install the body kit or lower the car?

Question

Hey! should i install the body kit or lower the car? but i don't want to do both, so what's good and bad issues on both performence? and what should i get for lower my car? how many inches should i lower? and what are rear & front strut bar for?

Answer 1

One thing to think about... If you just want performance and would like to go a cheaper route, why not just install larger sway bars (especially the rear) and even possibly strut tower braces? Usually does about as much as lowering, and at a fraction of the cost.

That said, the people above who say lowering a car is really expensive are pretty well retarded. Lowering springs $<200. Struts <$500. Alignment <$100. So <$700 for the parts for most "tuner" cars, then labor just depends on whether you do it yourself or pay someone. Coilovers usually start at ~$1000, and it's one assembly designed to work together and it has adjustability, which is a plus, but generally they have to be rebuilt every year or two.

So quality body kits, whether fiberglass or preferably polyurethane (Usually >$500), plus painting and install (>$400) comes out to be much more. And then of course you automatically get labeled as a "ricer". Body kits will do nothing for you performance wise, other than a bit more downforce at high speeds, which will do you no good if you're driving a 100hp Civic.

And neither modification is going to improve the resale of your car. But who cares? It's yours. Personalize it, and better yet, learn something about cars in the process.

The three steps of tuning: Make it turn. Make it stop. Then make it go.

And please do not "slam" your car. It looks retarded. An inch to possibly two is fine. A slight drop, larger sway bars, grippier tires, a few other reinforcements, and you'll have a car that's a blast in the twisties. Good luck.

Answer 2

pretty much I have the same answer too. lowering a car your looking at big bucks most of the time also the same with a body kit too. But a body kit is a little easier to maintain than a lowering a car. with a body kit u can also get different rims to help give u that lowered look to. good luck!

Answer 3

You can lower the car, the spring kits lower anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 inches the car will handle better and the tires will fill the wheel wells nicely. you may need some special parts to align the car if needed, the kits will let you know. They consist of lower height springs You can put your old springs back in and its stock again. It may cost $200 to $400 for everything and like I said you can put it back together as stock by putting your stock springs back in. People should actually know what their talking about before they advise someone about modifying their cars, as this is one of the easiest and cost effective modifications.

Answer 4

Lowering the car greatly changes the way the car handles and greatly reduces the cars value Will cost alot to bring back to original specs.

Installing a body kit generlly looks better and increases the value. If necessary can some can be removed.

Answer 5

first of all no mods increase a cars value. lower it. it will cost less than having to buy the kit, then having a shop install and paint/colormatch. if you get some coilovers like megan or tein basics you cant go wrong, really good bang for the buck. and keep the stock suspension so that if you do decide to trade in, you can go back to stock then sell the coilovers.

Answer 6

i have a body kit for my civic....and damn is it a hassle especially if its a daily driven car. Keep in mind that body kits are made out of fiberglass (most of them) and are flimsy. Also keep in mind that it will be scraping asphalt almost always depending on your streets. The good thing though is that they seperate your car from everyone else's. If you want performance upgrade your suspension not body kit.

Answer 7

From personal experience, installing a body kit on a normal car will look somewhat hedious. The gap between your wheels will be be so noticeable, it will make your car look like a 4x4.