[_JC_]

i got coils right now i wish i would of saved my money and got bags

now its wayyy to cold to rasie the car up now + i'm a Lazy guy :) so who do i get to call when i'm stuck:D

[ZX3TUNR]

thats the thing with coild.. Its cool you can raise and lower them but if your lazy like myself that is not going to work lol

[Jays2000ZX3]

1.5"-2" and you'll be screwed for winter? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's too funny.

It's a Focus. :lol: It rides SUPER high to begin with compared to cars like a Civic.

DROP THA BIATCH!

[skippy]

Being low is good, (providing you have snow tires) you'll never go anywhere deep enough to get stuck (in my experieince anyway)

I drove an '88 MR2 for 2 winters, never had a problem. It was the most fun I've had with winter driving, I was learning how to drift before I knew what drifting was!

[Crazirich]

skippy,Oct 5 2004, 12:35 AM Wrote:Being low is good, (providing you have snow tires) you'll never go anywhere deep enough to get stuck (in my experieince anyway)

I drove an '88 MR2 for 2 winters, never had a problem. It was the most fun I've had with winter driving, I was learning how to drift before I knew what drifting was!

Snows are on order, and i have older contour rims already! i don't think i'm gonna be lowered before snow flies now anyways, but the how low facter is still the question winter or not lol, i'm prolly gonna go low so it looks good and corners sweet, i'm not gonna worry about getting stuck thats half the challenge

This winter will be interesting since all i've had before are mustangs, you know fishtailing in the snow at 125, drifting, doughnuts big-time slides, i gonna miss that stuff kinda ;) gotta fix that t-bird. Never go anywhere deep enough to get stuck!! HA trust me, if theres a will theres a way to get BURIED!!!

Any one remember that VW Toureg commercial with the jetta trying to get over that snow bank??

[2001 ZTS]

I keep coming back and looking at this discusion and keep coming up with the same personal conclusion, there is no way I could get away with a drop to the magnitude you are talking about. I am regularly scapping the underbody through snow at my stock ride height and if carrying passengers and luggage I tuck the rear wheels like a mad pimp (I know that is in part gooey springs but still I don't think I have much to play with).

I guess I need some sort of "rally" type suspension arrangement as oppossed to a "track" one? Any ideas?

[S2]

Jays2000ZX3,Oct 4 2004, 12:35 PM Wrote:1.5"-2" and you'll be screwed for winter? BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :lol: :lol: :lol:

That's too funny.

It's a Focus. :lol: It rides SUPER high to begin with compared to cars like a Civic.

DROP THA BIATCH!

Yeah well my car is sitting only a couple inches off the ground on the bottom (I got a Wings West kit) and we get a shitload of snow here in winter.

[ZX3TUNR]

Chad you will want to take the kit off for winter. Last year I was running FK 35/40 drop and I was scraping pretty good. Its not to bad. I actually only ran into probs when the snow would melt then ruts would start forming into the road.

[01-yellow-ZX3]

I ran Sportlines in my car for 2 winters now, and this is in Winterpeg. My parking lot at my old apartment was only plowed once a week, so there were numerous times I would have to make my own path to my parking spot on my own with my car.

Winter is all about good winter tires (not all seasons). Height doesn't play a huge factor.

I drive my car every single day of the year, and I haven't got stuck in the 3 years I've owned it, nor have I ran into problems.

[S2]

I only really need to drive it down the major street to my buddy's place to catch a ride to work with him. Also IMO ride height plays a HUGE number when your talking about ruts. If you get hooked on them, good tires ain't going to do s**t for you. We'll see how the winter goes but lets just say I ain't going to be cruising all over the place.

[01-yellow-ZX3]

In reality you would think you would need all the ground clearance you can get, but from personal experience I don't think its all that important.

Like yah it depends on personal usage, if you want to go hunting with your buddies out in the local mud bogs in January, don't take the lowered Focus. If you use your car daily, and live in the city limits, you should be fine with up to a 2" drop (my personal opinion).

