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trust me, TRD springs, especially when combined with trd shocks, are low enough. i am frequently frustrated with having to crawl through steep approach/departures and negotiating speed bumps with the combination of my ground clearance and my exhaust.

if you really want more of a drop than the trd, try the H-techs or the hotchkis springs, but s-techs in my opinion (and many others) are too low, and they actually make the car handle worse. next, they will drastically shorten the life of your OEM shocks.

as for painting rims, either get them powdercoated, or don't bother. i've seen so many awful paint jobs on wheels. the paint just flakes and chips off and looks like crap so quickly. i powder coated an OEM set gloss black just over a year ago and they still look brand new.

as for color...i don't really have an eye for it, but gun metal is nice, or a good bronze color. or perhaps even purple or a dark red color.

 

Look at H&R springs, perfect ballance imo! Also black is sick :D swhat i got

 

^ I totally agree with caliber, I personally have had both TRD and H techs ( currently dropped on H techs ). The way the car handles with TRD is amazing and it drops about a 1.3" front and 1.3" rear, even drop. H techs drop 1.9" front and 1.7" rear I believe, The nose of the scion is always dropped alittle bit more for the natural balance of the car, The H techs are noticeably uneven but it looks great, the TRDs you may notice esp. with 18" rims they are easy to notice, but IMO I would go with H techs or Hotchkis like caliber said. Im on H techs with 18"'s and it looks amazing, It's the perfect balance for springs/rims IMO.

And as far as going for rim painting, I would get a professional powdercoating, but if you want to paint them yourself make sure you do the WHOLE PROCESS right, and do not skip steps or RUSH,pateince is the most important thing while painting you wheels, REMEBER DO NOT RUSH, also 500+ grit sandpaper before you put paint coats make sure EVERYTHING is sanded so the paint will stick much better/easier. Then finish it off with 1200+ grit.

For colors on the blackcherry pearl i've seen white and black, they don't look bad IMO, but be careful with the color you choose, some of them might seem good, but will turn out HORRIBLE. Just keep your options open.

 

i liked my stechs and i had them for over 2 years on oem shocks no problems. and as for painting rims why powdercoat if you want new rims later. painting them should be fine. for bcp i'd choose gold/bronze or gunmetal.
there are plenty of DIYs and "show me" threads around here to see.

 

maybe H-techs?
and gunmetal would look nice on the car too

 

take mine as an example , SCM light champagne stockies on stechs .

looks nice , at least i believe so . rides smooth . i've had the stechs for 2k miles and i've seen no difference . only takes corners better because it gives less roll . i am on OEM shocks . and whatever , when they give out in about a year or two here comes coilovers .

 

I wouldnt go with the champagne if i were u. id stick with black or gunmetal

 

pfft , if i were you i wouldn't go with champagne either .

but if you would want to , i guess you can ask for my written permission ? lol , nah dude a nice gold from duplicolor would look nice .