Which sub <$1,500 coilover?

[ericmpena]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I stated that I don't mind giving up ride quality for performance. I definitely don't want something focused on DD. I want something more focused on performance, like the Monoflex, T2, Ohlins R&D, etc; but, I can't afford those so I am looking for the closest thing to them for $1500

Oh, my fault. I just read through your post quickly and thought you said you didn't want to give up comfort.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by fooddude

Goal? A low hp (stock power), simple DD car and ability to push it relatively hard whenever I go to track/autox things. Just a fun car..not looking to make it a competitive national champ nor a 1000hp beast. Just a simple, no fuss, reliable car I can learn performance driving from, improve skill and just have fun.

Public DD roads? LA and OC ...but I don't mind a stiff suspension going through sections that are old and unrepaired. That would be super slow anyways and just "passing through"..otherwise, most of SoCal roads are pretty upkempt and have good infrastructure.

Tracks? Buttonwillow, Willow Springs

AutoX? I guess this greatly varies and depends on who's throwing the events. But, whichever come up I happen to attend.

Canyon? Several various in SoCal - Malibu, Palomar, Ortega, Lyons Valley, Azusa and several others.

For starters, you're not going to be completely satisfied with anything below $1500. We've tried almost most suspension setups on the market. Buttonwillow is the track that will basically determine how good a suspension kit is. Bilstein B14 and TEIN Street Flex are pretty much your options. Most single adjustable setups really only have 1 setting that works well since valving is based on that specific spring rate and length.

The next level up is going to be Ohlins R&T, Bilstein B16, RCE T2 + camber plates, KW CS. Afterwards, you're going into true motorsport suspension territory where kits are proven in a motorsports setting. That's where the TEIN SRC, the JRZ RS-Pro, KW Motorsport 2-way and 3-ways, Ohlins TTX, Penskes, etc. are available.

[protpibe]

I just went through the motions on coilover research and what I came up with is that everything under $1,500 is probably made by 1 or 2 different companies, because they all have very similar specs and features, and also look the same. Some will offer stuff like swift spring upgrades, bearing upgrades, and custom spring rates, but at their core they're probably very similar.
Ultimately, I decided to pony up and get some HKS Hipermax MaxIV GT's. My justification was that if I half did it when it came to coilovers and didn't like the ride quality, I would have to sell them and re-buy the ones I should of got in the first place, which would end up costing even more.

CSG probably has the best insight into this as they've actually used this stuff.

[wootwoot]

Originally Posted by fooddude

Yes, they look great..but they're also much more than $1500 and I also dislike how it's composed of various parts (GC sleeves on Koni dampers). I also dislike the Koni's full length bodies/stroke and I prefer something short bodied. Koni's are relatively inexpensive and I can't justify spending +$2k on a system that uses inexpensive dampers.

You can get their street set up for $1500. It re uses the stock top hats. GC also allows you to get whatever spring rates you want which is nice. They do come with koni's, but they are not off the shelf units. They are custom valved to GC's specs. The fronts are also an inch shorter to give you increased travel.

[fooddude]

@protpibe: true true.. I'm a firm believer of "buy right, buy once" ..but coilover suspension is such a hard decision.. not to mention very expensive lol. I would like to cap it off at $1500, which is already a big notch above the super cheapy ones (ie: st, or other generic no name brands like bc, and something or other, etc.). I guess the $2k range has much better options; but really wanting to not go over $1.5k.

Btw..which HKS co's are more focused on track, and which for street? ...are the GT (like yours) more for performance, or the newly announced SP?

..I'm also kinda confused on the Evasive preview post of the HKS SP..since it states that the GT is more for "comfort", yet the name "GT" sound pretty darn hardcore imo compared to "SP" (not to mention the 550hp HKS 86 is using the "comfortable" GTs lol).. and it also states "SP" was more focused on both "DD and track" ..ummm, isn't that the same thing as comfort?

