DRM600

if lowering is not desired, the no-comprimise mod is a set of swaybars. it does not affect ride quality much if any at all. it was my first mod and it was definately a noticable upgrade.

AztecRol

iTrader: (2)

This man obviously knows what he is talking about!!!

AztecRol

iTrader: (2)

The sky!!

AztecRol

iTrader: (2)

Read my quote. I can HANG with 350Zs.
It has been PROVEN!!
If these guys went all out in our twisty runs,
could I keep up, probably not.

But I still love your darrin!!
:gheywave:

Hobo

well dont compare apples to oranges then you cant sit here and tell me that because your car with mods can hang with my car stock that they are equal, fwd has handling problems that are magnified with weak stock suspensions...

BEETROOT

just throw 830 lbs worth of sandbags in the trunk and the cl is 50/50 too!

sixgearcl

doesnt the G35c have a front mount/mid engine??? is the handling better than a Z???

NiteQwill

Aren't they both midengine/front mount?

darrinb

i have driven both, my car with comptech sways, eibach pro kit, toyo proxes 4's, and my friends stock 350z, i hav pushed em both to the limit and my car dont compare to his in the corners, there really is no comparison, he feels the same when he drives mine. i think i would be better off with some t1-s though, imma try those out next

maaloxmoment

MegaTron - a stock CL-S with Michelin MXM's ? Yeah, that's part of the issue. The MXM's are meant for ride and drive, not for absolute ground grip. Anyway, you can go all out like some of these posts are suggesting such as new wheels/tires, shocks, springs, stabilizer bars and the works. However, for lowering, engineering friends of mine who work for Ford did some investigation into this matter and concluded that lowering a car is generally a bad idea. Lowering compromises ride quality and, if done wrong, can impose extra stress on the suspension, drivetrain and bearings and impose uneven wear on the tires. And if you're on low profile tires with large aftermarket rims, the reduced suspension travel can also impose dramatically higher loads on your rims on potholes/railroad ties and the like, possibly damaging them. And what's more, depending on the car, lowering may not even improve handling at all. I don't know what it'll do for a CL-S handling, though (seems like some of the other posts attest to it improving handling for them). If you want a basic attempt at improving your handling, start with your tires, maybe your wheels. I'm on 235/40/18 tires. I wouldn't recommend any wider rims or tires as beyond that and handling may actually suffer (wider isn't always better, suspensions are designed around a specific range of tire widths). Toyo Proxies, Yokohama Parada Spec2's and Kumho Ecsta 712's are good bets. Check TireRack.com for other suggestions. Take note that these are summer performance tires, if you get any snow/ice in the winter, you'll want to keep your stock tires for that. If you plan on sticking with the stock CL-S 17" rims, I wouldn't go beyond 225/45 tires. Expect to spend $600 for a set of rubber. As for rims, the stock 17 CL-S rims are good, but you can do a bit better with 18's. I wouldn't go beyond that otherwise your ride quality really goes to hell and the aforementioned potholes and railroad ties will chew up those expensive rims. Rims can easily set you back another $800+. Ebay, however, has a bunch of rim/tire deals, folks ditching their 500-8000mile old sets and there are some pretty good ones out there for around $500-800 for the set of 4. As for stabilizer bars, shocks and springs, that's the next step to look into if the wheels/tire upgrade aren't enough. However, if you think wheels/tires are expensive, wait until you price suspension mods. Just keep in mind, however, that the CL-S isn't a Vette nor a Supra or a 350Z. It's a front-drive personality sporty coupe, not an outright sports car. It is nose heavy and, like any front driver, will plow when accelerated into a turn. But it should still be more than able to eat a rental/taxi-grade CrownVic =)

Allout

A lot of good points have been raised so far but let's not forget the alignment of the car. If your car's wheels aren't aligned properly, you will encounter problems. I had a Civic that would squeal like a pig in the corners until I got it aligned and corrected the Tow. A good suspension shop can do quite a bit with an alignment to fine tune a car.

AztecRol

iTrader: (2)

Here is my set up for comparison:

Lowered about 2" on Neuspeed Sport Springs.
Koni yellow adjustable shocks.
Toyo T1-S 235-45/17 on the stock rims.
Nuespeed 27mm SOLID front sway.
Nuespeed 25mm SOLID rear RACE ONLY sway.
Cusco upper front strut bar.
Cusco lower front strut bar.
Front and rear camber kits.

You can ask CiLver2.3. He has a 350Z. He just added the Nismo suspension.
So his car HANDLES!!!! He has been in my car. It handles!!!! I am not saying
that if I push my car to the max I can keep up with a 350Z that is pushin it to
the max. I am saying that a CL with the right mods can keep up. I have a
VERY unique set up. Only one or two other people have the Neuspeed race
only rear sway. And let me tell you, it puts the comptech sways to shame!!
The T1-S' put the 4s to shame as well. Ask people who have been in my car,
I take off and on ramps at INSANE speeds!!

darrinb

imma have to give those t1-s a shot!!

rico918

try a set of new tires. This worked great for me. The factory tires are more for touring than for handling. Try tirerack.com