Has Anyone had to install front sway bars on a 2009 base model? Was all of the bolt hole already there for installation? Or did it require customization?

 

Your base model should already have a front sway bar from factory. The base doesn't have the rear sway bar like the sport trim, but its not much of a bar anyway.

If it were removed for any reason it bolts between the strut and the bar itself.

 

Diagrams would be helpful (for me).

 

Thanks, That’s good to know. I’m looking into a base model for the light weight body.

 

The Sport shouldn't be much heavier...

 

What? The difference between the two is 31 pounds on the manual, and that's down to the extra aero bits and larger wheels and tires and the rear sway bar. Of which when I replaced my stock wheels and tires with lighter wheels I shaved 22 pounds off.

You won't notice the difference, I guarantee it. Having driven a base manual, sport manual and sport automatic they feel damn near the same in how they handle.

 

Indeed, red 5. The weight difference is minimal. It's not zero, but there's more important things like used car prices and condition etc.

my dad's front sway bar disconnected itself (rusty rivets). He didn't notice for weeks, until it started clunking on something. I'm sure I would notice, but they mostly come into play with hard cornering or highway lane changes.

 

Since Sports comes with integrated RSB compared to the base model which doesn’t come with it.Hows the handling between the 2 models?

 

You can install the Progress rear sway on the base (as well as on the Sport as the OE rear sway is integrated into the rear beam). It does make a difference on the Sport.