So we were tired of driving around the mini RAV4 and decided to lower the vehicle. We're waiting on a response for our coilovers, but it's on hold for now.

Before: Toyota OEM Springs, No Sway Bar

After: Tanabe NF210, TRD Rear Sway Bar

http://www.longoparts.com/ScionLife/reset/suspension/tanabe-3.jpg

http://www.longoparts.com/ScionLife/reset/suspension/tanabe-5.jpg

http://www.longoparts.com/ScionLife/reset/suspension/tanabe-6.jpg

Ride Comfort: Awesome. The spring rate is basically the same as stock. It's a good choice for those lowering the vehicle specifically for looks. If you're looking for a weekend racer, don't bother with these. Even when paired with a rear sway bar, the body roll is still immense.

Handling: Decent. It's definitely an improvement over stock, but it definitely isn't the ideal choice for those looking for a stiffer drive. I'd recommend something the Tein S-Tech for a medium sport ride. The Tein Basic doesn't seem to be too stiff either. For reference, my daily driver is a Solara on Tein SS (6.0/3.0 spring rate, medium dampening).
Comparison:
Spring Rates F/R:
Tanabe NF210 2.5/2.2 $220.00
Tein S-Tech 3.0/3.5 $350.00
Tein Basic 4.0/3.1 $1170.00

Noise: Awesome. No suspension noise

Final Verdict: It gets the job done by lowering the vehicle enough for a clean look (even with the stock steelies). The handling is slightly improved due to the vehicle's lower centered of gravity. The ride quality is almost as soft as the OE suspension with a very small spring rate boost (being told 5% over stock).

So yea... I'll be selling these (NF210) in September if anyone is tentatively interested :P

For my reference: These were installed at 1560 miles

i second this write-up, lol.

Those have a warranty while my R&D ones do not... :ponder:

So the springs settled yesterday. It actually stiffened up a little bit, but nothing really noticeable.

I think we'll be looking for about $140 obo on the springs once they are off. They should be off the xD by the weekend of Sept 13.

Thanks for the write-up. A couple of thoughts and some better pix of how much lowering is achieved:

NF's without struts are definitely NOT a good choice for serious racing but the body roll is NOT "immense." There is substantial improvement.

NF's with TRD struts balance a good daily ride with some hobby canyon/autocross ability.

The "sway" bar does not do very much for body roll unless you are seriously pushing as it is really a beam axle stiffener. (I've done a before after comparison.) There is no true sway bar available for xD's.

For what it's worth. Some usable pix of lowering achieved with NF's on stock wheels: http://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=3408414&highlight=#3408414

yeah I have a hard time on the canyon with these spring I think the stock is better it have less body roll but I like how it look so I'm trying my best to learn how to take the corner better.

your springs settled in a day? did you drive to vegas and back? lol it takes a couple hundred miles i thought..i got the DF's and i noticed just about the same improvement. everythings comfy, road noise is slightly louder now but..i don't really care haha. nice review!

These are definitely better than stock, but definitely not a coilover.

I went in the Canyons to help push the settling. Hard driving is just as good as letting the 1.25 tons sit on it =P

I'm still dying for coilovers, but poor atm. hehe-- Donations? =D

ILL DONATE!!!!

in turn for you supra :D.....

still don't believe that springs settle. maybe the car got a bit lower after coming off the stands. my wifes tC did that. it's good to learn how to beter control a car that isn;t easily controllable as I have learned. A sway bar is a must for the xD. should be standard fair. or an LSD for sure. I'm gonna get one at somepoint. I hate the pegleg turns it does

im sort of with you...i dont think springs settle to the rate at which people think they do.. after thinking about it, i think the "settleing" occurs like..10 minutes after you install them...once you get the weight on the springs, it shuold relieve any excess tension they had from being "new" and without load...to say they dont settle at all, im not sure. but id safely say that they dont settle another .5" like ive heard some people say...thats ridiculous lol

idk, my xD has the saem springs the RS1 has and it's not that low. still have about a 1.5 inch gap no matter which rims are on the car. still looks better than stock. as much as I'd like to tuck some tire, it may have an adverse effect on it's handling which is already twitchy.

what size rims are you running right now?

17x7

ah perfect size for our car imo. what are they? advans :D?

I wish...ole skool Konigs glides. found out they are a JDM wheel originally with a Konig center cap. offered in chrome only in Japan.

glides are pretty nice, any pics of them? did you keep em the original chrome?

offered only flat balck and gold stateside. I have black

ah very nice. im still riding steelies...lol no funds for rims :(... i want some watanabe RS8's though :D......its a nice dream..

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd53/gr33nd4y6/DSC03351.jpg

looks good! why'd you decide to take out your lower grill?

I spun the car in the rain back in march and hit a guardrail. I removed it cuz it was hangin off the car. look close at the middle bumper

ah sucks :\ although, it does look a little cleaner without it..i'm not too fond of the lower grills design..are you planning on replacing it with anything? OEM, Billet, Mesh, etc>?

gotta replace the bumper beam and support, headlite, pull the radioator support back out. i'll prolly get an Ist bumper. flows with the stock lines better

OH wow...didnt realize it was that extensive...if you want i can get you the iSt bumper...PM me if you like.

hmm, for how cheap, cuz I know where to get them used for cheap.

probably not as cheap as you could get em used...but if you want it new i can get a quote for you. would it be just the front bumper and fogs that youre looking for?