9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Awesome in what way exactly? I know a guy (total noob who likes to learn the had way) selling these after having them on a month for $300.00,

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

biller dont listen to 9k, he has no no idea what the hell hes talking about. he spends all his time polishing his engine bay

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Shut your muff eater, I want to hear what make these "awesome".

bse50

The facth that they use recyclable materials since they'll end up in the dumpster in close to no time makes them awesome.

Seriously, the raw materials to make a decent coilover cost more than what they sell theirs for.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

paging Monchie .....

Dokuji

I'm honestly considering it for 400 dollars. would probably still be a better ride quality than aftermarket springs on OEM struts. adjust-ability is nice to have. Particularly since I'm not looking to track this car just yet. Cruising/transportation only. I'd be interested to see how well they function as compared to 7-800 dollar or even 1k range coils. Softer spring rates are fine for a daily, if not somewhat preferred. a nice solid 3 inch drop would be just about perfect, if actually true as advertised.

I would like to see someone who has them installed... Nobody wants to be the guinea pig q-q

bse50

Adjustability costs. A simple valve is so unpredictable that makes it worthless. That's also true for $1k range chinese crappy coilovers.
Just because you bought the car for cheap it doesn't mean that performance parts are.

I bench tested some freshly rebuilt D2 coilovers the same day I tested my Ohlins when I had my Rx8.
D2 are worse than stock and the only reason they feel "hard" is because of their springs. Since they cost over 2 times the price of riceland stuff you can do the math.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

A set of progress tech lowering springs on a healthy set of OEM tokico shocks will always be better than all of the coilovers under $1500.00. I speak from experience as an owner of shitty Stance GR coilovers with swift springs. My previous setup was shocks and Tein S techs and the car handled much better. My custom Bilstein based coilovers will be on soon.

Steve Dallas

No. The ride quality will be much worse than OEM, assuming the OEM shocks are in good condition. Healthy Tokico shocks are better than decent. The 8's stock suspension is quite good and will always outperform a cheap setup. I have seen it at the track and autoX at least a dozen times.

A 3" drop and soft springs does not even compute. You have to have very stiff springs to keep you from riding the bump stops constantly when you are that low.

I know you know this and are just being obtuse, but any drop more than about 1" causes poor handling in an 8 unless you have a fully custom setup engineered for the new ride height. And, no coilover has a shock that is designed to lower more than about 1.5" at most. Going lower than that puts the shock outside its optimal range, which guarantees it will not last long.

The best advice anyone can give someone on a budget is to buy a set of Eibach Pro-Kit (or other quality brand) springs to pair with your OEM shocks or a set of Bilstein Sport shocks (assuming you have an S1) and be happy with 1.25" of lowering and a sportier ride created by quality parts. Forget about slamming the car. There is almost no way of doing it that will not ruin it. Doing it right will cost a small fortune.

I don't even know why I am banging my head against this wall.

Dokuji

^^ I've had some pretty high end teins on an old s2k, and plenty of low to mid range coils on other various cars in my past, so I'm not a stranger to the different options out there or riding low and what that does to handling and performance.

I definitely appreciate the input, don't get me wrong. I'm just kicking around the idea. Worst case, I'm out a few hundred bucks and I can always throw the OEM setup back on if calamity ensues. XD

Again, were I looking to build a track car I wouldn't ever go this route. The fact that noone has tried this application makes it somehow more tempting. I have heard plenty of mixed reviews on Riceland when i used to troll the clubroadster forums, so I have an idea of what to expect. But for going to get groceries I can't really justify spending over 1k. certainly nowhere near 2k or above.

Dokuji

I'm talking soley about ride height adjustability. :P Also i didn't buy my car for cheap at all. I understand the market pretty well, this is just one of those topics that is always a bit divisive. My needs are very simple. It's just an interesting prospect at the moment.

Dokuji

Yeah, I saw those in the stickied thread. looked like the best setup on OEM shocks for sure. But I need adjust-ability. Especially for WI winters q-q. If they turn out to be THAT horrible. I'll use them for winter just to save my OEM setup the abuse. lol.

It's just really hard to knock them for the price. I can't imagine they're much worse than Megans or Godspeeds or even tein basics or ksports, d2s, etc.. and at least they have them priced to reflect a fair value for what you're actually getting. Like you say, anything under that 1500 price point is more or less the same Sh*t anyways. so might as well get a bargain on some doo-doo!!

Dokuji

Ultimately, I probably won't end up getting them anyways, because again, no one wants to be the guinea pig. But I would definitely like to see their potential or lack thereof for myself. *shrugs

Steve Dallas

Again we arrive at the fact that slamming the car [on the cheap] is more important to you than improving--or at least maintaining--the handling and ride quality aspects of the car. That being the case, you will find very little help on this forum, since most of us view that as sacrilege when applied to a car that is built for excellent handling. In thread after thread, people try to explain why what you are trying to do is a bad idea. Many speak from experience, but you refuse to listen.

The very short version of what everyone is telling you is, you cannot lower the car 3" and maintain ride quality or handling, and you especially cannot do it inexpensively. It really is that simple.

