Lowering springs for US Prius - email if interested

talonts · 02-18-2004, 10:53 PM

I posted this to most of the Yahoo Groups, but haven't gotten SQUAT for a response. I just can't believe that absolutely NOONE is wanting to slightly lower their car...

I just talked with Eibach, and they need to know the interest level in springs before they'd look into making a set for the 04 Prius. It runs them around $10,000 to prototype springs, so they can't just do it for any car at the drop of a hat.

If you are in the US and interested, and I mean *seriously* interested (ready to spend the money right now if the springs were available), I need you to email me at prius@vfaq.com ASAP. I will be keeping count of the interest so I can pass it on to Eibach.

I told them we'd most likely be interested in a Pro-Kit style spring, right at 1" drop front and rear - just enough for handling, looks, and stability improvements, without scraping everywhere. A slightly increased rate for a firmer suspension, while keeping the stock struts, would be a plus.

Assuming they had enough interest to make enough of them to list them in their catalog, they'd most likely retail for $299. If there wasn't enough interest to get them in the catalog, but still enough to cover prototyping costs, they might make some, but the price would obviously be higher.

So if you are *seriously* interested, I'd appreciate you sending me:
first name, last initial
city/state
email address you wish me to use to contact you to prius@vfaq.com. The reason for city/state is that if someone is nearby their shop, the prototyping could go much quicker with direct access to a car without waiting to obtain one elsewhere.

Mau28 · 02-18-2004, 11:15 PM

Its probably not in the best interest of Eibach to produce performance springs for a market where there is not a big enough demand to produce the item....IF i had a prius...i would probably want to lower the car myself...but a better alternative..less hassle...cost the same would be to buy a set available in japan ...i forgot the retail..but just contact any local import tuner shop to order one...probably cost u roughly the same..less hassle..and you get what u want.

talonts · 02-18-2004, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Its probably not in the best interest of Eibach to produce performance springs for a market where there is not a big enough demand to produce the item....

I know. That's why it is my job to build the interest, then let them know when we have 25 people ready.

Quote:

IF i had a prius...i would probably want to lower the car myself...but a better alternative..less hassle...cost the same would be to buy a set available in japan ...i forgot the retail..but just contact any local import tuner shop to order one...probably cost u roughly the same..less hassle..and you get what u want.

That's what you think. I have already spent months trying to get them from Japan. I have now found 2 different people that can get them for me. The springs will be about $300, and the shipping another $200. Not to mention that since there are different suspensions for the Prius throughout the world, we don't know for sure if the Japan springs will work on US cars.

Mau28 · 02-24-2004, 11:02 PM

Hey Talonts, hope this helps you with what ur looking for

Front 1.4~1.2 inch drop
Rear 1.0~0.8 inch drop

**Danny** · 02-24-2004, 11:20 PM

Where did you find those pics, Mau? That drop looks great!

(Post used to say, "Is that your car, Mau?" - hence Mau's response to me. I changed it once I saw the Japanese/European fender)

Mau28 · 02-24-2004, 11:22 PM

Hahah..no..I WISH!!!!...still waiting for the call from Dianne...but just planning ahead for mods to the car. These just came out in Japan, but im sure theyll be heading to the US soon enough from RS-R

talonts · 02-25-2004, 12:10 AM

I'm assuming this came from http://www.rs-r.co.jp/new_item/search.php3...body_name=NHW20 ?

Looks like about $340 USD for the set. I wonder what it will be here in the US. Looks like it would be at least $309, since they are Ti2000 springs -
http://www.rs-r.com/news_Ti2000_09102003.htm

Thanks, I've emailed rs-r.com here in the US for any info.

I'd recommend that anyone interested in lowering their 04 also email them - http://www.rs-r.com/contact_us.htm - the more interest they have, the more likely they will be to import the springs.

talonts · 03-18-2004, 01:16 AM

Got a response back from RS-R USA - they will NOT be importing the springs, and if you grey market any in, they won't be warrantied.

Grrrr.....

I've GOT to find a relatively cheap way of getting proper lowering springs on this car! The shipping that a couple of individuals have quoted from Japan is insane, almost $200!

Tom · 04-04-2004, 04:03 PM

How about this fine stainless steel exhaust? It is from TOM'S racing.

http://www.tomsracing.co.jp/

I looked at the site through Babelfish. They call the "Prius" the "Pre-mortar"

HTMLSpinnr · 04-04-2004, 07:52 PM

Perhaps on the racing modified Prius which has the std Otto ICE this would make sense, but I'm not sure we'd squeeze much more power out of our engine with this.

Not only that, but I pride this car in being pretty quiet. My previous cars (Probe w/ GReddy and Contour SVT stock) had a nice louder exhaust note, but I can't envision the Prius the same way. Simply contradicts the enviro image on a noise pollution factor.

