Any experience with C4S factory lowered suspension?

Ess_Three · Jan 29, 2004

Hi, this is my first post"¦so please be gentle!

Does anyone have any experience with the factory lowered & uprated suspension option for the current C4S?
I'm assuming that a 20mm reduction in ride height would give a look more similar to the GT3"¦I just wondered if anyone had driven this set up and how it compares to the standard set up?

Any thoughts on the subject would be welcome"¦especially if a ride height reduction of 20mm means multi-storey car parks and speedbumps are out of the question, and the front spoiler lower lip would need replacing every other week!

Thanks,

Glen.

Guest · Jan 29, 2004

I have 30 mm drop on my C4. Hard ride - which doesn't bother me. No problems with practical usage - touch wood.

Looks the dog's proverbials - especially with Sport Tech wheels a la GT£ Mk 1.

Spizz

Kevin Cooke · Jan 30, 2004

Glen,

Are you seeking better looks or better track day performance?

I have no view on the former but on the later I have to say the standard suspension of the C4S is brilliant if you drive smoothly. Having said that the car does roll rather a lot and certainly you can promote roll oversteer if you linger on the brakes going into an apex. I'd assume that lowering would alleviate this a little.

As for practicallity i'd need to carry my car out of my drive if the suspension was any lower, the underside of the front spoiler hits the deck at walking pace as it is.

Ess_Three · Jan 30, 2004

Thanks for the replies.

I guess I'm after both"¦

I do admit that I prefer the look of the C4S when lowered...sad I know!

But I don't want to compromise the everyday usefulness for something that looks slightly better and performs better for a couple of hours each year on the track.

I wondered how the re-jigged anti-roll bars and spring / damper combination effect the feel of the car"¦I would imagine the grip level is slightly higher on dry days, but probably more edgy on damp / wet days"¦I'm just wondering quite how "˜edgy' "" if it's fair to call it that "" the car would be on the 20mm lowered set up.

If it means the car is less fluent and adjustable for the everyday driver, and is going to scrape the underside, then it's probably not for me....some of my favourite roads are in the middle of nowhere up in the Scottish Highlands "" not exactly the ideal place to find out you've just smacked the underside of the car against the tarmac!

Glen.

TISPKJ · Jan 30, 2004

Glen, cant say for sure re the 4S but I found on the boxster that the factory lowered suspension was good for a max of only 20mm as well, so visually not worth the bother most certainly as an after mkt fitment as your looking at big money to set the car up again. I bought an after market set for the Boxster from Roock, lowered the car 40mm looked superb no rattles or clonks and drove not a lot differently to std with regards comfort, but you did have to be carefull on speed humps etc but the looks were worth it.

For the record dont quote me but the GT3 is about 40mm or more lower than a std 996.

having just bought a 996 I have the same dillema all over again, but one other thing you may have to bear in mind is that on mine with aftermarket 18" wheels the rear arches will need rolling as well, so Im looking at a couple of hundred quid to do that, 300 for springs, and about 500 to fit and re-align etc ........... just read this and think I would be mad, in the good old ford capri days all we did was cut a coil off or heat up and squash them !!!
Still thats what growing up does I guess .......

PKJ

Mark_Bennett · Jan 30, 2004

AFAIK this is the way it is:

The Boxster M030 sport suspension lowers the car 10mm*

The 996 is available with 10mm AND 30mm lowered suspension

The GT3 is lowered by 30mm

*(Early options on the Boxster included a 30mm lowered option, but this was withdrawn after a short time- I'm not sure if it was anything to do with problems with components (eg: later in the models life the pickup points had to be strengthened before 18" wheels could be fitted without problems), or if it was complaints from owners about the harsh ride!)

Grant · Jan 31, 2004

Sorry for being lazy, but I have cut & pasted this from another thread (on pistonheads) although it refers to the Turbo, this runs the same 10mm lowered set up as the C4S...My thoughts for what they are worth!!!

...........Why the heck would you want to specify a Turbo with the 20mm lowered set up unless you want to do ton's of track days & then if that's the case why not just get a GT3, which is simply better on track. The standard TT corners very flat with virtually no pitch/roll/float even when you are REALLY pressing on. You certainly won't find anything faster point to point !! All 20mm lowered suspension will do is make you loose your fillings whilst detaching retina's on a UK B road. The 10mm set up is best for the road the 30mm for the track.