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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: LazyLunatic on 18 August 2010, 19:21
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I know this is another coilover thread, but I just want to discuss something I'm lazy and the search feature never gives me what I need :D
Anyway. I'm not sure what to purchase...
My car is a road car and most likely won't see the track. Its driven hard every now and then, but not like a track car would be! Would like a nice set of coilovers and was looking at a set of AP's, KW Varient 1 Stainless, FK Konigsports (to name a few). Then I was thinking they are all good coilovers, but does a road car really need expensive coilovers? If you get adjustable, you adjust them til they suit you and never touch them again. Most of the time on the road you don't hammer round corners (well I don't). So are expensive coilovers on daily driven road cars just for scene points?
So now I'm swaying towards another set of cheap coilovers - JOM Blueline. 1. Because they are cheap! 2. Because they are blue and silver. Thats about it, I just think I don't really need to spend silly money when I could put it towards better things; like a new Quaife Diff.
What are all your opinions?
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Its personal choice Theres lots of threads on here the more u spend the better quality You get.... I get the opinion from many people theres bugger all wrong iwth a set of £200 Jamex coils... On the other hand Eibachs or koni's are suppost to be the bollox but at 3 tims the price its your call... Most forum users using cheaper coils seem to get on fine the only problem being ride comfort ie potholes!!
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I've been riding around on cheapo coilovers for a while and they are fine. Rode on FK's and they feel harsher. Heard from friends that have had many different sets and have said not much difference tbh and having a £400 set they said wasn't as good as the cheap set.
I shall be taking them low plus I have stretched tyres, so no matter what coilovers I get, it won't handle that great.
I can't justify the money being spent on "better" suspension when it can be spent elsewhere on the car.
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Ive had some of the cheapo Hot Tuning ones on for a week now, yes the ride is a bit harsh compared to normal but definately not un-comfortable and the handling is tonnes better, im about 75mm down on the front and 40mm on the rear (soon to be lower once my arches are sorted)
The GF said she couldn't really tell any difference on the ride, I would have bought a slightly more expensive set had I had the money but certainly wouldn't be paying silly money for a set for my daily, seems a waste to me :smiley:
I guess time will tell how good/bad they are gonna be but so far I'm happy an for £138 delivered to yr door and a 3 year warranty I cant really complain :wink:
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As you said, unless you are doing regular track days or dealing with serious performance, then regular JOM/Jamex/Hottuning coilies will be fine.
At the end of the day, all you need them for is to get low and improve the handling a bit.
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Mine arrived today mate, £132.00p delivered to the door. I know a few people with them on, and they say just as good as expensive ones, they only drop to a max of 70mm though, which is more than enough for what I want.
:smiley:
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What make are yours forest green? And how comfortable are these cheapies? Not expecting a lexus-like ride, but I had some tanabe pro coilovers from japan on a car at a cost of nearly 1500 pounds and they were nothing short of dangerous, the chassis would flex into any dip in the road and it was acctually bone shatteringly hard - admittedly raising them a little helped no end but still. :undecided:
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I switched to a set of technix ones on the back as a friend had some lying about. They're wound about halfway down and are rock solid, but a friend has a set of AP's on his Bora and the ride feels the same as mine, if not harder.
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As well as the two you mentioned also look at Wietec's.
Its true you dont touch the adjustable damping settings much, I've done it twice in 3 years.
But you have that choice.
I you were going for a track day you can wind em up or a long drive, let them down.
So I think its worth that bit extra.
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As well as the two you mentioned also look at Wietec's.
Its true you dont touch the adjustable damping settings much, I've done it twice in 3 years.
But you have that choice.
I you were going for a track day you can wind em up or a long drive, let them down.
So I think its worth that bit extra.
I did think that, but for the price of "better" coilovers, I can get a cheapo set and a Quaife Diff (almost :D )
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You pay cheap, get cheap in my opinion. Your doing your car to high standard right? Why cut corners on cheap coilovers? Ask yourself this..Why are they soo cheap? :huh:
What coilovers have you got now? and what's wrong with them? :grin:
I'd rather pay the extra for the better coilovers. I'm going for FK Konigsports Silverline as i've heard really good things about them!
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i'm alos debating coilovers versus shocks and springs. swaying towards shocks and spring sets more for ride comfort than anything else.
my question is if i fitted cheapish coilies and only wound them down say 40mm would the ride still be really harsh or would it be much better than dropping them to say 80mm?
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The point of cheapo coilies is adjustable ride height and slammage!
I know what your saying Jamie, but lots of people have said they don't really see the difference between expensive and cheap coilovers on the road. The only reason I can see, for me, to get an expensive set would be for scene points...
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No matter which ones you buy the ride is going to get harsher the lower you go, its basic physics. I agree with LL in the sense that buying expensive coilies for yr daily will gain you nothing but scene points. If you want to throw yr car round a track then buy the expensive ones, if yr car is used on the roads on a daily basis then buy the cheap ones, simples :wink:
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If you are going to get enough use out of adjustable damping and so on, then an expensive set like KW Variant 2s would be a good idea. If it's just to get low then Hot tuning/Jamex/etc work just fine. If you go for something like Spax RSX coilovers or Weitec coilovers (I think they're called Weitec GT?) you won't go as low, but your ride will be better and the damping, even if it's a set 30% or whatever, is much better sorted than on cheaper coilovers. You would notice the difference when cornering hard.
