From time to time I find myself parking up on a curb at club in VaBeach, climbing off of a gravel road down to the shore of the river in SD, or squeezing into a parking spot next to a gravel pile in NW DC.

1) Have you heard of body kits available that actually increase front and rear ground clearance a little?

2) Better yet are there kits that are coated with a matte finish like some of the stock subarus? Might not be so pretty, but surely it'll look better than scratches...

3) Maybe there is some magic matte protective paint job I can have done to the lower 1/4 of the car when I do the whole repaint?

Thanks in advance
Joey

 

There aren't any bodykits available that improve clearance. I think most people will agree that painted with scraches looks better than unpainted (too ricey). Try a scratch remover like Meguairs Scratch-X, but there is no way to get rid of the scratches of avoid them. Maybe just park more carefully. BTW I am in Portsmouth, Va.
-Cyrus

 

Hmm.... I like the bra though. Ours are same color Thinking about having my scratches buffed and doing a smokey clear coat over top.

 

That would work but it would be expensive and eventually would scratch. The bra covers up all of my scratches and chips , but once I get my bumper repainted I will take it off. However sitting under 5 inches off the ground I'm sure it will get scratched again. You luck b*stard you got to go to the Salt Flats.
-Cyrus

 

The salt flats were definitely a highlight of my summer I was a little dissapointed in my top speed though since I had it at 124 on 66 west of DC near Front Royal. Don't be tempted to set the cruise near 90 on those 75MPH midwest interstates!!

 

There is a quick and easy mod to get rid of that. Search for "Ben's ECU Mod". Cut one wire and the limiter disappears - Voila! However with an SE you should not have it anyways
-Cyrus

 

thanks I'll check that out. As far as I know mine is an SE (came with stock alloy wheels, Ford dealer that sold it to me said it was an SE), but I didn't really bounce at the top speed, felt like it was just all she had... It was at 4,400RPM and felt like it didn't have the stock horsepower to combat the wind resistance at that speed. - I didn't even put in octane booster or anything... On 66 I WAS going downhill

 

I have an SE too, and my car shudders when the speed limiter kicks in, right at ~4000-4500 an d ~117-120

 

SE's don't have speed limiters. If your door handles are body colored, you have an SE.

 

yup, got those, should have mentioned i have an auto, that's what prob makes the difference

 

Sweet. Thanks

 

Nope auto doesn't make a difference.
-Cyrus

 

how's that work with the salt flats, i raced a mustang GT about 2 weeks back and put my speedo over the 145 mark, do you only have a mile to get your top speed?

if you want ground clearance get some coilovers. then just crank em up when you need it. . ..

 

... do you only have a mile to get your top speed?

No, there was lots of room. When you exit the interstate there is a little road that goes past the gas station and mexican restaurant (great food). At the end of the road, your on the flats to the right of the sign that I took the picture with. On your right there is supposed to be an area that gets moist, boggy, and sticky..

Go straight out from the road that deadends into the flats and you'll come across a track 1 or 2 hundred yards out, that cuts to the left at a 45 degree angle. That's where I used 3/8s of a tank of gas in 4 runs. I think the track runs for 3+ miles, but the flats are smooth all around. Just stay away from that right boggy area. When you've dropped down to 45 or so, cut the wheel around and hear the salt squeal like asphalt - I was surprised...

I had plenty of time to hit and cruise at my top speed. Since there aren't really any markers it felt like I was doing 80 in high wind, thus it was easy to take a snap shot of my speedo

I think I would have had a better top speed if I hadn't just driven 26 hours from South Dakota - the flats were a stop off on the way to Cali.

 

wow that's nuts! i was just wondering cause i've had my car pegged past the 145 mark before. .. . .just wonderin. . . .

 

What's the best coil-over availabe for the 4th gen?