When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I can't seem to figure out what I want, so I am reaching out here to gather some opinions.
Situation: A year ago I chose to go with the H&R sport springs paired with my stock struts and shocks that had 150k on them. I didn't replace any of the rubber spring isolators. I also have the sport rims and the default 185/45 (?) tire size.
This setup is not recommended, at least from me. Potholes and plates in the road jolt the car when you go over them, extremely loud. On the freeway as well, it's a bit noisier than stock. The ride is fine on a smooth road, but sudden bumps are absolutely horrible. Small sharp speed bumps have to be taken at a snails pace to not jolt you.
What I wanted was a little bit more spirit in the corners, an upgrade in handling, and a little lower look. Now I could actually care less, I'll do my racing at the R/C track
What I want: Today, I want a car that doesn't shock me on every seam and railroad track in the road. I am ok with a stiff ride, but this one has issues that I don't feel in other stiff cars, even cars on coilovers. I tossed my stock springs, otherwise reverting to stock would be a no brainer option. I don't want to spend much more but I gotta do something, I love everything else about this car.
Options:
Install new spring isolators, matching struts and shocks for the H&R Sport springs on the car right now. (But Koni STR.t seems like it's not much of an upgrade? I'm stumped on what I would buy.)
Bilstein B14 set at tirerack at just under 1k (It's expensive but turnkey and the reviews are great)
Really?! I'd never done suspension work on a car before but always thought that coilovers weren't a good option. So that's why my buddies with coilovers have a more comfortable ride?
Kindof makes me want Bilsteins more though...
Coilovers vs springs has nothing to with ride. Spring rate and shock dampening do. The Bilsteins are probably more aggressive then you are looking for. TEIN offer a softer ride. My Eibach springs rode stiffer then my coilovers but the spring rates were higher and I had a performance shock
it sounds crazy, but, tein flex z or tein street basis z coilovers (TWIN TUBE) are indeed, more comfy than stock. ive tried koni orange paired with 3 sets of springs, and none of which compares (comfort wise) to my tein twin tube coilovers
this is not a blanket statement that says ALL coilovers are comfy ... fyi. we could easily point you towards coilovers that are even more harsh.... than your springs. I'll leave that up to you to research more into this
I can offer personal experience on the TEIN Flex-Z and they are as comfy if not more then stock.I was running a finger gap and it felt stock.
Wife never complained so you know it was good lol
That being said if you are looking for hella flush fitment or slamming they are not stiff enough to prevent the tires from rubbing. I went low enough that I had to roll my front fenders to keep from scrapping on large bumps. If the springs were stiffer it probably wouldn't have rubbed but would have been a worse ride. They did improve handling as the center of gravity was lowered but not as much as a good set of "race" coilovers. .
I think they were worn but it was a single owner car before me and would guess they were mostly hw miles. I am more likely being picky.
GolNat, you know if I decide to go OEM I am probably buying your springs you have up and a set of Koni Sr.t. I am quite tempted to do that actually, even though having a lowered car is fun...
I can offer personal experience on the TEIN Flex-Z and they are as comfy if not more then stock.I was running a finger gap and it felt stock.
Wife never complained so you know it was good lol
That being said if you are looking for hella flush fitment or slamming they are not stiff enough to prevent the tires from rubbing. I went low enough that I had to roll my front fenders to keep from scrapping on large bumps. If the springs were stiffer it probably wouldn't have rubbed but would have been a worse ride. They did improve handling as the center of gravity was lowered but not as much as a good set of "race" coilovers. .
lol, we all should probably give our significant other's more credit. My GF prefers riding in my rather low S2000 with its loud extreme summer tires, low/stiff suspension, slightly louder exhaust and random scraping noises from front lip/tires on fenders/bumpers, etc. She hates cars but still enjoys that.
I hope they're as good as you say they are, but a Fit will never ride great.
lol, we all should probably give our significant other's more credit. My GF prefers riding in my rather low S2000 with its loud extreme summer tires, low/stiff suspension, slightly louder exhaust and random scraping noises from front lip/tires on fenders/bumpers, etc. She hates cars but still enjoys that.
I hope they're as good as you say they are, but a Fit will never ride great.
Lol, yea that sounds like a nightmare to my wife. I think for that she would be okay with it because it's more of a sports car. How could you not love riding in an S2000
No the Fit is not the greatest in comfort. A Golf is much better at that but the Tein's are definitely comfortable and don't make the ride worse.
