speakers in my former 350Z, when I still had it as the stock stereo was crap and not quite decent to my ears. I actually would've been willing spend quite a bit of $ on stereo upgrades if there were no such thing as car stereo theft. But, I've been bitten my car stereo theft before (91 Camry had its aftermarket stereo stolen. I only replaced it because the stock stereo died.) And, I've had my car broken into for other things.

Digression: One of my friends who used to kinda like cars now dislikes cars (maybe even hates them). He apparently is glad to have gotten rid of his car (a quite old Civic, maybe 15+ years old) and have none. He also used to have a late 90s Camry 4-banger before he wrecked it in an accident.

He keeps harping about how cars are depreciating assets (he's very much into investing via stock options and does very well at it). He'd find your itch spend $ on modding cars even more illogical than me.

I keep telling him (when he still had the Civic) is that he has the wrong car and his opinion might be different if he had a different car. I liked my Z for its handling, brakes, power and styling, for instance. I liked my former 02 Maxima for its power, smoothness, decent stereo and smooth ride...

 

I lowered my 2012 Prius II about a month ago on H&R springs. I also added new wheels and tires. The ride is actually better now. I live in hill country and find myself constantly driving on twisting roads. The springs hold the car to the road better. I kept my OEM springs, tires and wheels. If I ever need to sell or trade it, I will swap them back. So far, fuel economy has not changed (16 x 7 wheels 16.55 lbs w/ 205/50R16 Good Year Assurance Fuel Max tires). I'm very happy with my decision to lower the car. I love the new look! If I had anything negative to say about lowering the car, it would be the cost. good luck

 

I think it depends on the offset of your 18 inch wheels. I would call tire rack or discount tire and talk to an expert sales rep. Those guys would know for sure. I would think a 1 inch drop would not be a problem, but I have no personal experience. It sure would look nice!

 

Please remind us what the width, offset, tire model and size are. That will help determine if you have a potential problem.

Alternatively, you can go to the Prius Meet later this month and the mod experts can give you good advice.

 

It will only rub if ur wheels get to close to the fender.. Are ur wheels sunk in a bit? Or do they go all the way to the fender?

F8l is right.. For us to determine if it will rub without being able to see ur car we will need the specs on ur wheels..

But my feeling is that you will be fine.. Unless u decided to buy some ridiculous offset wheels to make it look flush..

 

Mine dont rub at all , even with the back seat full. I am on TRD springs and 18" wheels with +42 on the back spacing or offset.