It's worth noting that no matter what brand you get the ride gets a LOT harsher if you have them wound down to the very bottom.
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well if i get some i'll only go down 50mm at the most as i'm not after the on its ass look or amazing cornering ablilty, just want it to look nice and firm up the handling somewhat without breaking my back!!
good advice guys, time to have another long hard think and check the bank balance :laugh:
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If you are going to get enough use out of adjustable damping and so on, then an expensive set like KW Variant 2s would be a good idea. If it's just to get low then Hot tuning/Jamex/etc work just fine. If you go for something like Spax RSX coilovers or Weitec coilovers (I think they're called Weitec GT?) you won't go as low, but your ride will be better and the damping, even if it's a set 30% or whatever, is much better sorted than on cheaper coilovers. You would notice the difference when cornering hard.
It's worth noting that no matter what brand you get the ride gets a LOT harsher if you have them wound down to the very bottom.
That's it. I'm going lower with this, to get rid of the arch gap (ish) so is going to be harsh regardless. Most of my driving is speed limit stuff tbh.
well if i get some i'll only go down 50mm at the most as i'm not after the on its ass look or amazing cornering ablilty, just want it to look nice and firm up the handling somewhat without breaking my back!!
good advice guys, time to have another long hard think and check the bank balance :laugh:
Perhaps a set of cheapo coilovers are the way to go for you. The adjustable height means you can set it at the exact height you like the look of. If you decide to go lower, just wind them down :)
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The point of cheapo coilies is adjustable ride height and slammage!
I know what your saying Jamie, but lots of people have said they don't really see the difference between expensive and cheap coilovers on the road. The only reason I can see, for me, to get an expensive set would be for scene points...
Have a read of what the Vr6 boys think: http://www.vr6oc.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?367909
The problem is they have a 50/50 rating some people can swear by them as they haven't had a fault with them in years others hate them. You don't want to spend that much on coilovers that have a shorter life then the more expensive ones.
All i'm saying is you pay for quality, i've heard negative things about them except that there good for the money. How can you go wrong for £200 though?
It might feel like scene points, but i can assure you it's not. I'm running SPAX PSX kit WITH adjustable dampering. I can't fault paying the extra for it as it's soo handy.
Your running a Mk3 1.8T conversion in R32 Blue, it deserves a decent suspension setup. It might only be a daily but you have an awesome car, don't spoil it with sh!tty coilovers..
Read my thread i started about coilovers, you may find it useful?? http://www.vr6oc.com/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?381904
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I guess that going for cheap coilovers for lows-only brings up the next question of why bother pushing 240bhp if you are rolling low'n'slow?
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I guess that going for cheap coilovers for lows-only brings up the next question of why bother pushing 240bhp if you are rolling low'n'slow?
Scene points? Oh f**k.
:D :D :D :D :D
Its not for lows only, they are good enough coilovers for what I would use them for - road use. They aren't good quality and it is like cutting a corner, but if I had £600 saved for coilies, that would £600 saved for a new diff.
Remember Quiafe Diff is mega scene points and mega awesomeness points at the same time!
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oh the eternal lowering debate, gotta love it :smiley:
end of the day everyone has different opinions, some people will do fine on cheap coilies other won't. my opinion is that my car is prob worth less than a grand now, is getting old and bits are wearing out regularly so there's no point me spending a lot on suspension. i just want to improve the look and handling so i think i've just talked myself into getting some pretty cheap jobbies.
i can always take them off if i hate them :smiley:
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I see what you mean Alex, i don't pay VAT so i can get it a lot cheaper! :cool:
My advice would be to look at better coilovers in the future, for now get the cheapos. Save up for the Diff then after that get the better coilovers!
If you don't, i know where you live! :evil:
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I see what you mean Alex, i don't pay VAT so i can get it a lot cheaper! :cool:
My advice would be to look at better coilovers in the future, for now get the cheapos. Save up for the Diff then after that get the better coilovers!
If you don't, i know where you live! :evil:
Ummm I was thinking if I get a set of JOM coilovers, you will probably hate me forever; not sure thats a risk I'm willing to take...
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I see what you mean Alex, i don't pay VAT so i can get it a lot cheaper! :cool:
My advice would be to look at better coilovers in the future, for now get the cheapos. Save up for the Diff then after that get the better coilovers!
If you don't, i know where you live! :evil:
Ummm I was thinking if I get a set of JOM coilovers, you will probably hate me forever; not sure thats a risk I'm willing to take...
At least JOM is the better out the lot, but it's your car mate!
I'd just be disappointed as you've spent so much time, money and hard work on the car. You can say you have a 1.8t engine, Borbet As, Hella Quads, R32 Blue respray....then you have to say you have budget coilovers lol
As long as you think about an upgrade in the future, my work here is done :cool: