Body kit clearance? Too much hassle?

[seneca]

Hey guys I have an MP5 kit coming for my baby ('93 black GS) but I have been told by my friend (has Mx6 with erubuni ninja kit) that if he could do it again that he would not put a kit on. With the money aspect aside he says that it's wayyy too much hassle for the look. And that you have to drive your car differently (with much more caution) I now seeem to be in a predicament! I want the looks but still want to be able to drive my car with reasonable ease! This is a question that I never really thought to ask, nor have I seen too many posts about! But its just that if you're gonna pay thousands for a kit and killer paint job...why ruin it trying to get into an underground parking lot, or coming out of a local mall. I would like as many replies as possible as I am reallly considering not putting my much loved kit on...HELP!!!
Thx everyone
Tyson

[GregoryChristian]

I have the mp5 front bumper and yes you have to drive your car differently, I think the mp5 bumper sits closer to the ground than any other kit meaning more scrapes and cracks on it. ( luckily for me I work at a collision center and have the access to fix it ) howevever it does give the car a totally different look! if you are not going to use it do you want to sell it ?

[seneca]

lol...well informative, like I said its on the way so I CAN send it back :p Actually they;re making it right now I believe. Crap! You do have to watch urself...I hate that (Not that i'm a maniac) just well like anyone I would like to be able to drive into an unknown parking lot with ease! Right? Hey Is your car lowered? If not whats your clearance with the MP5 kit? And if you could do your mods over again, would you spend the $$$ on a kit?
Thx Again

[seneca]

Hey Greg,
I just checked out your website.
Yours and Marlons kits were the reason I ordered mine! Needless to say sweet car!. But your car is lowered, so no wonder its scraping.

[DVH]

I have a pretty good background on kits for the mx and honestly the clearence thing isn't really that big of a problem. The biggest problem is the more bad attention you are gonna get, ie: cops, theives and just the regular punk a*s kids around your area...it also owrks the other way, u also get good attention....whatever u think is more important.....thats what i found the biggest downfall

[Marlon]

if i could go back in time i would get a e-spec front bumper or a mazdaspeed style
i bottomed out my kit a couple times on stock height and in the spring i'm gonna on st springs(1.3'' drop) and zx2's (1/2'' drop) if i break the kit i'll just fix it and put it in my room on my wall or something and get a more streetable kit

[babyblueMX3]

i got the pak front and and it sits low ..about 4-1/2" to the ground on stock springs...sure you have to be carefull when driving but it's not too big of a deal...it's been like a year now and nothin happen to my bumper..and the road here in Quebec are the worst...i say it's worth it..now I'm lowering it on ST springs and zx2 (already bought but not installed)..we'll see how it turns out

[tical]

i have ground-control coilovers and my car sits low enough to fit a coke can with about 1 1/2 inch clearance, and thats without the lip cause i lost it a while ago (long story).

[tical]

im just posting this cause its my 100th post

[pipes]

I have the Pakfeifer front and I am lowered by 35mm. (1.5") I have been driving on very ordinary roads around my are and have yet to crack it or chip it.. You do need to take driveways very careful but you soon learn how to drive the car and get a way with it by working angles!
As for unknown car parks.. I have to laugh here as I got stuck in one the other day.. It was one way in and one way out.. the issue was the way out was not possible without leaving something behind.. I had to reverse out and hook it to get the angle right.. NO probs if you do it a few times. Get the body kit!

[seneca]

LOL hahahaaha...Thats a funny story (sorry I was picturing a sweet Mx3 backing out) Yeah well I figured my buddy with the mx6 has a longer car so that may pose more problems. Like I live just outside of Ottawa in a small city (Pembroke) for those of you that have been up this way. And yeah like quebec the roads suck!!!! They're definantly not like the streets of Cali.!!! Oh well, with good looks comes consequences! The thing is I've even takin my mx into the bush (cottage party) but not anymore I guess! lol
As for the cops...well I live in a city with 16000 ppl. I have a black car with black tinted windows and one hell of a loud system, needless to say I'm already cop bait! They're just gonna love me in the spring!!!
Thx guys

[Casino]

ya but everything u have is legal for street use. some of us dont have that luxury

i also bought the mp5 front end. my car is lowered on suspension tech springs about 1.5 hopefully i wont have to much trouble windsor streets arent all that bad

[Andrew_Pakula]

It depends where you live too.

If you live in the country or in suburbia then having it really low might be ok and you don't have to worry about it too much and don't have to change your driving habits because chances are you won't be going up steep entrances or entering apartment complexs all the time.

In the city its another story, if you car is really low then you will be in big trouble if you wish to drive without a care. You learn very quickly that you can crack your bumper very easily and quickly if you are not more careful.

There is always inclines an declines you have to watch out for and lots of other bull****, if you don't take them slow then you are going to scrape and maybe crack the bumper.

Also regardless of where you are you have to be careful with parking lots and not to hit low cement barriers or side walks when you drive into a parking spot. Normally you might clear it with a stock setup but with a low bumper you most likely won't clear it and if you don't keep that in mind you'll crack up the bumper by simply driving into a parking spot.

I destroyed one of my stock GS lips this way, if i had a low bumper on at the time the damage would have been way worse.

[Casino]

with my car lowered ive hit things with the crash bar like going up steep inclines or a speed bump so my driving style is already pretty conservative

[mb3k]

A helpful tip going up ramps is to go on an angle, don't approach the incline straight on.

Edit: I just read pipes's post, mine is basically the same. Also, if you make a "gutter ramp" for gutters off driveways, it really helps going off to the road when backing out or coming in.

<small>[ January 18, 2004, 11:42 PM: Message edited by: mb3k ]</small>