After having springs-coilovers-full coilovers...NOTHING compares to a matched full coilover setup. I know the cost is high but you can't expect superior results from a $200 set of springs, when you compare that to a $1000 coilover, you truely get what you pay for IMHO!

 

What coilover/shock combo did you have before?

 

My roomate has Tein HA's on his civic, but it should be noted that to use them you need ITR rear lower control arms. JIC also makes great stuff, but is very pricey.

 

I actually bought a set of OBX spec R coilovers, they are fully adjustable and ride excellent compared to the set of skunk2 and agx I had. I am very happy and paid $550 instead of the $1300 retail.

 

Skunk2s have relatively high spring rates, that's why your ride wasn't very comfortable. They're actually a performance suspension, unlike the OBX system.

 

i got the dropzone coilovers...i love em!! i got them here

http://www.speedstash.com/coilovers.html


well worth it i would say

 

Cheap coilovers = worse than a set of springs + shocks for the same price.

I've heard skunk2 gave a bouncy ride blah blah blah but that's probably because of high spring rates coupled with a weak dampening system.

Unless you have $1K + to spend on quality full coilovers, a spring/shock combo will work fine. GC's will also work well right out of the box; once you go custom spring rates/revalve shocks it'll be almost as expensive as the full coilover systems anyways.

Shingo

 

I did a search and found out something odd... the skunk 2 and APC coilovers have similar if not identical spring rates. You say my coilover suspension isn't geared for performance when I say they ride excellent, so by your reasoning APC coilovers make you car handle just as well as skunk 2? You car HAS to ride like ass to handle well? I keep my struts on their softest setting because I drive over an hour 1 way to my job, on weekends I turn the struts about 8 clicks in the front and 5 clicks in the rear, then the ride becomes very stiff, the car "feels" better in the turns. Also, my cheap full threaded body coilover system w/ adjustable struts will probably outhandle a LOT of cars on the street, but simply because it says OBX people assume that they are cheap.
Kinda like saying APC/ dropzone/ etc is equal to Skunk 2 coilovers simply because they have a high spring rates and ride very stiff...I consider coilover in general CHEAP, unless you change to strut and match the springs w/ a performance strut, you basically just damage you factory strut, make you car ride like ****, but think it'll be the **** on the street, I've installed more bull**** coilover systems than I can count, and they are all the same when you get down to it, high spring rate (so they don't collapse from holding up soo much weight and being sooo short), adjustability (which is helpful), and poor ride quality caracteristics.
Springs=decent ride, no adjustability, still needs a good perf. strut
Coilovers=poor ride, very adj, still needs a good perf. strut
threaded body coilover suspension w/ adj struts=good ride when desired through adj, struts, high spring rate for needed handling, very adj.
Need I say more???
Also if I have misquoted ANY information, please correct me, but have some backup, I'm just trying to get the BEST info for the original thread poster to help his decision.

 

Again, I will continue to back up Ground Control + Koni yellows as an affordable, competition-proven coilover-sleeve adjustable suspension system. While the spring rates they come with stock (350F/280R ?) may be "similar" to comparable systems' rates, Ground Control uses Eibach Springs.

The original poster probably isn't going to be doing serious racing, but you may as well go with something that thousands of autocrossers and competitors use every weekend.

I had a very negative experience with OBX, so I'm biased with regards to that view.

Shingo

 

#1: What are the spring rates, and where did you find them? Just because both are made by Eibach does not mean they have the same rates.

#2: Higher spring rates mean you need greater damping power to make them ride decently, or you'll bounce all over the place Which means you need a performance shock. If you want a good ride with either springs or coilovers, you have to get a better shock, end of stork.

#3: Good ride and high performance have nothing to do with each other. Lincolns have a good ride. Do they corner well? Hell no.

Coilovers do not, in general, have higher spring rates than springs. In fact, all a coilover is is a standard spring wedged between two collars.

Also, I don't see your argument about coilovers being 'bad' because they need a performance strut. A full body coilover has a performance strut already!