We just got our '09 and the car sits a full 2inches higher than our '02. Is that to be expected? With all the space between the top of the tire and the top of the fender opening, and the 6 inches of ground clearance, the '09 looks like an off-road vehicle.

What's up with this?

 

Part of it has to do with the new Euro pedestrian safety standards

 

Any idea if the JCW Suspension will drop the car more than the half inch that it dropped the '02.

The car needs to be dropped a full 2 inches. If not the JCW, what will?

No wonder this thing doesn't handle as well as a Gen 1. It feels top-heavy.

 

You want something like H&Rs or go with coilovers.

 

2 inch stilts?
Wow.
You know, some dealerships will let you test drive before you buy. That way you don't end up with an off road looking top heavy car that you don't like.

Just sayin' is all.

 

+1

 

I would also bet that your 02 with some miles on it has the suspension broken in to a point...

I would bet that would be at least a half inch of the difference or more...

 

Uh...what it looked like?

 

H&R springs will improve the looks and eliminate the wheel gap but I found the ride to be very rough and bone jarring on the roads I drive. Just switched to TSW springs and so far they seem to be the best choice for me. Not quite as much of a drop but much better than factory and the ride is much improved IMO.
Coilovers should be considered just a lot more $$.

 

Gen 2 cars come with a hilarious ride height. Borderline SUV style. Unfortunately most of the springs don't allow you to tuck tire and many of the low spring options have you running on bumpstops. Coilovers are a must for R55/56's IMO. They just look goofy at stock ride height

 

You should probably give your stock springs a little more time to settle in. Mine don't look nearly as bad as they did when I picked it up. Granted they still don't look "good," but it'll look better over about 1k+ miles. (FYI, I'm going to TSW's this weekend.)

 

Be prepared for the noise with the TSW's. The fronts really creak and groan but every post I've read indicates that it will go away in time. Great ride however

 

who rides stock anyway?

 

The creaking doesn't occur on every car. Just the select cars with the "bulge" on the perches.

I've been staying on top of the issue with Dustin at AutoXCoopers, and the recent thread that was started. Apparently, it's just random luck as to whether or not you have "the bulge." So far there's only been about 5-6 people with the issue. I'm looking forward to getting them on this weekend! Pictures will be posted.

 

The first time I noticed it was with my Gen1 car sitting next to the Gen2. Didn't do that at the dealer, and I really didn't think it right to take a dealer demo to the limits to test the relative handling. My wife is getting the Gen 2. She likes the sloppier ride.

 

Hard to see the difference without the 2 cars sitting side by side. And I swear the '07-'08s don't sit that high.

 

Where is this bulge you're talking about?

 

LMAO!!

I absolutely love my H&Rs. The ride (IMHO) is great and the look is awesome. However, coil overs are the way to go if you don't have a budget.

 

I do. I also like it

 

I can't believe people are complaining about this. An inch or so is barely anything. Saying any Cooper is top heavy and does not handle well is absurd. Go drive a crossover or SUV and then drive an R56. I guarantee you will not care anymore.

 

I don't think it's the top heavy weight distribution as much as the aesthetics of having a massive amount of wheel gap similar to that of a crossover SUV. There's nothing attractive about nasty wheel gap And an inch difference in wheel gap is huge.

 

and i guarantee if you lower your car an inch, you'll realize just why people say its top heavy stock......
and why are you comparing a premium sub compact to a mid size suv?
in the realm of small cars (mini) the r56 stock does feel a bit top heavy.....maybe if you compare to something else in its league, like a gti (which i have not driven so i couldnt say) then it would be a fair comparison.

 

Here's mine back in summer '07 on the factory stilts!

 

Because people are complaining about NOTHING. The car still performs exceptionally well, and you don't realize this until you go and drive something that does not.

 

i have driven my fair share of cars.....ive gone from a vr4 to an expedition to my mini.....i dont compare the three in terms of handling because they're all in a different class....
you have to remember, this is an ENTHUSIAST forum, nobody here is going to boast about the car being perfect stock....because its not....and for those that do, they get off on having a stock car but thats a whole other story lol....
i guess what you NEED to do is take another look....