Tonight, I was at the local Scikotics club for a meeting and compared by 2009 to the other 2009 that is a member.

Mine has 9,500 miles, while his has 2,500 miles.
I kept thinking mine looked noticeably lower than his.
I measured and mine is 2-3 inches LOWER!
Both have original suspension (same springs and shocks installed at the factory, same markings et all).

The only notable differences are:
His is manual, mine is an automatic.
His has 2,500 miles, mine has 9,500 miles.
His is a month or 2 old, mine is 4 and a half.

None of that SHOULD explain that much of a drop in the stock suspension.
That is unless the springs are softer than I realized . . .
That is A LOT of "settling" in 7,000 miles.

Mine is an 09, so is his.

The same stock steelies and the same tire SIZE (205/55/16).
His has Goodyears, while mine has Rikens (Michelin "private" brand).


(Oh, I thought mine has 225/50/16's but I hadn't bothered to actually READ the sidewalls . . . they ARE 205/55/16s.  DOH!)


That shouldn't account for that much of a drop . . .
I think this is just WEIRD for 2 stock suspensions to be that different with only a 7,000 mile difference.  1/2 inch or the like would be fine, but 2-3 inches?  I find that hard to believe,

The reason I care . . .
I am interested in Hotchkis springs, which lowers about 1.75-2 inches.  What I need to know is whether that is from HIS height or mine.
What is the tire to lip distance for stock and for the Hotchkis?
I'll measure mine tomorrow and find out what it is presently.