What'd you do to your accord today?

[Raul]

@Torn, feel free to join the group considering the GC's/Koni's....cause.....DANG!

@Mikey, everyone has their limits, I want to lower my car, but not to the point of being concerned about the oil pan. I know where I drive, and I also know how to make concessions to avoid issues. If you can find a ride height that YOU are comfortable with, then go with that. You're the one stuck with the repairs if something happens.

Yesterday, parked the wife's TL and began the quest for an SUV. So far,

1. Hyundai Sante Fe - 1
2. Kia Sorento - 0

Next up, Ford Escape and Acura MDX.

Stay tuned.

Nissan Juke or Acura RDX! Boosted SUV

You could also pick up a 7 seater 2000 model Land Rover Discovery for like $4000 to $6000. Just be careful with the maintenance for these trucks. BUT they are so nice and safe vehicles.

 

[RedRyder]

I know you did NOT just suggest buying a Joke.

:muhibshame:

 

[SykVSyx]

Nissan Juke or Acura RDX! Boosted SUV

You could also pick up a 7 seater 2000 model Land Rover Discovery for like $4000 to $6000. Just be careful with the maintenance for these trucks. BUT they are so nice and safe vehicles.

I know you did NOT just suggest buying a Joke.

:muhibshame:

Yes, he did, because Muhib would like to see me divorced and living out of the Joke.

Actually, we are looking at used Crossovers, and as I have mentioned before, she really likes the '06 MDX. The gas is a concern, but with any of the ones she is considering, it would be a V6 and the increased fuel costs are just part of the game. This weekend, we will be out testing again, and I have already driven that model MDX, so I am pretty sure she will like it as well, although it is a bit bigger than she may want to drive.

If she decides to go with the MDX, that will be two 3.5L's in the driveway, which is FTW, IMO!

 

[RedRyder]

MDX or previous gen Pilot would be awesome imo.

 

[Mikey]

Sounds good

That height is very similar to mine on eibach pro kit springs .. except his front is lower and he has a lip kit that makes it look even lower.

Yeah I think you could go maybe an inch in the front and maybe a half inch in the back.

MDX or previous gen Pilot would be awesome imo.

This.

I'm partial to 1G Pilots. Especially 06-08, after the revamp. Derek, have you considered the CRV or is that too small?

 

[SykVSyx]

MDX or previous gen Pilot would be awesome imo.

This.

I'm partial to 1G Pilots. Especially 06-08, after the revamp. Derek, have you considered the CRV or is that too small?

I have shown her virtually every crossover/SUV there is.

CRV, she doesn't like, any of them. For what it was worth, I don't like them all that much either.

Pilot, I am a huge fan, she doesn't like the boxy shape of them.

Surprisingly, she liked the Santa Fe(we test drove an 08), I liked the storage it offered, the shape...meh. After seeing a few yesterday though, the MDX was definately the standard the others are being held to.

Can't wait to test one out again.

 

[xci.ed6]

I don't think slammage is really for function, it really doesn't make the car do anything better (drag coefficient...no ). Better handling results from lowering the car on stiffer suspension, but not slamming it.

Better handling actually comes from more effective use of the tires, which is fairly complicated.

First you need to minimize weight transfer, to do this you need to get the Roll Center as close to the Center of Gravity as possible. Lowering a car lowers the CG, and also moves the RC. Where it moves depends on the car. One of these days I'll figure out where the RC is on an Accord.

Second you need to optimize the alignment, get as much of the tire on the ground as possible. Generally about -1* works because in a corner the body rolls on the suspension and the tires. The body roll is compensated because the camber moves more - as the suspension compresses, but not when the tire does. If your static camber were 0*, you would have + camber in a corner.

Third you need to have as SOFT of suspension as possible. It needs to only be stiff enough to keep the suspension off the bump stops, any stiffer and you loose tire contact over rough surfaces. The dampening needs to be matched to the spring, too stiff and you start jacking, the suspension does not have time to recenter between bumps/dips and it gets 'stuck' up or down. Too soft and it's bouncy.

If I had to guess the optimal lowering for handling on an Accord is somewhere between a 1 & 2" drop on non-progressive springs. I say non-progressive because that's my one complaint about the H&R race springs that I have. Entering a corner is tricky because the car is unstable until I compress the soft 'ride' coils and get onto the stiff 'race' coils. So even if the static alignment is good, by the it's compressed I'm sure it's way out of whack based on the way it overworks the outside front tire. My fix has been 215's on the front and 205's on the back, cause I like the way it rides, and I like the look.

Well, the back could be lower, but I pull a trailer and go camping and stuff. Any lower and it will rub when loaded. I should try and make some caddy/lincoln air struts fit.

 

[Raul]

ok i admit Juke is ugly, even though Juke R is a brutal beast. RDX?

 

[SykVSyx]

RDX isn't bad, but not in the budget.

She actually doesn't like the look of the RDX/MDX(after '06).

I would have to agree.

 

[Valet]

Rx330/350?