Like mentioned above, try driving a stock CRX in the winter - a helluva lot lower than any Focus, and my buddies still manage.

Here in Winterpeg people really cheap out, and nobody buys a good set of winter tires. Well if you're worried about ground clearance and getting stuck, tires is the first thing to look into.

Hell, drive it til Christmas and see how it goes...

[2001 ZTS]

Quote:I ran Sportlines in my car for 2 winters now, and this is in Winterpeg. My parking lot at my old apartment was only plowed once a week, so there were numerous times I would have to make my own path to my parking spot on my own with my car.

Winter is all about good winter tires (not all seasons). Height doesn't play a huge factor.

I drive my car every single day of the year, and I haven't got stuck in the 3 years I've owned it, nor have I ran into problems.

I ran stock in my car for 3 winters now, and this is in Toronto/Hamilton/central Ontario where it snows more than Winnipeg. My parking lot at my Hamilton worksite is never plowed and the "target" for my street is to have it plowed within the first 48 hours of it snowing, so every time I have to make my own path to my parking spot on my own with my car.

Winter is all about good winter tires (and I have the best ones you can get (Nokian Hakka 1's 185/65R15)). Height does play a huge factor when it up to your axles.

I drive my car every single day of the year, and I haven't got stuck in the 3 years I've owned it but would if a couple inches lower, as I regularly find mind self plowing and scrapping through very deep snow. I am the only person at work not driving a SUV or pick up truck.

;)

[01-yellow-ZX3]

Lol

Theres no sense bitching about how much you can lower your car and still drive it like it was at one time. It's all about your driving capabilities in the winter, winter driving experience, where you live, auto vs. standard, fat people in the back seat or not...know what I'm saying? So many variables...

I drive around Northwestern Ontario all the time, where there is more snow than Winnipeg, and still no problems. (this is with my stock/winter bumper mind you, I could careless what I run into with that thing, its already beat).

What it comes down too...if yer skeeered...don't lower it...

[2001 ZTS]

01-yellow-ZX3,Oct 5 2004, 04:25 PM Wrote:.......It's all about your driving capabilities in the winter, winter driving experience, where you live, ......


What it comes down too...if yer skeeered...don't lower it...

I'm afraid I can't answer the first part without sounding like Abraham Simpson so I won't at all but as for teh last bit believe me it is not about being scared it is all about physics.

Once snow gets to a certain height a stock Focus is not going anywhere regardless of tires, power, skill or fear factor. Lowering a Focus makes that threshold even less it is just that simple.

[01-yellow-ZX3]

No no, I think you misunderstood me. I didn't mean you're a pussy for not lowering you car because of winter. It was directed to the orignator of this post, if you're in doubt of being able to drive in the winter, then don't risk it, right?

It's all good...truce man... B)

[Crazirich]

ah hell, if snows don't cut it i'm putting the chains on!!

[Crazirich]

me afraid of snow, i love snow, i'll miss my rwd fishtailin at 125!! i'm just asking what is the best drop, but i'm dumb and forget that everone has thier own opinion. I'll bury the foci dropped or not for u see i'm the winter driver and go driving when the snow starts to come down

[01-yellow-ZX3]

Just take the springs out, they're over rated anyways... ;)

[2001 ZTS]

01-yellow-ZX3,Oct 5 2004, 04:57 PM Wrote:No no, I think you misunderstood me. I didn't mean you're a pussy for not lowering you car because of winter. It was directed to the orignator of this post, if you're in doubt of being able to drive in the winter, then don't risk it, right?

It's all good...truce man... B)

yellow: Gotcha. ;)

Crazirich: Simplest thing seems to be just leave alone for now and see how it goes this winter and then decide.

[Raine]

Two winters in mine bone stock suspension, on the original Goodyear RS-A all seasons... worst that ever happened to me was as I was exiting the 404 @ Finch, I hit ice on the off ramp going at about 25 - 30 km/h and spun a full 180 so I was facing the other cars coming down the offramp. :P Other than that, no problems. This year I have better all seasons and am dropped just over an inch.. don't expect any differences.