Lowered Ride in the Snow?

[P1TA]

Hey guys, I've been considering lowering my car for a while now, but my primary concern is driving it in the snow.

Obviously, here in the GTA, we get a good amount of snow in the winter. Driving after both storms was pretty bad with good winters at the stock height (2012 sedan), and I'd imagine a reduction of ground clearance would only make this worse.

How are lowered Mazdas in the snow? Is lowering the car really a good idea if it's my daily driver, through the winter?

Thanks!

[Mr Wilson]

Many cars on here are lowered year round, in the GTA and all over Ontario.

You'll be fine.

[Mitchell3]

My opinion until these last two snow storms is its fine since we really never really get too much snow (maybe in the GTA you get more than here). With that said last year I had 0 issues, this year with a 1.5 drop and a lower bumper I was fine up until these storms. Both I didnt even bother leaving the house the days of and still ended up plowing roads the day after :chuckle. I think the general rule most people go by is lowering spring generally fine but anything lower is pushing it.

[peterm15]

A lot of us here on the forum run lowered all year.

I few times this year there have been people ripping off their splash guards or having ice build up under their cars. But these are pretty rare considering how many people are lowered. Fact of the matter is you just have to be more careful.
For example. I couldn't pull onto a certain street today because of the ice/snow build up at the entrance. It happens but there is usually a way around. If not you just have to take your time.

This is the first problem I have had.

[P1TA]

Unfortunately, the plows only seem to want to get to my street a day after the snowfall, after all of the other roads are cleared up. Cars aren't much good if they can't get you home.

For comparison, my dad used to drive his RX-8 during the winter at stock height with Blizzaks, and would get stuck pretty regularly.

How are they in the summer? Do most of the spring kits lower the car enough that there's any issues with steeper ramps/speed bumps? Again, the RX-8 would occasionally have difficulty with some bigger speed bumps. Nothing too significant, however.

[Mitchell3]

RX-8's are rwd though, the 3 is fwd. In the summer I rarely scraped before my lower bumper. You get used to driving lower, anything steep you just enter on an angle.

[greaves82]

Hey guys, I've been considering lowering my car for a while now, but my primary concern is driving it in the snow.

Obviously, here in the GTA, we get a good amount of snow in the winter. Driving after both storms was pretty bad with good winters at the stock height (2012 sedan), and I'd imagine a reduction of ground clearance would only make this worse.

How are lowered Mazdas in the snow? Is lowering the car really a good idea if it's my daily driver, through the winter?

Thanks!

What are you planning on lowering yourself on??? (coilovers/springs) I had prokits on my mazda 3 and I live 30 mins north east of markham and had no problem getting around

[6strings]

Halton Hills huh?? Yeah they don't plow much around here.
How low are you going?

[P1TA]

What are you planning on lowering yourself on???

Probably prokits, mostly because they're affordable I keep hearing about them on this forum.

[P1TA]

I'm lowered on pro-kits. I can't go through carwashes, I scrape on almost every speedbump, driveway, etc.

Also blew struts within a few months of lowering... Gone through 3 Plastic undertrays, and bottomed out a few times with 4 people in the car.

None of that happened in the first year of owning the car before I lowered :-P

That's posted in the "OEM Lowering" thread, and it concerns me a bit, especially seeing as prokits are only a 1.2" drop IIRC.

[Mitchell3]

The struts are supposed to get changed from stock when you lower the car on springs, as for speed bumps i dont think ive ever scrapped. Im pretty sure I'm lower than prokit as well iirc. My job also has me going into a lot of driveways lol and I dont scrap all that often.

[Booter22]

No complaints here. On first gen eibachs which are lower the the 2nd gen ones. Think about 1.5"total. Just watch out for chunks of ice or snow on the roadl other then that your good.

[leecheefoto]

No problems. Drove on snow storm day on coils (a bit lower than prokit height). Only time I got stuck was yesterday with the wet snow on the bottom. Other than that, just some slush that slows you down a bit where your oil pan is but thats all :)

[P1TA]

The struts are supposed to get changed from stock when you lower the car on springs

What struts would you suggest?

And thanks for all the replies guys! Definitely considered as a summertime project. Now to deal with insurance :sad

[Booter22]

What struts would you suggest?

And thanks for all the replies guys! Definitely considered as a summertime project. Now to deal with insurance :sad

Koni yellows seem to be most popular. I have stock struts and shocks. No problems thus far. Going on almost 55, 000km on them.just put them with the stock shocks and struts. If you only drive it as a daily driver. You will be ok, at least for a while. When mine go, il going to put the koni yellows in. But why throw away good shocks?

[The Wolf]

3 inches off the road, I live in the country and take back roads every day. If you get snow tires and keep your car moving through the deep stuff you won't have a problem

[soccerboy1491]

The only time I have had trouble so far is when I owed down to much getting into a parking lot and got stuck on solid snow between the tire tracks and then this past storm as it was so solid and wet in the unowed parking lot I had to drive in I was plowing the snow till I could not no more xD just backed up and went around it but had to do that many times... The nice fluffy snow I seem fine, the wet heavy stuff it becomes a bit more of a problem.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/64861_10151405230738758_1452928394_n.jpg

I brushed my car off then drove out. When I got stuck I rocked the car back and forth and kept er movin'. It's not as easy as driving stock in the winter but it's seriously not a big deal. Provided you avoid the areas built up by plows.

[Thrizzl3]

im tall and lowered cars are for midgets.

according to this guy you shouldn't lower your car depending on how tall you are...:S

[Rob23]

according to this guy you shouldn't lower your car depending on how tall you are...:S

lol. To me lowering is a performance thing, if your just going for looks its dumb. To each their own.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

To me cars look silly at stock height. But like you said to each their own.

[Rob23]

To me cars look silly at stock height. But like you said to each their own.

I do agree. Im not saying I don't like lowered cars, or slammed "show cars" I should word things better.
If I could get my hands on some nice coils I would lower.
But ppl overdo it on daily drivers.

[Woodman316]

I drive on logging roads to get to my cottage, never considered lowering it. I have snow tire's and never get stuck ,it's like driving a 4X4. last snow storm a lowered Mazda3 sport was crawling on the road and cars had to switch lanes all the time to pass him, really slowing down traffic,very inconsiderit, he should of stayed at home. So daily driver not a good idea. My two cent's rounded down to zero.

[P1TA]

Funny enough, a lowered Protege almost hit me head on yesterday because he had to take a speedbump on a 45 degree angle.

While it looks great, and I'm sure it handles a good bit better, I doubt I'll go with springs. I'll save up and get proper adjustable coilovers down the line so I have some freedom to experiment. While the sedan looks a bit awkward at stock height, 18" wheels fill the wheel well pretty nicely.

[schmat66]

I do agree. Im not saying I don't like lowered cars, or slammed "show cars" I should word things better.
If I could get my hands on some nice coils I would lower.
But ppl overdo it on daily drivers.

i must overdo it on my daily driven delivery vehicle... damn

[The Wolf]

Yeah Ryan. You fail dude lol

[Darkice]

Yup same here
No complaints here. On first gen eibachs which are lower the the 2nd gen ones. Think about 1.5"total. Just watch out for chunks of ice or snow on the roadl other then that your good.