[whitefrs]

BC Coilovers

[fooddude]

Originally Posted by whitefrs

BC Coilovers

Buddy Club coilovers...or the "BC Racing" question-mark brand coilovers (china made?)? haha

Another confusing thing... people need to say BuddyClub and stop saying the acronym, since there's also "BC Racing"

[whitefrs]

Originally Posted by fooddude

Buddy Club coilovers...or the "BC Racing" question-mark brand coilovers (china made?)? haha

Another confusing thing... people need to say BuddyClub and stop saying the acronym, since there's also "BC Racing"

YEP lol

[protpibe]

Originally Posted by fooddude

@protpibe: true true.. I'm a firm believer of "buy right, buy once" ..but coilover suspension is such a hard decision.. not to mention very expensive lol. I would like to cap it off at $1500, which is already a big notch above the super cheapy ones (ie: st, or other generic no name brands like bc, and something or other, etc.). I guess the $2k range has much better options; but really wanting to not go over $1.5k.

Btw..which HKS co's are more focused on track, and which for street? ...are the GT (like yours) more for performance, or the newly announced SP?

..I'm also kinda confused on the Evasive preview post of the HKS SP..since it states that the GT is more for "comfort", yet the name "GT" sound pretty darn hardcore imo compared to "SP" (not to mention the 550hp HKS 86 is using the "comfortable" GTs lol).. and it also states "SP" was more focused on both "DD and track" ..ummm, isn't that the same thing as comfort?

Gts are dd comfort first but still good at the track. SPs are still a street and track mix but not as cushy as GT

Have you considered matched springs and struts ?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[IAmNotTheDriftKing]

Originally Posted by fooddude

I am in SoCal, so the weather is always nice for track/autox days. Maybe at least once every 2 months, if not more, or once a month. In the future, more when finances are better, maybe once or twice a month and might get an extra set of track only wheels and tires.

I'd rather get RCE T0s than the KW's though, since I understand KW are less aggressive than the RCEs. But either way, they're both out of my budget. And, 1500 is stretching it; I won't go over 1500.

If you aren't going to be doing 2 or so autocrosses a month go with something more comfortable. The added stiffness will get tiring. I say go KW V1s. They are just as comfortable as stock but they control the body roll much better, plus you can lower it a bit as well!

Also, have you thought about just springs? The stock suspension is really good for most people.

[fooddude]

@IAmNotTheDriftKing @protpibe:
Yes, I seriously consider RCE Tarmac springs with B8 shocks; but, that would already run $1250... and I was thinking, for only a few hundred more I can get stiffer spring rates, adj and firmer dampening, upper pillowball adj camber mounts, adj height, all in a neat tidy little package....just too much good stuff which makes it impossible to justify spending a similar amount on a spring and strut combo.

[btune]

Have you considered Suspension Techniques?

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by fooddude

@IAmNotTheDriftKing @protpibe:
Yes, I seriously consider RCE Tarmac springs with B8 shocks; but, that would already run $1250... and I was thinking, for only a few hundred more I can get stiffer spring rates, adj and firmer dampening, upper pillowball adj camber mounts, adj height, all in a neat tidy little package....just too much good stuff which makes it impossible to justify spending a similar amount on a spring and strut combo.

If quality is not a consideration then you are right. You can get all the bells and whistles for much less than $1500. How long will they last and how well they work would be questionable. With the Bilsteins and RCE you are paying for quality assurance. You get what you pay for, dude.

[protpibe]

Originally Posted by fooddude

@IAmNotTheDriftKing @protpibe:
Yes, I seriously consider RCE Tarmac springs with B8 shocks; but, that would already run $1250... and I was thinking, for only a few hundred more I can get stiffer spring rates, adj and firmer dampening, upper pillowball adj camber mounts, adj height, all in a neat tidy little package....just too much good stuff which makes it impossible to justify spending a similar amount on a spring and strut combo.

In that case, if I were capped at around $1,500 and would only get a coilover, then I would probably go with either the Fortune Auto 500 with swift springs and custom spring rates, or the Teins. With the Fortunes, they offer custom spring rates and will valve the shock properly based on the rate you chose.