OP's mechanic?
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/...20170731160516

He's an interesting fellow.

Lmao you guys are hilarious. It wasn’t THAT easy, he put one hand under the wheel and with his shoulder pushed up, said there was lots of play on he springs

That makes zero sense to anyone who knows how this suspension goes together and has used a spring built in the last 20 years for a significant amount of time.

I mean I've driven cars older than me with 200k miles (~320k km) and the springs are fine.

Why would I lie?

He pushed the wheel up easily, he said this means my shocks are wearing out / going out...I can’t remember exact words. But he’s a trustworthy guy, he said I can probably keep going on them if I want but the signs are there.

Not to mention, I said myself..the ride in the car is not the same as it was years ago. Pot holes are more clunky, road bumps are more intense.. even to someone who knows nothing about suspensions I can tell the suspension is wearing out.

If it’s not the shocks, then what is it?

Well this thread is certainly starting to deliver.

If anything it's the dampers, not the springs. Others here are correct in advising you to check all articulating joints.

I'm not suggesting you're lying, your mileage and feelings about ride quality are logical given the mileage of your car and replacing dampers is a reasonable path to follow, I say go for it.

Good luck

thanks guys.. i appreciate all the replies

car is reliable and the community for it is rock solid too!

looking forward to buying the 17' OE set from StraightOuttaCanada and replacing the other components as reccomended

So I'll throw my $0.02 in here...I'd say that after 200k miles of northern driving, your shocks easily could stand being replaced. However, shocks have nothing to do with the type of movement described. My guess would be worn out upper strut bushings. The movement your mechanic produced wasn't from compressing the springs at all, but rather, slop in the toasted bushings. Replacing your current setup with takeoffs from another car will probably include the good upper bushing, so you're covering all bases with this approach..

Careful @StraightOuttaCanadaEh 's car is red, so you know already he's a menace. He's also taller than me, so be careful of that too.

i already tried to peddle him my red fender garnish things lol

Shocks from a red car? Ruined.

Movement at the wheel still needs to compress the spring, unless the upper mount is unbolted from the body at the top. You'll get lateral play if the bearing is bad, but not enough vertical play to see the wheel being lifted up.