Just found out that they have the KW v2 for 07/08 Fit on sale on TireRack's website. Can't stop thinking about it, really tempting!!!!

Anyone of you guys used their stuff before? Wonder if that's a good deal to go for....

 

i have a set on my ptgt... they're very very nice...

they tend to go with a slightly softer spring setup with better valving... but i've had my set for nearly 6 years and i still like it...

 

Sorry man I know it sounds stupid but what do u meant ptgt?

How much mileage did u build up after 6yrs? And what kinda road condition in your area? We got a lot of rots here in main intersections here thanks to those big trucks. That's why I don't want anything that would cause the car bouncing/jumping here & there, especially around corners.

 

sorry... ptgt = pt cruiser gt

i've put on about 50k on it since the install... started in florida, now i've been in the northeast salt crap for over 4 years...

i have the variant 2's, which are rebound adjustable and will certainly help to soften things on crappy roads and whatnot... can't tell you if it'll be enough or to your liking though...

i can just say that the strut bodies look brand new still, and the valving is killer... i enjoy them...

 

The setup on your ptgt uses progressive springs/linear springs with helper springs right? I drove a 04 focus with non-adjustable kw V1 coilovers yesterday and man I am really really impressed when i was driving over some uneven road surface or humps on the straight or around the corners. So I was wondering if they only made the popular hot hatch setup nicely or not....

Man that's nice to hear the strut body's still OK after u drove it for 50k miles with 4yrs in NE environment with road salt.

 

actually mine has linear springs... so it's a bit harsh even for the relatively low spring rates that are on it... but the ones i have have the mopar linear springs on it... the kw ones are indeed progressive and soak up minor road imperfections quite well, but hunker down for road carving...

and it looks like all kw makes for the fit is the v2's which i would recommend anyway...

best thing to do i think, would be to give their tech support a call and ask them about the spring setup that comes with those particular c/o's: progressive? linear? linear with a helper? and spring rates or spring rate spread and that will tell you a good deal about how it'll ride, while keeping in mind that the struts won't be harsh if you don't want them to be...

 

I really wanted to try these as well before I got my skunks. But the lack of reviews detoured me away from them. All this knowing the reputation KW has in the euro world.

 

Yeah I guess I don't mind to run progressive/helper springs on my future setup. Getting old here. Can't stand with the 16k/14k linear springs type of racy suspension setup anymore. MAYBE on a double wishbone but not macpherson strut I'm pretty sure.

I will give them a call and see if there's any chance, if I can get linear springs or different spring rates in the future. I would assume for such a HUGE company they would have such service.

Special: I guess I will post up more reviews IF i really got that setup. Too bad ST(Suspension Technique) isn't offering any coilovers for the Fit. Since their stuff are made by KW too?

 

I have the v2's on my Fit and a set of v1's on an E46 325xi.
I've only been to a few track days, but for daily driving, I'm pretty happy with them. They're a lot more comfortable than the T1R coils I had before.

For the Fit, the fronts are linear w/ helper spring, if I remember correctly it has 6k springs, and the rears are progressive.

 

ST's are made by kw... HOWEVER they do not have the stainless strut bodies of the kw's - they have galvanized steel iirc... which will still stand up to a decent amount of abuse, but not like stainless...

you can get custom spring rates put in there... give em a call - they're pretty helpful...

 

With the skunks I have the opposite opinions, absolutely LOVE them at the track. On the daily, the suspension can get a bit... yea... Especially after a long day at work, no beuno to that race suspension

Spoon: I would really appreciate that, as I do value your reviews, given we probably have similar driving preferences. I was already thinking of going KW after my skunk set and once I stop tracking the fit. Now it koni would make yellows for our car I would no doubt run the typical koni/gc setup that ive seen work so well on hondas.

 

How long have u been using your setup for gawa? Do u daily drive your car even during the long cold winter?

apexanimal: Yeah and I also think that the ST setups are more to the comfy side. My brother installed those ST coilovers for a few Audi. And after a couple of road tests the springs are "settling in" or sagging already. Which of course the car looks lower & lower and we need to crank 'em backup to avoid rubbing. Ride comfort wise, can't complain man. It did firm up the ride but still feel somewhat like stock.

Special: I actually plan to track the KW setup also IF i'm really getting it. I only go to a few lapping events a year anyway all I wanna find is something fun to drive without bouncing all over the place.

I was talking to some GE guys in Asia recently. Been debating what setup to go for. After I compared the price they aren't actually paying that much more for the Bilstein B14 PSS coilovers or KW V1 compare with BC racing & TEIN etc. For the GE guys I really think that's a no brainer. I wish we have that option on the GD.

 

It's been on the Fit for about 2 years now, I daily drove it the first year, through the winter as well. The second year I stopped daily driving the Fit and stored it.I daily drive the E46 now with the V1's, first winter for the V1 though.

The Fit KW's held up well after the winter. Granted, I did wash the car a lot (had that Petro season pass for car washes lol... do you guys have that in BC?). They still look great, much like apexanimal's experience with KW's in the winter.

 

There aren't a lot of Petro-Can location with that here however I still try to either hose off the car with power wash twice a week OR wash the car myself every couple weeks when weather allows. Guess u like their stuff if not u won't get a set of V1 for your E46 too eh?

Thanks for all the input guys!

 

product details shows front spring rate as 285 lb/in, which is about 5k, linear in the front, and progressive in the rear.

 

KW makes a great suspension set up when I was working at my old shop (retail) we sold lots of them to the Porsche and BMW guys. I would recommend getting the KW V3s thought since they come with compression and rebound adjustment.

Do you plan to lower the car a lot? Or just get a nice drop for street and track use?

-Jade@Ksport

 

Hi Jade thanks for your input also! Yeah I'm just gonna lower it for a bit, get it corner weighed & alignment done to it for street/autoX/lapping events. Don't know too much about those "fitment/flush/stance" things. All I really want is something that's fun to drive and something that won't screw up my suspension geometry too much. It's not a time attack car so it doesn't need to be slammed.

They only made the v2 setup for 07-08 fit and v1 for the 09+ fit as far as I know. A lot of Subaru guys here in pacNW love to use the v3 setup and coilovers offered by Race Engineering. Other than that I've seen a lot of euro car owners use Koni/Bilstein/AST/KW stuff at lapping events too. I'm sure the v3 are nice especially for track use but v2 setup will be easier for me to setup. My brother will see how my setup turn out he's considering to get a set of v3 for his STi before next lapping season.