Huge gap between tire and fender
#1
9th Gear
Thread Starter
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I saw most bmw and mercedes cars all have a very small gap between tire and fender. My last two cars are Lexus, one 2011 IS and the other one is 2015 GS F sport.
The gap between is tire and fender for my 2011 IS is huge, which makes the car super ugly. Anyway, IS is a terrible car, so I sold the car even before the factory warranty expires. Then I thought the gap should be smaller and the car should sit lower if I have the F sport package. After I received the new GS F sport, I realize the gap is still huge, at least the gap size is way bigger than what's shown in Lexus' ad brochure.
Anyone have any idea why Lexus don't make its suspension as short as bmw or mercedes? Or even Audi. I had a Audi before two Lexus cars when I was still in graduate school. I dont remember I was bothered by the ugly looking of the tires.
The gap between is tire and fender for my 2011 IS is huge, which makes the car super ugly. Anyway, IS is a terrible car, so I sold the car even before the factory warranty expires. Then I thought the gap should be smaller and the car should sit lower if I have the F sport package. After I received the new GS F sport, I realize the gap is still huge, at least the gap size is way bigger than what's shown in Lexus' ad brochure.
Anyone have any idea why Lexus don't make its suspension as short as bmw or mercedes? Or even Audi. I had a Audi before two Lexus cars when I was still in graduate school. I dont remember I was bothered by the ugly looking of the tires.
#2
Lexus Test Driver
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Japanese cars have huge fender gaps compared to the Germans and I don't know why. Lexus cars aren't that bad compared to the Toyota counterparts. My Camry had like 2 fists gap all around and it looks so bad that I had to lower it to make it look a little better.
While I do like the look better if my GS is lowered but I don't like having to angle every driveway and speed bumps. Right now my GS can go at it with ease.
While I do like the look better if my GS is lowered but I don't like having to angle every driveway and speed bumps. Right now my GS can go at it with ease.
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#4
9th Gear
Thread Starter
#5
Pole Position
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Lots of people here have lowering springs. Probably take a custom shop a few hours and it's completely reversible.
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#8
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Mine is rear drive and it looks to high. But like many of us, I'm pretty picky. But it's my wife's car and my A7 sits very nicely.
#9
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Mods should move this topic into the Suspension subforum. You'll get a lot more detailed responses and you could even ask those guys the estimated cost of having this done at a reputable shop. It's a fairly common mod.
There are also a company called RS-R who makes springs & even coilovers. Since you don't know much about cars, here is a basic guide with the differences: http://www.autoanything.com/suspensi...s-vs-coilovers
The fellas who mod their cars will best be able to answer your questions.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
There are also a company called RS-R who makes springs & even coilovers. Since you don't know much about cars, here is a basic guide with the differences: http://www.autoanything.com/suspensi...s-vs-coilovers
The fellas who mod their cars will best be able to answer your questions.
Hope this helps,
~ Im2bz2p345
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#10
Lexus Test Driver
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The general consensus before all this stupid VIP stuff started catching on, was that a pleasing look for wheel gap was, at the least, sidewall to rim = gap. So, if you had 17's and a 3" sidewall with a 3" wheel gap, it looked balanced and therefore good (just making up numbers). Some preferred to go smaller of course, with varying degrees of trade off between looks and comfort.
I have noticed that most japanese sports cars tend to break this rule which is why everyone and their brother makes shock/spring kits for every car. They do tend to be on the high side, which is probably more a recognition of the US and Europe having bad roads and steep driveways than anything else, so it's a practical consideration for a global market.
>Edit, noticed you're in Mass, which makes me think you get AWD cars, which by their definition, are higher due to extra suspension and drivetrain components. Compare a RWD model side by side if you can google it.
I have noticed that most japanese sports cars tend to break this rule which is why everyone and their brother makes shock/spring kits for every car. They do tend to be on the high side, which is probably more a recognition of the US and Europe having bad roads and steep driveways than anything else, so it's a practical consideration for a global market.
>Edit, noticed you're in Mass, which makes me think you get AWD cars, which by their definition, are higher due to extra suspension and drivetrain components. Compare a RWD model side by side if you can google it.
#11
9th Gear
Thread Starter
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The general consensus before all this stupid VIP stuff started catching on, was that a pleasing look for wheel gap was, at the least, sidewall to rim = gap. So, if you had 17's and a 3" sidewall with a 3" wheel gap, it looked balanced and therefore good (just making up numbers). Some preferred to go smaller of course, with varying degrees of trade off between looks and comfort.
I have noticed that most japanese sports cars tend to break this rule which is why everyone and their brother makes shock/spring kits for every car. They do tend to be on the high side, which is probably more a recognition of the US and Europe having bad roads and steep driveways than anything else, so it's a practical consideration for a global market.
>Edit, noticed you're in Mass, which makes me think you get AWD cars, which by their definition, are higher due to extra suspension and drivetrain components. Compare a RWD model side by side if you can google it.
I have noticed that most japanese sports cars tend to break this rule which is why everyone and their brother makes shock/spring kits for every car. They do tend to be on the high side, which is probably more a recognition of the US and Europe having bad roads and steep driveways than anything else, so it's a practical consideration for a global market.
>Edit, noticed you're in Mass, which makes me think you get AWD cars, which by their definition, are higher due to extra suspension and drivetrain components. Compare a RWD model side by side if you can google it.
#12
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Yea, you are right. It might have something to do with RWD or AWD. Both my IS and GS are AWD. Maybe in the future I need to take a look at the cars with exactly the same specs first before I buy them. This time I only demoed a craft-line GS F sport, the body of which sits low and nice.
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#13
Lexus Fanatic
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FYI, theres no difference between how a crafted line F Sport and an ordinary F Sport sit. The Crafted line is just an appearance package.
#14
Lexus Test Driver
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I just saw the new S550 Coupe Benz and man that wheel gap is nasty. It sits higher than my GS what happened to the Germans now?
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