car height and wheel gaps...

[Aharami]

something ive noticed lately. japanese cars (especially toyota/lexus) sit really high off the ground and the wheel gap is disgustingly large. even the high end ones like lexus/acura/infinity etc. whereas german cars like audi/bmw and other euro cars like saab sit really low. why is that? doesnt the japanese carmakers know that lower center of gravity = better handling?! another reason why i think euro cars look better than japanese ones (well generally speaking...there are exceptions ofcourse)

 

The center of gravity has nothing to do with it, the Japanese are mounting the cheaper (smaller) tire/rim combos to save money.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: Roger
The center of gravity has nothing to do with it, the Japanese are mounting the cheaper (smaller) tire/rim combos to save money.

which compromises handling. why are they going cheap on higher end brands like lexus and acura.

oh and what brought on this rant? had to drive a friend's lexus ESsomething. ride was really smooth...but the car handled like the titatic (not that i know what the titanic handled like )

 

[NutBucket]

Dumb American drivers who don't know how to approach steep driveways/speedbumps? I also see lots of people that hit the curbs and other concrete things when pulling into parking spaces.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Dumb American drivers who don't know how to approach steep driveways/speedbumps? I also see lots of people that hit the curbs and other concrete things when pulling into parking spaces.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
Dumb American drivers who don't know how to approach steep driveways/speedbumps? I also see lots of people that hit the curbs and other concrete things when pulling into parking spaces.

ah so the japanese see cars as training wheels for american drivers to learn on...then they can graduate onto euro cars

 

[isekii]

why don't you give us an example of the vehicles you are talking about instead of generalizing.

same category vehicle for the japanese brand and the european brand.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: isekii
why don't you give us an example of the vehicles you are talking about instead of generalizing.

same category vehicle for the japanese brand and the european brand.

ok sounds fair.

almost all the cars toyota makes have really small wheels and sit really high off the ground for a sedan. such as corolla, camry...especially camry, lexus ES, GS...not so much the LS.
honda is a little better but the accord still is too high IMO. the TL is ok...TSX...hmm..i'll let it sneak in the ok region also.
infinity is the only japanese carmaker that seems to be somewhat addressing this issue. the altima is still high off the ground...but the G35 looks nice and low...and therefore handles well too.

on the other hand...every single 3 series/5 series/a4/a6 ive seen are really low to the ground. now unless each every single one of those owners went out and bought aftermarket springs/shocks, the cars come like that. not only does this make the car look more appealing...but it handles better too. even the lower end VW makes their cars somewhat low to the ground (but not as much as audi/bmw). and the newer saabs seems to be following this low-to-the-ground build also

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: isekii
why don't you give us an example of the vehicles you are talking about instead of generalizing.

same category vehicle for the japanese brand and the european brand.

ok sounds fair.

almost all the cars toyota makes have really small wheels and sit really high off the ground for a sedan. such as corolla, camry...especially camry, lexus ES, GS...not so much the LS.
honda is a little better but the accord still is too high IMO. the TL is ok...TSX...hmm..i'll let it sneak in the ok region also.
infinity is the only japanese carmaker that seems to be somewhat addressing this issue. the altima is still high off the ground...but the G35 looks nice and low...and therefore handles well too.

on the other hand...every single 3 series/5 series/a4/a6 ive seen are really low to the ground. now unless each every single one of those owners went out and bought aftermarket springs/shocks, the cars come like that. not only does this make the car look more appealing...but it handles better too. even the lower end VW makes their cars somewhat low to the ground (but not as much as audi/bmw). and the newer saabs seems to be following this low-to-the-ground build also

A4's sit pretty high off the ground, if you take a good look at it and it comes with 16" with optional 17"?
IS300 sits pretty close to the ground and it handles better than the 325's and the G35 and comes stock with 17". G35 comes with 17".


Why would a econo sedan like the Camry have to sit lower to the ground ? ES300 isn't a sporty vehicle either. It's meant to be more of a cruiser. What's the point of putting larger wheels on an econobox ?

If you were to purchase stock BMW 7 series, S class etc... they don't come with the larger wheels you usually see them with. Their either part of the Sport package that people usually opt out to get.

My buddy has a VW, that's not low to the ground at all. It's actually high, somewhere around a corolla.

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: isekii

A4's sit pretty high off the ground, if you take a good look at it and it comes with 16" with optional 17"?
IS300 sits pretty close to the ground and it handles better than the 325's and the G35 and comes stock with 17". G35 comes with 17".


Why would a econo sedan like the Camry have to sit lower to the ground ? ES300 isn't a sporty vehicle either. It's meant to be more of a cruiser. What's the point of putting larger wheels on an econobox ?

If you were to purchase stock BMW 7 series, S class etc... they don't come with the larger wheels you usually see them with. Their either part of the Sport package that people usually opt out to get.

My buddy has a VW, that's not low to the ground at all. It's actually high, somewhere around a corolla.

well the A4's i see around here are pretty low...not LOW low like the SL55 but lower than most japanese cars. but im guessing the ES is in the same class as the A6's. no? why not make the ES low? it'd look a lot better IMO and handle better. is it because toyota cant figure out a way to make the ride smooth with the car being low?

and VW arent too low...you're right. i own a VW and i hated the wheel gap. thats why i got aftermarket shocks and springs. but the newer VWs are still lower then cars like camry (comparing the passat to the camry)