Coilovers or stay standard?

[WeekendMechanic]

My golf has done 92000km and the shocks have never been replaced. What should I do, go for a new set of shocks all round, or if I convert to coil overs will the ride feel better lowered?
What do i have to look out for will I start getting an annoying scraping noise from having passengers in the back, do I buy quality,how much would it run me?
I`m more of a keep it reliable and comfy, than a bling bling guy, if its going to cause problems, what should I look out for?

[thai-wronghorse]

Basically buy the best you can afford if you want to retain some ride compliance. If you only want to go slightly lower and improve the handling I'd say stick with struts and springs rather than coil overs unless you're willing to pay a considerable amount of money out.

[Len]

Converting to coilovers will give you a choice over ride height.
As above though you will get a worse ride unless you spend a lot of money (above £500) for adjustable coilovers.

If you want to lower it then get a set of springs say 40/30mm drops and some really good gas shocks, at least Boge or better (Konis if you can afford)

[Godzilla]

Interesting......So to get a good ride quality from coilovers you need to spend a few quid.  Are the cheap ones very hard ride then?  I have Koni shocks and springs on mine that have given a 20mm drop. I wonder if they are worth anything on say Ebay as I might buy some good coilovers.  I did get some coilovers second hand the other month but sold them on.

[Foreveryoungaus16v]

Cheap coilovers ruin the ride and don't improve handling as much as people think they do.

Anything under £1000 is probably going to be worse than a spring/damper combination.

Most lowering springs will only lower the car 40mm max,so you'll probably end up raising it.

Bilstein B8 or Koni dampers, H&R or Eibach springs are meant to be really good but expensive.  I can't afford

them at the moment but def planned for the future. I have AP coilovers which are ok but budget ones

[Gavv8]

Get some coilies and slam it on it arse....

[WeekendMechanic]

I`m just going to go for the shock absorbers for now and keep it high.
Thanks for all the information guys I really appreciate it.

[tweed]

If you only lower 40mm max on budget coilovers the ride is ok. Still stiff but not bouncy or back breaking and is 100% improvement over standard setup for handling.

A good kit will have damping and rebound adjustment so when you ain't low you can soften it up so that it rides like a standard car etc.

A good coilover kit won't lower a car any more than 60mm

Any lower than 60mm and the handling gets worse no matter what coilovers you fit as the suspension geometry will be out and won't work as it should.

That's why I always say if your going super low buy the cheapest set you can find because your just wasting money otherwise

   

[Godzilla]

If you only lower 40mm max on budget coilovers the ride is ok. Still stiff but not bouncy or back breaking and is 100% improvement over standard setup for handling.

A good coilover kit won't lower a car any more than 60mm
 

That is interesting to know that a good coilover kit wont go any lower than 60mm.

[coolio]

kw v1 can lower to 85mm and the ride is still very good !