02-18-2004, 10:53 PM	#1
talonts VFAQman Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 232 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Lowering springs for US Prius - email if interested I posted this to most of the Yahoo Groups, but haven't gotten SQUAT for a response. I just can't believe that absolutely NOONE is wanting to slightly lower their car... I just talked with Eibach, and they need to know the interest level in springs before they'd look into making a set for the 04 Prius. It runs them around $10,000 to prototype springs, so they can't just do it for any car at the drop of a hat. If you are in the US and interested, and I mean seriously interested (ready to spend the money right now if the springs were available), I need you to email me at prius@vfaq.com ASAP. I will be keeping count of the interest so I can pass it on to Eibach. I told them we'd most likely be interested in a Pro-Kit style spring, right at 1" drop front and rear - just enough for handling, looks, and stability improvements, without scraping everywhere. A slightly increased rate for a firmer suspension, while keeping the stock struts, would be a plus. Assuming they had enough interest to make enough of them to list them in their catalog, they'd most likely retail for $299. If there wasn't enough interest to get them in the catalog, but still enough to cover prototyping costs, they might make some, but the price would obviously be higher. So if you are seriously interested, I'd appreciate you sending me: first name, last initial city/state email address you wish me to use to contact you to prius@vfaq.com. The reason for city/state is that if someone is nearby their shop, the prototyping could go much quicker with direct access to a car without waiting to obtain one elsewhere. __________________ -- Tom Stangl * http://www.vfaq.net/ * Prius Visual FAQ Home * 04 Prius AM #7 * 06 Prius NL #7 * http://www.vfaq.com/ * DSM Visual FAQ home * 90 Talon AWD

02-24-2004, 11:20 PM	#5
Danny Admin/Founder Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 5,565 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 78 Thanked 339 Times in 144 Posts Friends: 42	Where did you find those pics, Mau? That drop looks great! (Post used to say, "Is that your car, Mau?" - hence Mau's response to me. I changed it once I saw the Japanese/European fender) __________________ Follow PriusChat on and *Buy your discounted 2010 Prius Accessories* here and support PriusChat: PriusChat Shop PriusChat Also Offers Discounts on: Extended Warranty - $1055 : Pre-Paid Maintenance - $875**

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02-18-2004, 11:15 PM	#2
Mau28 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 20 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Its probably not in the best interest of Eibach to produce performance springs for a market where there is not a big enough demand to produce the item....IF i had a prius...i would probably want to lower the car myself...but a better alternative..less hassle...cost the same would be to buy a set available in japan ...i forgot the retail..but just contact any local import tuner shop to order one...probably cost u roughly the same..less hassle..and you get what u want.

02-24-2004, 11:02 PM	#4
Mau28 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 20 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hey Talonts, hope this helps you with what ur looking for Front 1.4~1.2 inch drop Rear 1.0~0.8 inch drop

02-24-2004, 11:22 PM	#6
Mau28 Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 20 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Hahah..no..I WISH!!!!...still waiting for the call from Dianne...but just planning ahead for mods to the car. These just came out in Japan, but im sure theyll be heading to the US soon enough from RS-R

02-25-2004, 12:10 AM	#7
talonts VFAQman Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 232 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	I'm assuming this came from http://www.rs-r.co.jp/new_item/search.php3...body_name=NHW20 ? Looks like about $340 USD for the set. I wonder what it will be here in the US. Looks like it would be at least $309, since they are Ti2000 springs - http://www.rs-r.com/news_Ti2000_09102003.htm Thanks, I've emailed rs-r.com here in the US for any info. *I'd recommend that anyone interested in lowering their 04 also email them - http://www.rs-r.com/contact_us.htm - the more interest they have, the more likely they will be to import the springs.*

03-18-2004, 01:16 AM	#8
talonts VFAQman Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 232 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	Got a response back from RS-R USA - they will NOT be importing the springs, and if you grey market any in, they won't be warrantied. Grrrr..... I've GOT to find a relatively cheap way of getting proper lowering springs on this car! The shipping that a couple of individuals have quoted from Japan is insane, almost $200!

04-04-2004, 04:03 PM	#9
Tom Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 32 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	How about this fine stainless steel exhaust? It is from TOM'S racing. http://www.tomsracing.co.jp/ I looked at the site through Babelfish. They call the "Prius" the "Pre-mortar"

04-04-2004, 07:52 PM	#10
HTMLSpinnr Gen III Forums Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Surprise, AZ (Phoenix) Posts: 4,392 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 282 Thanked 516 Times in 246 Posts Friends: 18	Perhaps on the racing modified Prius which has the std Otto ICE this would make sense, but I'm not sure we'd squeeze much more power out of our engine with this. Not only that, but I pride this car in being pretty quiet. My previous cars (Probe w/ GReddy and Contour SVT stock) had a nice louder exhaust note, but I can't envision the Prius the same way. Simply contradicts the enviro image on a noise pollution factor.