I'm shopping for an RX8. I"ve test driven a bunch. The car handles nice, but needs to be stiffer. I've been spoiled by my dad's boxster which has a factory upgraded suspension setup and fat sticky 18" tires..his car is WAY bumpier than an rx8, but it also handles much better.

i can't really afford a porsche...so I'm going to probably get an rx8, but want to stiffen it up.

i'll do sway bars. maybe strut bars. I will for sure change out tires and do really sticky high performance tires like PS2s or some other high performance tire. I'm alos going to get shocks/springs to lower it and stiffen it up more.

I know I can get koni sports and add springs. I've also seen coilover systems. if you go to www.shox.com they list the KW coilover system, an Eibach coilover system, Bilstein PSS9 system, and H&R coilovers.

the KW is over $2000. but the other three are all in the $1100-1200 range.

the konis + springs will cost about $800. so it's not *that* much more to go coilovers. another 400 bucks...

i've had cars with konis/springs on it in the past. i've never had a set of coilovers.

i will probably track the car once a year at most. maybe twice. nothign serious. just newbie track days for fun. mostly i'll be using it to commute around locally and to have fun on local twistie roads...spirited street driving

i'm honestly not sure if the coilovers are ONLY good b/c you can adjust more stuff - or if they truly will provide superior handling?? if it's just adjustability - it's not worth it to me as I'll never use it. on my last car that I had konis/springs on , I would adjust the shocks from stiff to soft if i knew I was going on a long road trip...etc...but i normally just kept it on stiff and enjoyed the nice handling. if there are adjustments for height, rebound, compression, etc... i'd rarely use any of it...except it if were really easy to make it hard/soft... that would be all i'd do.

konis/springs may be good enough... unelss people say that the coilover systems actaully provide much better handling with a better ride??

if the coilovers are BETTER? WHY???? thanks.

 

A few people on here are selling their KW Variant 3 Coilovers for around $1300 if you decide to get them. Much cheaper than the $2000 you found.

 

from what you describe, I think you'd be in good shape with the Koni / springs.
The front Koni's are easily adjusted, the rears do need to be removed though. (just an fyi)

 

Koni's and springs have worked very well for me, though my car has never seen a track. I don't doubt that a high quality coilover setup would embarrass mine on a race course, but I feel confident saying that if you do get sways, strut bars, springs and shocks and do find their limits on the street, you'll probably do it killing yourself or someone else going ridiculously fast. Have fun and be careful out there

 

The rx8 handles very very good, when you get the cars go to a few track days and see what it can do, and learn. then modify as you need

 

here's a good write up on how the Koni's held up on the track. https://www.rx8club.com/driven-performance-equipment-98/koni-vs-tokico-track-122134/

 

That write-up is very informative indeed.

Konis+Tein H-Tech springs on my car as a compromise comfort/track setup. It's a daily driver which sees track days every other month. Have been very pleased with the compromise setup as it provides just enough composure on the track without being harsh on the street. I've driven an RX-8 on Cusco coilovers, and as a comparo, the coilovers are more settled on the track, as expected.