mariamelia15

im looking to get some coilover but im not sure which ones would be the best for drive comfort and for occasional track usage......i have an 04 rx8....would like some input..

Loki

iTrader: (1)

What's your budget? The going favorite these days is Ohlins, but it's about $2000. Bilstein PSS is the more reasonable alternative with good qualities. Tein is OK if you really don't have the money for Bilstein. Don't bother with Megan, Ksport or anything in that range. There are MANY threads here about this, read up on people's experiences.

mariamelia15

^^thanks i will havent set a budget yet doing research atm

Steve Dallas

1. Ohlins, if you can afford it
2. Feal, if you can't afford Ohlins
3. Bilstein PSS or PSS9 (PSS9 adjuster is a near useless gimmick)
4. Tein

Those are listed in order of both price and quality, and are pretty much the only ones you should be considering.

[Fortune is another possibility, but the forum only has a sample size of 1, and there isn't much reason to choose Fortune over Feal, because Feal is well-proven in the Miata / MX-5 racing realm. Fortune does have a good contingency program, however.]

Steve Dallas

I have a few minutes, so I will expound on each option a little bit.

1. Ohlins uses an advanced valving system that allows the dampers to feel amazing on the street, while still being competent on the track. And, I do mean amazing. They really are. Dainty-wife-approved amazing for springs that are ~3x stiffer than stock. Track performance is quite good as well, but to fully realize their capabilities on the track, you need to optimize the spring rates, which can be done with rear adapters.

2. Feal is a known quantity in Miata and MX-5 racing (among others) and is delivering podium finishes in time attack and racing series in which coilovers are allowed. Several teams also run them in Formula D. Feal works on a consultation model and customizes valving and spring rates to your needs. Re-valves and rebuilds are very affordable. Components are top quality, including Swift springs.

3. I used Bilstein PSS9 coilovers for 2 years in HPDE and thought they delivered far more performance than their price would indicate. They are a true hybrid solution that come with the usual compromises. The "rebound" adjuster in the PSS9 version adjusts something, but it isn't purely rebound, and you will end up setting it on 5 and leaving it there, because all the other settings suck. So, you might as well save $500 and buy the non-adjustable PSS version, which actually has better valving, since it is not compromised by the needle valve.

4. Tein. I don't have much to say about Tein, other than they don't suck, like many Asian shocks do. I have never owned them, and have only driven on them as an instructor in students' cars. They seem to be well-made and durable, but they are outclassed in performance by all of the above.

Stay the hell away from Stance, Powertrix, BC, Megan, Ksport, and all the rest. They are all worthless junk.

KW is another brand you may see referenced. They are pretty good in terms of performance, but you can do much better for the price (see: 1 and 2 above). I have friends running KW V3s and Clubsports, and they each have 2 sets in rotation, because the shocks require frequent repair. Those guys do a LOT of track days, though, like 3 per month. For the $5000 they have invested in 2 sets of KWs, they could have a set of Penske, MCS, AST, Tractive, etc.

tgaffner

If Pagani uses Ohlins, I'm using Ohlins

Okki-Jakarta

I'm going tein flex Z. it's affordable. got good roots, yokohama(japan) made. But i'm no racer, just need to refresh my suspension. OEM costs only slightly cheaper here so I'll go with tein.