Cheap coilovers or lowering kit - Saxperience

AdamL200 · 13th April 2018, 22:33

Need to buy some suspension for my vtr getting ready for doing track days, not sure which way to go tho. Can get a set of v maxx coilovers for about £330 or a 60mm spax lowering kit for £300.dont wana go crazy on price both have good reviews but I just think the good reviews for the coilovers are from people wanting to just drop the car to the floor rather than any kind of performance increase but they are ment to be really stiff which is a bonus,and well spax are spax good bit of kit lol.any thoughts?

karl_mh · 14th April 2018, 09:01

If you are on a limited budget my personal opinion would be to go with the Spax (Assuming you mean the front dampers and springs) although the Spax set up in not ride height adjustable the benefits are that you assemble, fit and race without having to mess with the height.

Not sure if your a novice or have had prior track experience but the Spax suspension would seem the best value for you budget.

welshpug · 14th April 2018, 09:07

spax are shit.

buy some eibach or kam racing springs and leave the stock dampers for now.

AdamL200 · 14th April 2018, 11:45

Ye done a few trackdays and had loads of decent cars before and work on various historic race cars at Work,and Ye its the spax non adjustable 60mm lowering kit front springs and 4 uprated shocks,and I’ve itterally never heard any 1 say spax are shit and in my opinion doing springs and not shocks it’s possibly the worst way to go, shocks are way more important than springs, Ye I get lowering it on stiffer springs would gain some benefit over standard but better shocks make a lot more difference

welshpug · 14th April 2018, 20:13

you've not been in the right circles then, you need to experience actual good dampers to see how poor spax are.

oem psa dampers are very good on the sport chassis so a mild spring upgrade will not hurt them.

60mm is far too much of a drop whatever damper you use.

sri_130 · 14th April 2018, 21:16

Buget build, get stiffer springs, that'll do.
I found anything less than 200lb was a waste of time. Cheaper to have them made by faulkner direct as well.

brakes and tyres added on = 3 simplistic mods that would yield many good budget track adventures.

AdamL200 · 14th April 2018, 21:18

Ye I’m definatly in the wrong circles in my job we no nothing haha nd surely shortened shocks would be matched to springs?

AdamL200 · 14th April 2018, 21:18

Tyres are sorted got some Dunlop slicks

Bedford126 · 14th April 2018, 22:11

Lol slicks on a car with semi standard suspension

AdamL200 · 14th April 2018, 23:41

Can’t complain at free slicks, and how would either a lowering kit or coilovers be semi standard,what else would you suggest?

karl_mh · 15th April 2018, 08:41

Simply trying to assist based on the stated options Welshpug!

welshpug · 15th April 2018, 09:27

no lowering kit will work with slicks, you need proper suspension.

sri_130 · 15th April 2018, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamL200

Ye I’m definatly in the wrong circles in my job we no nothing haha nd surely shortened shocks would be matched to springs?

I'm not sure I understand the original question. If it's budget, then that's what we are suggesting. The cheapest and easiest way to 'improve' in the loosest sense.

In reality id say, save your money and enjoy it, until you can get something to work a set of slicks!

OR The best suspension mod I made ever, was harder springs, as mentioned. It stopped pitching nose dives under braking and prevented the rear wheel from cocking. Understeer was reduced and it was next to nothing to have some made, accounting for free length to match the dampers I had to suit - at the time. I think I even had a couple of different rates just for testing purposes!

AdamL200 · 15th April 2018, 14:18

I don’t wana spend aload of money due to it just being a saxo is my original point, Ye they make a great little car but ploughing loads of money into it just makes no sense id rather just in time buy somthing better suited like a kit car or impreza etc etc which I will do. So at the moment the better cheaper upgrades for the car are the best plan, free tyres, 306gti6 brakes,strut braces,Bucket seats and harnesses, half cage,short shift kit and so on there relatively inexpensive upgrades but good things for the car.

AdamL200 · 15th April 2018, 14:20

Plus I’m fully aware of what tyres do for a car and saying slicks on a standard car don’t work is daft, but I’m open to all opinions

Synister · 16th April 2018, 08:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by sri_130

Buget build, get stiffer springs, that'll do.
I found anything less than 200lb was a waste of time. Cheaper to have them made by faulkner direct as well.

brakes and tyres added on = 3 simplistic mods that would yield many good budget track adventures.

What's the 106/saxo spring I.D and length? Always fancied a stiffer set from faulkner.

welshpug · 16th April 2018, 18:32

saxo will be much quicker around a track against an impreza for a similar given budget...

ESD1711 · 17th April 2018, 13:13

I was on a 'budget' when I built mine and I went a different route.

Keep your eyes peeled for a second hand set of decent suspension.

I paid £300 for mine and that got me Bilsteins.

Yup, second hand a bit of an unknown quantity spring wise - but for the money its a better option in my opinion.

Ben_SaxoForte · 17th April 2018, 14:43

Apex 50mm lowering kit isnt bad for the price going for 260 on ebay, they're a harsh ride sometimes but if you can put up with that they do the job for the budget.

AdamL200 · 17th April 2018, 18:20

It’s not a road car so harsh ride isn’t really a problem, il have a look on eBay ��