What classifies a vehicle as a lowrider?

Posted by General_Ad_9121@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 32 comments

I was at work when I heard someone say 'look at that nice lowrider' so I immediately break my neck to get a glimpse and it turned out it was a beige 90s cadillac sitting at an incline (like in a squatted position) and other than how it was stanced, it seemed completely normal I suppose? (no shiny new wheels or anything else that stood out). Nothing wrong with it tho really, just not what I pictured when someone said "lowrider". Afterwards that got me thinking, what do others typically consider to be a lowrider?

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OmericanAutlaw@reddit

hydraulics are necessary. late model preferable

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Shadesbane43@reddit

Late model? You can certainly have newer cars in this style, but to me the archetypal lowrider is an old American boat

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OmericanAutlaw@reddit

late model means old

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Shadesbane43@reddit

No it doesn't. It means it came out "lately"

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OmericanAutlaw@reddit

you’re wrong, but it’s fine. think about it like this. when someone says “my late grandpa” do they mean he was born recently or that he died a while ago? late model cars are no longer in production.

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BouncingSphinx@reddit

You’re right and completely wrong. A late grandpa is surely someone who has died, but that also doesn’t mean it had to be long ago.

Late model, on the other hand, always refers to recent models of vehicles. What you’re trying to say would more be referred to as a classic model.

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toefungi@reddit

You're wrong, but it's fine.

A late model vehicle refers to one produced lately.

When referring to your late grandpa, it means he passed away recently.

You would not say your late grandpa if he passed away 50 years ago.

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NotHumanButIPlayOne@reddit

Sorry. You're 100% wrong. It means exactly the opposite.

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Alternative-Day6612@reddit

A car that rides low

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Notacat444@reddit

Taking 25 seconds to clear a 2.5" tall speed bump.

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DadWatchesWrestling@reddit

Well, the caddy wasn't a lowrider, the compressor for the rear air suspension failed.

I'd say a lowrider counts as any old boat on hydraulics (or pneumatics depending if it's airbags) but typically if you're throwing Dayton wheels on and have hydraulics, you have a lowrider

And no, buddy driving the dodge caliber around town with Daytons doesn't count lol

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Ok_Cardiologist_6471@reddit

Mainly a vehicle that has been lowered on hydraulic or air bags with the combination of the small stretch wheels after that it's about your wealth and style

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OverCorpAmerica@reddit

Lowrider to me is west coast style rides w air ride and hydraulics. The deserve the props for that term/name! Other slammed cars are not lowriders to me, just slammed…✌🏻

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OverallManagement824@reddit

Don't listen to these fools. Keys to being a lowrider -

The low rider is a little higher.
Drives a little slower.
Is a real goer.

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Concrete_Grapes@reddit

In generic terms, a car that has been lowered to the point it will not be functional, for daily driving, at its lowest height.

If you're being charitable, it's anything with adjustable height suspension, that can get the body, LESS than 3 inches from the ground. Not the frame, the body. So, air, hydros, and mechanical systems can count. Age make and model doesn't.

If you want, 'modern strict'--andlts something that can literally pay on the ground, body or frame, and is either air or hydro, and, at a MINIMUM, can 3-wheel in a straight line, or while parked.

Classic strict. Only hydraulic. Only wire wheels. Only custom , extreme paint. Preferably 59-64 impala, but, they accept everything up into 80's and 90's now. Mini-trucks welcome. It SHOULD be capable of a hop, it MUST three wheel, minimum two corners. Preferably all four, but the last two you can choose to do while in a turn. It has to be so fuckin clean, you have mirrors under it at the show --or just go the fuck home.

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NetLumpy1818@reddit

It don’t use no gas nor does it drive too fast

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That-Resort2078@reddit

Hydraulics. All four corners. . Can you jump a full 1 quart beer can.

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BipedalWurm@reddit

Lay some kegs down and I'll log roll on 'em

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AntiSonOfBitchamajig@reddit

"Whats that scrapping noise???"...."oh...its a leaf"

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Grand_Air_6079@reddit

The hint is in the name: LOWrider. They are typically slammed to the ground using hydraulics. I personally think they're dumb as shit, but some of those guys put some serious engineering into them.

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Colorado_Jay@reddit

This has always been my feeling about them. I, too, can appreciate a well-engineered hunk of stupid.

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Lothar_Ecklord@reddit

That's why I love Bosozoku and Scrapers - it's intentionally stupid, but I love cars and appreciate when someone puts that effort into making their ride their own! For instance, I always love a good drag-built minivan.

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arrasx4@reddit

of you smoke doobies

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kilertree@reddit

You can look up the old lowrider magazines for inspiration. A GM A g body Chevy on Dayton's with the springs cut will probably pass as a lowrider.

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DarthBrooks69420@reddit

Hydraulics. Specifically replacing the shocks and springs with hydraulic cylinders.

Now if we're talking about what makes a classic lowrider, then it's hydraulics on a 60s-80s big body sedan or coupe with the ittybitty wire wheels. Honorable mention for 90s Chevy Capri.

Stanced cars are different, those are usually a static suspension. Airbagged cars/trucks are stanced adjacent. While they are adjustable, they can't do the tricks a vehicle with hydraulics can do, but generally are the most liveable of the low slung modified vehicles. Pump the airbags up and they can clear most bumps, deflate them a little for a cushy ride, empty them out for the lowest of low-low looks and you get pretty sparks/massive underbody damage on bumpy roads.

Tl;dr hydraulics shitty ride but most adjustability (and ability to bounce in the air), stanced shitty (some say shittiest) ride and no adjustability, airbags give best of both worlds with ability for less than shitty ride.

Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

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375InStroke@reddit

Often, the vehicle is an American sedan, almost anything from the '40s-'50s, Mercury being very popular. '60s, the classic lowrider is a Chevy Impala. Cadillac and Lincoln are often used of any era. Moving forward, Monte Carlo, Buick Riviera, Regal, Olds Cutlass became popular. Some say it must have hydraulics, but there are dudes in lowrider clubs without, they're slammed to the ground, and just drive around like that. Are they more hardcore than those who can raise their car up? IDK.

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Numerous_Teacher_392@reddit

The driver with a flannel shirt buttoned at the collar, with his seat set up so he's really low in the car. He has a funky mustache and maybe a Derby hat.

Extra confirmation if there's a big airbrush painting of the Virgin Mary on the hood.

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