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Am I dropped or not?

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Old 02-01-2012, 08:48 PM
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Default Am I dropped or not?

I just purchased this 92 MX-5. It's currently stored at my parents garage until warmer weather comes around. I've only driven it twice since delivery. I'm two hours away so I don't get to check it out often.

I can't figure out if it's lowered or not. It does ride a bit stiff, but this is my first Miata so that may just be a characteristic of stop suspension. Can anyone tell by just looking at the pictures?







Everything else on the car is stock.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:06 PM
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take pics of the suspension
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:13 PM
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Looks quite a great deal lower than stock to me.

You are quite likely riding on the bump-stops, hence the "stiffness". A stock Miata is surprisingly slushy, considering all the rave reviews they got in their day. I'd forgotten how soft they were until I bought my current car, and before I transplanted the "good" suspension into it.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:23 PM
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Definitely not stock height. Pull a wheel off and snap a pic. Or just shove your camera in there with the flash and try and get as much of the shock/spring as possible.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:27 PM
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I'm not so sure. My friend's 92s were pretty low from the start. Add a little sag due to age/ mileage and you might be there. Of course we are all just speculating here w/o suspension pics.

Ditch those wheels though. They weigh a ton and are doing you no favors in handling or acceleration. I'm sure I'm in the minority here when I say I think they look good, but functionally they are a real hindrance.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:28 PM
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I like those wheels. Good for snow. But wouldn't want them when the dry weather hits.
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Old 02-01-2012, 09:59 PM
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Car has 100k miles. It came with two sets (summer/winter), both with brand new tires. The summer set were some heavy 16" generic rims so I sold them right away. I have a preorder placed for the XXR 531's in 15x8 +20. I'm keeping the ugly wheels with fresh snow tires because I'll probably be using the car next winter.

If I was home, or by the car I'd simply just take it apart and look, but as mentioned, I haven't had much time with the car. I just thought I'd ask here to get a heads up.

Thanks for the responses. My guess is that there's some sort of aftermarket springs and/or maybe even some shocks under there. It rides stiffer than my old 04' WRX with Tein S-techs (shitty stiff springs).
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Old 02-01-2012, 10:07 PM
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Looks like it may be a hair lower than stock, but not significantly.
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Old 02-01-2012, 10:17 PM
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Uhhh..

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Old 02-01-2012, 10:24 PM
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That car's at least an inch lower than my car was when I bought it on Koni's and Ground Control sleeves. It's lowered.
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Old 02-02-2012, 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by FRT_Fun
Uhhh..

That's a '97. The 90-93 cars were much lower. I have 2 friends that have 92s and they looked "lowered" when they were stock compared to the later cars. My 96 looked like that pic. I brought it home and thought "Man, it's a 4x4".
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Old 02-02-2012, 08:43 AM
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still... much lower than stock.

here's my 91 Base:



130K on the clock. You can pretty much fit youre fist between the tire and fender in the rear.


I bet the OP's car in the pics is sitting right around 12.75-13.0"
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Old 02-02-2012, 08:48 AM
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My old 92 when I got it with stock suspension was pretty ------- low. If I remember correctly, the 92 has the lowest stock ride height of any year. Having owned a 92 already, I'd say its pretty tough to tell. Can you not just jack it up and look at the springs to see if they are labeled, or if they are just stock black with no writing.
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Old 02-02-2012, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by FRT_Fun
Uhhh..

Who thought that was a good idea?
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Old 02-05-2012, 01:55 AM
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Originally Posted by hustler
Who thought that was a good idea?
Someone that enjoys ------- their wheel gaps.
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Old 02-05-2012, 02:02 AM
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I came in here ready to troll newbs. Why do wire wheels and snOw tires loOk pleasant?
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Old 02-05-2012, 04:09 AM
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I say its stock height and the tires are too big for the car....they look like All Terrains.
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Old 02-05-2012, 03:50 PM
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Lowered.

Interesting wheels.
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Old 02-05-2012, 04:07 PM
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The tires may be bigger, thus making the car look lower, but I think its lower then factory too.

Nice cholo wheels ese.
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Old 02-05-2012, 04:29 PM
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phat roll bar, d00d!
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