Should I get the lowering springs and rear sway bar?

I have the lowering springs, prius plus wheels and the body kit. Haven't had any problems with scraping.

 

I just got a new prius with the lowering springs and rear sway bar... and today, I put on after-market 17" wheels. (also have the ground effects kit) The car looks pretty fab, IMO. Handling wise, I haven't noticed much of a difference from my gen 2 prius... then again, my kid has been keeping me up this week, so I'm exhausted and driving like a granny

 

I didn't get the sway bars. The springs handle really good so I'm not sure if the sway bars will make much difference.

 

oh, here's a fab tip for people buying a prius..... see if your dealership can get the springs, sway bar (and ground effects, if you want it), installed IN JAPAN. That way, you avoid all installation fees. the installation fees of the above 3 items can be around $1k

that saved me a massive bundle!

 

I'm in my 40's too... and a professor. Hell if I care if someone doesn't like my new car! I will not be peer-pressured into an old lady car.

 

I'm in my 40s, a doctor, and I had the exact same dilemma as you. Ultimately, I decided against the body kit. I doesn't add that much more to the good looks of the car, and is an additional expense. The lowering springs with 17 or 18 inch rims will give enough of a sporty look to keep you happy.

 

IMO it would look incomplete without the bodykit

 

I agree that it certainly is not as "clean". If the body kit was styled like that from factory, ie part of the front and rear bumper as opposed to an add on, it would look better.

However, not sure it takes away from the hybrid/EV look. Some say that because the rear bumper kit hides the muffler (mostly), the car looks even more EV.

 

I have a standard 2010 Prius with 15 inch wheels and I bottom out on almost every driveway and dip in the street. I probably couldn't live in my house if it were lower.

I went with the TRD rear bar and couldn't be happier. I don't give a damm about looks it's performance I want.

 

The Prius looks fine with or without the body kit; it's the wheel gap you should be concerned about. Most aftermarket wheels look funky on the Prius unless lowered.

 

Not necessarily. The 17" stockers don't really look that funky (otherwise, Toyota would have done something about it from factory). If you deviate from the stock specs, you're liable to end up looking goofy if you don't lower. I've seen only very few 18" wheel Prius that don't look funky unlowered (comparable to the stock Five).

However, if you get the Plus wheels, it might look funny unlowered because people are used to seeing the Plus Prius factory lowered so I'd definitely lower it with the Plus wheels.

 

Springs and sway bar make a big difference. Get it. I also got Mike's mid and front under braces, I love the handling.