Lowering car with stock 16" rims.. will it look stupid

[Bemanix88]

I was just wondering if anyone had lowered their Solara with the stock SLE 16" rims, and especially if they had pics. I'm a high schooler so I don't have the money for a new set of rims and tires right now, but I'd really like to improve the handling and the look a bit with some new springs. I don't like how high up the stock Solara is. Will lowering the car with stock rims look strange?

Also, what's a cheap set of springs that could do the job? I don't need it to be a lot lower, 1-1.5" should be fine. I live in a fairly hilly area so more might be problematic. Thanks!

[SleeperSolara]

Well you should try the TRD RSB that will let you handle alittle better.
The most best setup that people go wit here on the board is TIEN and TOKICO, but becareful on the TIEN springs from Ebay cause there are knock-off's on there.

[Bemanix88]

Are Eibachs any good? They are $250 online and are 1.6" front and rear, which is about what I'm looking for.

[solaraslev67]

you can get them cheaper on ebay, well TIENS anyway

TIEN's work well
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Tein-S-T ... enameZWDVW

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

I was just wondering if anyone had lowered their Solara with the stock SLE 16" rims, and especially if they had pics.

Here ya go
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b56/jhbhatia/1.jpg

[Astro]

It's definately worth it and looks sooo much better than the 4x4 look. This is how the Eibachs look, with the front sitting a little higher. The Teins will sit more evenly.

[SolaraBlue]

heres my friends lowered w/ tein. (hope you dont mind)

[Bemanix88]

Wow, those actually look pretty nice. Now do I absolutely need both springs and shocks? I apologize for being a newbie about cars. Once again I'm a poor student so I don't have a lot of money.

[SolaraBlue]

no you dont absolutely need struts when you lower your car. it helps wih the ride quality though. that pic of my friends solara doesnt have aftermarket struts and he's very happy with it. i dont have aftermarket struts yet and the ride is actually very nice, not much different from stock. oh yeah, solaras dont have shocks they have struts by the way....

[OneMZ-FE]

I have eibachs with stock struts, I am now considering buing new struts, my suggestion would be to buy the springs and struts now. The ride quality is ok with stock struts, pretty close to stock. Now in order to replace the old struts I have to take out the whole interior again, get a hold of a spring compressor, and go through the whole process all over again. Save yourself the headache (or money if your taking it in to get it done) and get the springs and struts at the same time. I think you'll enjoy the ride quality better also.
Nick

[---CAMRAZY---]

This is my friend's solara on stock rims and sprint springs and trd struts. Hope you do not mind RandomTIM.

[Whatever]

just keep it stock, because lowered solara with stock 16" rims looks very ugly.

[gone]

heres my friends lowered w/ tein. (hope you dont mind)

that looks hot

[PXLpainter]

just keep it stock, because lowered solara with stock 16" rims looks very ugly.

No it doesn't... I think it looks better than stock on stock!

Bottom line: Do what you can as you can afford to...

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

just keep it stock, because lowered solara with stock 16" rims looks very ugly.

i beg to differ, but everyone has a different choice.
I would like to think.."thats the way solara should have come in stance", low with 16's. I went back to 16's as 17 tires were more expensive for the amt of milage i add, and another solaraguy bought my 17's for a 'sweet' price.