As a newcomer to the forum since last month, I have quickly come to appreciate the vast knowledge base residing here. The contributing members are top-notch and the moderators are super. Since putting HAN on my regular viewing list, I have already found answers to the following questions:

* Hatch rattle: (this one was driving me crazy!)
* Spark plugs: stick with OEM
* Advance your timing? This one was more of a non-issue, apparently
* High-flow cats: not legal in California
* Cat-back exhaust: I'm going with RS-R ExMag based on civilized tone and subtle blacked-out looks, as reported in forum recommendations

All of which brings me to my latest suspension question. I've cruised the FAQ's and searched the database, but there's sooo much info out there that it's still confusing to me.

So this is my goal.... Right now my fenderwell gap is 2" and I think it would look just right at 1" and still not drag the soft underbelly over lurking hazards. So I want to lower the car 1". I also want to maintain as close to original ride as possible. I don't auto-x or race and just want sharp handling with reasonable comfort. Finally, while cost is always important, I'm most interested in quality results.

So what's the best solution for me? Can I get there with springs only? Or is it better to combine springs w/ dampers as a kit? Or would the adjustibility of coilovers be the top choice? I know there are lots of favorable posts here about Ground Control coilovers w/ yellow KONI's. Would I need an alignment kit? Also, should any normal shop be able to handle the installation?

So what's the hot set-up for my conditions?