Sportivo for a 2005??

For less than $1000 you can buy a spring set from a variety of manufactures ($160-$240) and a set of replacement struts (KYB G2 @ $400) AND have them installed.

 

Justin,

but how good are GR2's compared to TRD's Sportivo? I'm willing to bet the TRD's will last well beyond 60k (maybe even 100k+ like OEM) while we all know GR2's are good for 30-40k tops!

(right now I'm shopping a suspension replacement...my car has 93k, all original equipment...rides great but I need some sort of a drop and I really don't want GR2's)

 

I wish I could answer that, bru. I would assume the TRDs will provide a more performance oriented ride but that doesn't mean they will last longer. For practical purposes the OEM struts do fine for most people until around 100k but as we know most people are not aware of the slow degradation so the true life of the strut becomes a test of apathy vs. perfect performance. At 120k mine were pretty bouncy and they stock springs were sagging pretty bad. What are is the cost of the Sportivo struts and can you buy them separately from the package?

 

Honestly, with my suspension setup and the 17" wheels I am more than happy. It corners as hard as I could ever hope for. I'd like to get the front sway bar installed soon but the rest of the upgrades make the Prius more than a match for most sports cars in the twisties. I feel it comes down to who has the biggest sack.

A set of truly sticky tires would be a better match than what I currently have but I'm not willing to give up any more mpg at this point.

 

you live in NY and want your car to drop!!! how do you plan to drive in the snow?? I'm looking for springs that'll raise my car up. There's absolutely nothing funnier than driving past a low slung Kraut Kar that's stuck in the snow with all 4 wheels spinning as I drive on by. To pour salt in the wound I than lower the window and ask if they need a ride somewhere knowing they are too ashamed to accept that their 4 wheel drive car is stuck.

fyi, if your tires need replacing, 195 60 16 will give you a sportier ride and the tires are .26" less in diameter which would lower your car .13" This would throw your odometer and speedometer off by a whopping half of one percent.

 

I'll assume your post refers to me being from NY wanting a drop so I will address you:

1) a lowered car travels through snow no slower than a normal ride height car
2) I drove SLAMMED on coilovers on snow tires in my 03 maxima back in 2003 and I had ZERO traction issues (even 120mph in an ICE STORM-yeah I was nuts back then)
3) My prius goes NO WHERE when it snows...literally and figuratively...the traction is HORRIBLE...that's why I own a subaru and a 4 runner
4) refering to #3, is why I can afford to drop it...it's not my daily driver (which is why having multiple cars helps)

 

I'm not sure how many people have plunked down for the SPortivo and have any miles to trully comment on them but I've had GR2's on previous cars and after 30k they are JUNK! (driving thru NYC streets I'm sure doesn't help)

But I am willing to bet the TRD's last 100k since they are an OEM upgrade with Toyota's longstanding name backing them. (Has to count for something)

I just wish I didn't have to be the guinea pig to pull the $1500 proverbial trigger

 

djstevens...I am not sure you mentioned what your main purpose was (aesthetic looks or performance, etc..) but for me I want an aesthetically better looking car with min. performance gain with the LEAST amount of stiffness/bounciness..

I think the Tanabe NF (normal feel) series of lowering spring drops the least and has the closest to OEM ride quality.

 

If ANYONE had the TRD's around my area and I could get a feel for their ride, I'd have no problem dropping $1400 on them....after all my old Lexus and my current Legend have taught me...you gotta pay to play

 

I would recommend getting the Sportivo over the GR-2 replacemnts with any form of lowering spring. I have almost 70K combined on my Sportivo (I bought it used, had ~55K on it when I bought it). It still performs flawlessly and theres no leaking from the struts/shocks and the handling is still superb. It has held up well especially considering our roads suck and the car does visit the autocross course. I've had Eibach springs, Tein springs, etc. The Sportivo setup has the best handling/ride/balance I've seen from a spring/damper setup. Get it, you won't regret it.

 

if only you lived closer to NY...I'd love to take a ride in your prius....

but you sold me too.....now to find a spare $1500 lying around..... lol

 

I had the Sportivo on my '06. It didn't lower the car quite enough for my tastes (it was less than an inch, as I recall), and wasn't firm enough, either. I think you can do better. But it did come with that cool little 'Sportivo' badge.