poor handling from brand new DE

surfer · Aug 11, 2009, 08:35 AM

Hello,
I just purchased a brand new DE and I'm not very impressed with the way it handles. I traded in a Subaru SVX with 175K+ that had old suspension parts and it handled 10X better.

You know that feeling when the front end feels like it's heavy and you turn the wheel and you feel safe? This car is the exact opposite. It feels like a Saturn. I know I purchased the low trim model but I still expected more.

My question is, how can I make the my DE handle more like my SVX? Is it possible? Or should I just sell it for something different?

I realize the stock ride height is way too high. I realize there is no factory installed sway bar in the rear. Would these two things have a huge impact or would I just be waisting my money?

Please give your opinion.

Thanks,
Matt.

lancer0220 · Aug 11, 2009, 08:44 AM

upgrade the suspension to the suspension used on a gts, add the sway bar in the front and rear get some better tires and wheels. the lancer gts models handle significantly different than the es and de, in my opinion, i drove an es for 1 year then now a gts for almost 11 months already and the gts is a huge difference.

jer301 · Aug 11, 2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer0220

upgrade the suspension to the suspension used on a gts, add the sway bar in the front and rear get some better tires and wheels. the lancer gts models handle significantly different than the es and de, in my opinion, i drove an es for 1 year then now a gts for almost 11 months already and the gts is a huge difference.

Concur. I test drove both and the GTS drove and handled way better. There is a member named Kalpakiotis who is selling his stock GTS Springs and shocks. I would PM him and see if they are still available.

humblehyper · Aug 16, 2009, 01:59 PM

I have a GTS stock springs if you're interested

thielepr · Aug 18, 2009, 05:56 AM

I have a GTS and I don't like the suspension very much either. But I went to the track and it was great. I don't know how a car feels so different on the road and the track but it's true.

I have made some emergency lane change a few times a it's a little bit scary. But a aftermarket spring should help on this.

jorgecuatro · Aug 18, 2009, 06:04 AM

i havent had a customer complain about any DE cars. I would upgrade to a set of eibach springs. the pro kit is 1.2 in front and .8 in rear drop. not severe. find some GTS struts. see how that is then do the sway bars.

surfer · Sep 4, 2009, 08:09 AM

I installed a rear sway bar from a GTS and WOW! what a difference that made. Definitely the first thing you should do for your poor DE and it costs only about $100.

That + I got 8" wheels instead of 6.5" and the car actually feels safe now. :-)

BTW, anyone selling a stock front strut brace from their GTS?

lancer0220 · Sep 4, 2009, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfer

I installed a rear sway bar from a GTS and WOW! what a difference that made. Definitely the first thing you should do for your poor DE and it costs only about $100.

That + I got 8" wheels instead of 6.5" and the car actually feels safe now. :-)

BTW, anyone selling a stock front strut brace from their GTS?

nice man told ya it would work the gts handles great i really think its pretty good for a 16-17k car. i also put 8" wide wheels and the car feels much better over the 7" ones I had. if you cant find a front strut bar from a gts just get the basic ones on ebay, yes EBAY, they are the same ones that people buy that are "Meagan racing strut bars" shouldnt run you more than $35 shipped and should be all you need

ambystom01 · Sep 4, 2009, 09:43 AM

Sway bars are an absolute must. Strut bars are basically bling, they act to stiffen the chassis but realistically speaking, that's not your problem and you won't notice a difference. Tires will help significantly. Going to the GTS suspension (struts and springs) will reduce body roll. Aftermarket springs can work but so far I've yet to see data suggesting they do. People seem to confuse ride stiffness with better handling when they're not the same. You can slam a car to the ground and make it stiff as hell but it won't handle worth a damn because there's too little suspension travel and the camber curve sucks.

seanymack · Sep 4, 2009, 09:55 AM

can these sway bars be purchased and installed from the dealer?

ambystom01 · Sep 4, 2009, 10:06 AM

Sure if you want to pay dealer prices. You're better off finding a parted out GTS, buying the parts and installing them yourself.