Stock height
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
One of the main selling points that made me buy my Vette was that fact that it was lowered. I test drove it and it drove smoothly, no bottom out, etc. I was told I could raise it back up, that's not happening. It's a matter of preference. I don't think I've owned a car that the suspension was modified in some way. For me, it just makes it more exciting to drive.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 82
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Florida
I don't have an issue with the stock height of the C5 but I daily drive it.
I previously had a Turbo MR2 with a 2" drop, it looked great but there were so many times that thing bottomed out on even basic speed bumps etc... I got pretty good at the old sideways crawl up any elevated surface.
I like the looks of lowered cars (within reason) but unless it's a weekend driver its not worth the downsides of low clearance.
I previously had a Turbo MR2 with a 2" drop, it looked great but there were so many times that thing bottomed out on even basic speed bumps etc... I got pretty good at the old sideways crawl up any elevated surface.
I like the looks of lowered cars (within reason) but unless it's a weekend driver its not worth the downsides of low clearance.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 316
Likes: 7
From: Tennessee
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I have owned six C5's...IMO they are the best looking of the later model cars. They just look so much better lowered...there is way too much empty space between the tire and top of the wheel well. They need at least a 19" wheel and lowered on the stock bolts. BMW's look great all stock...the tires are at the top of the wheel arch as are G35 and 370z cars. GM should have made the wheel arch smaller or used bigger wheels.
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My car is at stock height and I plan to keep it that way. I'd never get in/out of my driveway if I lowered it and with the condition of some of the roads around here, I sure do not want to scrape on anything.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
I'm not planning on bottoming out unless its over 100+mph, because then the ride will be like an amusement park ride
. As far as your opinion on lowering the car, I can appreciate that. I know the guys who did the work on the car including dyno, tune up and lowering the car. They are nothing short of top notch professionals and work on nothing but high performance cars. I don't think they would recommend lowering it fit they were worried about something bad happening. Actually, I still need to bend over slightly to touch the ground with the door open, so maybe another inch or so would do the trick!
. As far as your opinion on lowering the car, I can appreciate that. I know the guys who did the work on the car including dyno, tune up and lowering the car. They are nothing short of top notch professionals and work on nothing but high performance cars. I don't think they would recommend lowering it fit they were worried about something bad happening. Actually, I still need to bend over slightly to touch the ground with the door open, so maybe another inch or so would do the trick!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
. As far as your opinion on lowering the car, I can appreciate that. I know the guys who did the work on the car including dyno, tune up and lowering the car. They are nothing short of top notch professionals and work on nothing but high performance cars. I don't think they would recommend lowering it fit they were worried about something bad happening. Actually, I still need to bend over slightly to touch the ground with the door open, so maybe another inch or so would do the trick!
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 191
From: Wilmington DE
Look guys, I just lowered it a couple more inches! How the heck am I going to get out my driveway?
Attachment 47905331
Attachment 47905331
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 701
Likes: 32
I have owned six C5's...IMO they are the best looking of the later model cars. They just look so much better lowered...there is way too much empty space between the tire and top of the wheel well. They need at least a 19" wheel and lowered on the stock bolts. BMW's look great all stock...the tires are at the top of the wheel arch as are G35 and 370z cars. GM should have made the wheel arch smaller or used bigger wheels.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,644
Likes: 479
From: OK
Thankfully I didn't have to sign some membership card that said I could only do this or that to MY car... IF you like the stock height and don't want to tamper with the originality of the car, that's awesome! IF you want to slam your car and tweak the heck out of it, that's awesome!
Unless someone else PAID for YOUR car then you should do whatever you want to whether someone else LIKES IT or NOT, IT'S your car!
Unless someone else PAID for YOUR car then you should do whatever you want to whether someone else LIKES IT or NOT, IT'S your car!
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,509
Likes: 10
From: Bay Point California
I have been a low rider for years. Love the look. The best pics I've ever seen of the C5 is when they are lowered (slammed). But for practicality I don't dare lower ours. It's a DD. It scrapes everywhere. And if a dip sneaks up on you it might even bump. Or if you abuse a curb it can be deadly. But, such is life for a DD.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 400
Likes: 28
From: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
I won't lower mine, it drags on every incline as it is. I don't undertand this obsession with the look. Lowered doesn't look any better. Slammed makes it look like it is overloaded or the springs are shot.
GM designed it to perform at stock height, so that is where I will keep it. I'm not going to compromise performance for looks.
GM designed it to perform at stock height, so that is where I will keep it. I'm not going to compromise performance for looks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,473
Likes: 691
From: West Virginia
But it isn't unusual for the camber to change from one extreme to the other extreme of suspension travel--correct? I don't believe that camber changes much in the C5 though--but other suspension designs do cause camber to change when movement occurs in suspension travel and vehicle height.
And to your point on extremes of movement - over lowering definitely puts you more in the twilight zone for good geometry, where a re-alignment is a must.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Thankfully I didn't have to sign some membership card that said I could only do this or that to MY car... IF you like the stock height and don't want to tamper with the originality of the car, that's awesome! IF you want to slam your car and tweak the heck out of it, that's awesome!
Unless someone else PAID for YOUR car then you should do whatever you want to whether someone else LIKES IT or NOT, IT'S your car!
Unless someone else PAID for YOUR car then you should do whatever you want to whether someone else LIKES IT or NOT, IT'S your car!
OP:
I notice anytime someone post a pic of their new C5, there's always several that say it needs to be lowered, or it looks like a 4x4, etc. Anybody else besides me like the stock height, I personally think they look much better stock height, besides it already drags over everything anyway, most of the cars lowered around here are Hondas and ricers
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
Everybody is entitled to their opinion. No one can force you to do what you want to do with your car. It doesn't matter what you do to the vehicle, someone will like it, some will not. This post is not to slam people who have their car stock height, it's merely making a point that several owners of Corvettes prefer the lowered stance. It has to do with the styling and geometry of the Corvette. The Corvette is a very sexy, performance looking sports car. Because of that fact, a slight lowering to the ground makes it just that more intimidating and performance orientated (as is adding an exhaust system which is a popular mod for Vettes). Porsche's look nice lowered, Mercedes does not, BMW does, Toyota Camry does not. I think you see my point? Just my 2 cents on this subject. According to what I'm reading here, lowering the Vet appears to be a popular mod as well. Nothing wrong with stock height!
Last edited by imlowr2; Aug 3, 2015 at 10:01 AM.