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Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:26 pm

I did the requisite “noob” forum search to see why so many people are for lowering, but all I could find is advice about how to lower. So, my question is, what exactly are people trying to achieve: less drift, better aerodynamics, just a look for aesthetics sake? About ten years ago I had a bay window at stock height, drove it all over the country, and I never wanted for any more in the handling department. Now that I’m looking to buy another bus I want to get something that I won’t feel compelled to modify anytime soon after. I actually prefer the way splits look at stock height, but if there is a really good reason to lower, then I might tailor my search accordingly.
Thanks,
Mike

Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:51 pm

Straight axle bug tranny, (Nor RGB's)

For the look

Less moving parts......

Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:54 pm

aesthetics.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:09 pm

I lowered mine because i like that way they look lowered...

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:11 pm

lowering is trendy. people like to follow trends. did you see the latest fashions at the paris show? ;) if all of your friends started smoking, would you start smoking? ;)

stock height works just fine, and you don't have to disassemble your suspension to change your rear tires like you do on many lowered buses.

people once thought it was cool to cut the rear fenderwells on buses. the ironic thing is that most all vw bus lowrider people are against wheel well cuts, when it would really be fairly functional for their vehicles.

p.s. people get really touchy on both sides of the issue.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:17 pm

Quote: p.s. people get really touchy on both sides of the issue.

I can tell! :D

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:20 pm

Every time my friends high center, scrape, or rip their exhausts off I laugh my ass off.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:21 pm

Some people lower them for looks, and for some people functionality.
Some people like to go faster, and want the bus to handle better in winds or around corners at speed.
If you go too low you have some trade-offs, scraping the wheels and steering box.

Other people prefer the looks of stock height, appreciate the ground clearance, and the ability to carry loads.

These days, usually if a bus is on the road it's usually clapped out and needing to be rebuilt. So you either have to rebuild the suspension stock or rebuild it lowered. What you like and how you're going to use it will help make the decision which.

I don't think it really costs more either way to rebuild them stock or lowered, unless ofcourse you're going with some custom upgrades.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:31 pm

I configured my bus for the lowered look cos I wanted to have a more aggressive look. I would not lower it with stock wheels and stock parts cos that just aint happening.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:35 pm

twinwindows wrote: I configured my bus for the lowered look cos I wanted to have a more aggressive look. I would not lower it with stock wheels and stock parts cos that just aint happening.

I think stock wheels look fine on lowered busses.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:41 pm

because people see pics of busses from california in magazines and online, and they think that is the best thing to do to a bus. :roll:

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:53 pm

hazetguy wrote: because people see pics of busses from california in magazines and online, and they think that is the best thing to do to a bus. :roll:

Why does it have to be California?

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:53 pm

campingbox wrote: Some people lower them for looks, and for some people functionality.
Some people like to go faster, and want the bus to handle better in winds or around corners at speed.
If you go too low you have some trade-offs, scraping the wheels and steering box.

Other people prefer the looks of stock height, appreciate the ground clearance, and the ability to carry loads.

These days, usually if a bus is on the road it's usually clapped out and needing to be rebuilt. So you either have to rebuild the suspension stock or rebuild it lowered. What you like and how you're going to use it will help make the decision which.

I don't think it really costs more either way to rebuild them stock or lowered, unless ofcourse you're going with some custom upgrades.

Well put Greg.
Lowered buses is what got me hooked back in '88. That's a pretty long trend and it was around long before that. I think MOST people can appreciate the fact that the bus is on the road regardless of the height of it. I think they look great either way but prefer the tuck~n~slam for my bus.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:58 pm

twinwindows wrote: hazetguy wrote: because people see pics of busses from california in magazines and online, and they think that is the best thing to do to a bus. :roll:

Why does it have to be California?

because apparently that is the only place that has VWs. ask anyone outside of california. the only places they have VW shops is california.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:07 pm

JacsWagen wrote: campingbox wrote: Some people lower them for looks, and for some people functionality.
Some people like to go faster, and want the bus to handle better in winds or around corners at speed.
If you go too low you have some trade-offs, scraping the wheels and steering box.

Other people prefer the looks of stock height, appreciate the ground clearance, and the ability to carry loads.

These days, usually if a bus is on the road it's usually clapped out and needing to be rebuilt. So you either have to rebuild the suspension stock or rebuild it lowered. What you like and how you're going to use it will help make the decision which.

I don't think it really costs more either way to rebuild them stock or lowered, unless ofcourse you're going with some custom upgrades.

Well put Greg.
Lowered buses is what got me hooked back in '88. That's a pretty long trend and it was around long before that. I think MOST people can appreciate the fact that the bus is on the road regardless of the height of it. I think they look great either way but prefer the tuck~n~slam for my bus.

X2 Lowered looks cool as hell and you can really fly down the road, but theres also nothing like looking at a complete stock and correct bus :D

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:31 pm

How about liking both? I really like long highway driving in a lowered (straight axle) Bus and I think lowering does have a nice look on some Buses.
I lowered my Deluxe about a year and a half ago. I liked it, but part of me missed the versatility and accelertation (RGBs) of it stock height.
So.....when I bought my Panel it just looked like it should be lowered. I took the suspension parts off the Deluxe and put them on the Panel. The Deluxe is going back the way it started.
I don't know why people have to get all anal about it unless the Bus is being cut up to be lowered. Everything I did was bolt on, that's the difference between it and hacking up wheelwells, bulkheads, dashes, etc IMO.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:33 pm

Keeping your bus stock is the only way truly respect it and preserve it's great history.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:44 pm

KWZ wrote: Keeping your bus stock is the only way truly respect it and preserve it's great history.

entirely your opinion.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:52 pm

sled wrote: KWZ wrote: Keeping your bus stock is the only way truly respect it and preserve it's great history.

entirely your opinion.

I lowered My bus because the look, and I like the fact that if I want I can roll down the freeway and hold an easy 80.

Yes I did cut my bus up to be as low as I am and yes I am currently cutting it more to go even lower. But it is the look I want.

Wed Mar 12, 2008 8:54 pm

my SC is lowered b/c it was that way when i bought it. but it would have been lowered later on anyways. i would do it for the looks, i love the lowered and slammed look, 4x4 status is cool too. as for lowering and then rear tire removal, my wheel wells are cut so its no prob at all to get the 205/65/15's off. guess i can piss off everybody, lower just the front and keep the hack wheel wells. :lol:

Quote: KWZ wrote:
Keeping your bus stock is the only way truly respect it and preserve it's great history.

2x entirely your opinion.