Front Bars; Are They Worth It?

[KezR33]

Considering getting a front bar on my series 1 R33, but I'm wondering if its really worth it.

Possible problems I could foresee;

1. Forgetting its there and smashing it on something when parking.

2. Grinding it on various drive ways, etc.

3. Added harassment from cops, and hoons.

Mainly I'm concerned I'll damage it. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Also, how does a front bar look on a stock R33? Does it look silly without skirts and a rear bar?

Thanks.

[G3TFKD]

are you sure you don't mean a front lip?

with the problems, scraping on driveways will be your biggest concern. and as long as it clears 100mm you shouldn't have any problems from the cops

[TaKz]

well it adds more character to the car!

but the downside is you gotta learn what you can make without smashing the front bar and what angle you need to take.

mines pretty smashed up now so i dont really care when it scrapes

[ITZTRU]

yeah everyone baby's their new kit...just like a new mobile phone. Then u drop it for the first time...cringe...then eventually after a while, you won't care...If cops and damage are your only concern...then just get it...

[GTR-N1]

Hiya,

You'll appreciate its looks when you get a front lip. If you want it look stock, you may be able to land one with a Nismo shape from www.jsai.com.au

It doesn't look at all out of place without skirts and rear pods.

In regard to damaging it, you'll be immediately conscious that it's there as soon as have it put on so...

i) you'll be aware enough to go over gutters at an angle

ii) you'll be aware enough to reverse into spots where there's a concrete stopper

iii) you'll learn where there are dodgy culverts to avoid as you drive from place to place and lastly,

iv) by avoiding the above, it'll prove that you're sober at the time eh? lol

Later on, you can buy skirts if need be...

Cheers, T

[PSI Parts]

Depending on the aggressiveness of the front bar and its height will determine if it looks out of place with the factory side skirts and rear bar.

Learning to drive with a bodykit, as people have mentioned, will take time but it will also give your car a unique look and completely different stance.

[Rocky88]

1. Forgetting its there and smashing it on something when parking.

2. Grinding it on various drive ways, etc.

3. Added harassment from cops, and hoons.

Been through all of these, lol. Had problems for first 2 weeks of driving with bodykit... accidentally smashed it on a carpark and fixing and respraying it costed $350 ... After that so far so good. Just make sure your suspension has stock ride height and you should be alright. Dont go too low, otherwise you'll have too many problems at dips and driveways. And dont worry if you occasionally scratch bottom of the front bar... noone will see it and soon or later you'd get stonechips etc. on the bottom anyway.

Edited July 20, 2008 by Rocky88

[KezR33]

Thanks for the info guys.

I had another question, approximately how much does it cost to paint a front bar (or skirts, and rear for that matter)?

I'm pretty sure I could fit it myself, or at least with the help of a couple of mates, but I tried searching and couldn't get a price on exactly how much preparing plus painting costs.

Thanks again.

[PSI Parts]

I would not recommend fitting it yourself, depending on where you buy the bodykit from there could be a bit of work involved with making it sit well. Best to pay the professionals and get the job done right.

[G0DZLR]

get a type-M bar. i rekn they look pretty nice, depends how much you wanna stand out really. otherwise my second pick would be a GTR bar.

[l_uk3y]

I had a Fibreglass (as is most kits) Evo front bar on my lancer (Before the Skyline).

Made a big difference to the look of the car. (My opinion for the positive). Drew a bit more attention but nothing drastic. However. It made the car feel a lot more Fragile. Especially when you start seeing minor cracks form around the major mounting points. Then when i roadworthyed the car to sell it. They said they wouldnt give me a roadroady with a fibreglass bumper due to impact resistance. On a positive the front bar arrived and fit the car perfectly which was good.

Ill never change the front bar on my line. I am considering a Carbon Lip + Diffuser to go under my standard S2 bar. But I would never buy a cheap f/g replacement anymore.

[KezR33]

So does no one have an average cost of preparing and painting, and fitting?

I'm really considering getting one, but don't want to find out a few hundred down the track that paint and installation cost a lot more than expected.

[GTR-N1]

Prep/paint/clear/fit a bar with no extra problems may cost between $350-$600. Ask for Speedy Clips rather than bolts if appropriate so that you can get the bar off again yourself without hassles ie. to change a bulb, source a leak, to get at this or that...

Cheers, T

[~R33AzzA~]

I had an M-sports front bar on my 33 for 6 or so months until my girlfriend put it into a lump of dirt on a mate lawn and cracked it

Its now on my mates car all stiched up with cable ties (drift spec).

Heres a pic of it on mine VVVVVVV, price was $400 for the bar and $350 for paint.

[WOG BOY]

costs approx. $500 to prep, paint and fit a front bar.............i went and checked this out last week!!!

[SS8_Gohan]

i've prob got 7-8cm clearance up front you get use to it...

This is not a legal issue in Vic... it's the BODY of the car (including exhaust) which can't be lower than 100mm... side skirts/body kit can be lower...

i also have a plastic front bumper, not FG, this gives you a lot more flex, and i surely would have snapped it quite a few times otherwise... it's more expensive but it's save me what... 2 resprays at say $800 all up? something to think about

if you drive a lot of the same roads, and go to the same car parks, etc... that it's easy to manage because you know what clearances you have and don't have. I dread new car parks. I tried getting into the Melb Central car park from lonsdale st (under the walkway) in heavy traffic... and i couldn't f*cking get up the ramp!

So if you drive pretty much the same places, a low front bumper can be managed...

[shanusr33]

yes they are worth it! get one! or two or three! i've had four in my time of driving my r33 series 1 and i've loved every single one of them - especially my most recent custom made

that's it, get one! don't worry about the price just shop around and dont get anybody dodgy!

[joeyjoejoejuniorshabadoo]

This is not a legal issue in Vic... it's the BODY of the car (including exhaust) which can't be lower than 100mm... side skirts/body kit can be lower...

can you show mw vic roads docs stating this?

[Basti]

+1

[SS8_Gohan]

hahaha, this is what Traction Tyres told me, and i thought if anyone is to know, they would (they run a tool under the whole car to check clearances) And i asked about the front bumper, and they're like, don't worry, it's just the body of the car.

i'm more than welcome to be proven wrong though, cos i'd like to know if my car is infact illegal... i've been pulled over a few times recently, all officers checking the front of the car, nothing said yet