There is no such thing as a good, cheap coilover. That animal does not exist.

Hopefully, you will one day outgrow the need to ride low and the willingness to embrace the suck that goes along with it. But, hey, who am I to judge? Buy some cheap crap, slam your car, and enjoy the suck. I'm out.

Dokuji

A three inch drop, especially on the 8, is nowhere near slammed. Lol. And again, i can always throw the oem setup back on if it's undrivable garbage. I have driven plenty of cars, lowered and unlowered on various setups, all of which reknowned for their handling and i understand that there is no way a pair of $400 ricelands will hold up on a track. However, for daily use, they aren't all that terrible a prospect.

The comment i made about springs on oem shocks was because for the price, thats the only comparable option to lower the car. I would rather have a pair of 400 dollar racelands blow on me than mismatch a spring to my oems and have them fail. How is that neglecting my car in any way?? If anything its the smarter alternative than risking a disproportionate spring rate to the oem struts, And yes, i'm also aware of the added stress running low has on suspension linkage and bushings. 3 inches is a moderate drop at best. This i know.

I wasn't really looking for anyones help, i was simply stating an opinion. I would rather save money for keeping my motor and tranny healthy on the 8 than spend way too much money on a set of track-spec suspension i will never utilize and in many cases offers a less comfortable ride for daily use than a lower end coilover setup. I too am speaking from personal experience here, though i know you refuse to believe that. :p

My next "mods" will be oem coil packs and spark plugs anyways, amongst other 90k maintenance tasks. Please don't question my aptitude or my desire to keep the 8 in top shape. Again, this is always a very divisive topic. Not everybody has the same needs or desires from their suspension, but that doesn't mean we don't care about our cars. Once again, i can always restore the oem setup if i so desire. I am fully capable of doing so. XD

bse50

Keeping the rx8 in top shape is no longer a divisive topic and hasn't been for the last 10 odd years.

If i'm telling you to save 400$ it's because I have probably driven more dfferently tuned cars this month than you have in the past year

Dokuji

^^ that really doesn't matter does it? I've driven enough to know what I'm talking about, and I've been on enough car forums for the last decade to understand both mentalities.

coils are a pretty finite area of the car, and have little to do with the overall health and shape of the vehicle. They are a single component that can easily be replaced when worn. I know exactly what to expect from these and for the money, it isn't all that bad of a deal. even if they do end up being trash or blowing on me in 6 months; I still get to keep my oem gear. There's really nothing else to it.

There should be more of a push to keep people away from cheap intakes and "power mods" on our cars than cheap coils. :P That is the kind of stuff that ruins rx8s.


Everywhere you go there will always be people arguing between how much money to spend on aftermarket suspension, and how low or high to run them at. At the end of the day, it really does come down to personal preference and an individuals goals for their car. The car will still be the same, and if one day i decide to get some custom bilsteins and start tracking my 8, i can totally do so in a matter of about 3 hours install. It isn't nearly as critical as you guys make it out to be and I'm not the complete brolo who comes in to the forum knowing nothing about cars wanting to pimp my ride. XD

I get it though... you guys have been around for years and the 8 is an amazing, classic car that should be treated with respect. I feel the same way, and in most other topics we'd probably be right on the same page. I just have a different opinion about this particular piece of equipment, which i do have first hand experience dealing with in the past, as I know you all do as well.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Blown shocks can do plenty of damage to the car and your life. But you have your mind made up, if you want cheap **** on your car then put cheap **** on your car.

bse50

I'm not talking about the rx8 specifically. I'm talking about the actual shocks. If you truly knew anything about suspension set ups you'd be keeping your oem shocks with 1" lower springs instead of throwing 400$ away. Because, once you take the time to open and inspect such a low level product it's crystal clear that you just threw the money away.

You even go as far as talking about adjustability. I'd be willing to bet that, out of the 30 "clicks" only 3 or 4 steps would show a significant difference.
Not only that but lowering the car 3" will **** UP the whole suspension geometry. Things like roll center, dynamic camber, bump steering and the likes are all messed up once you lower the car that much.

Dokuji

^^ any shock can go bad at any time, including your Bilsteins, no matter the cost. If that happens, I'd swap em out.

I already said earlier I most likely wouldn't get them anyways. my initial comment was just more of a rant/muse of inquiry than anything.

Dokuji

Again, I never mentioned dampening. Even on Tein Flex's the 32 way dampening is more like 3 steps. negligible at best.

I was only referring to ride height.
Which is why you get adjustable coils... which can be adjusted/raised if needs or wants warrant it. It always amazes me how such intelligent, knowledgeable car guys such as yourself miss that part. None of the changes would be permanent or irreversible when dealing with suspension.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Go bad and fail structurally and come apart are two different things. And no one really considers Tein a high end product either.

Dokuji

^ Realistically, that's not really a concern going to get groceries around town and we all know it.

I mentioned the flex's because they're right at that mid-range 1500 dollar price point we were comparing any of the other cheap coils to.

Dokuji

Also you need to get your SARX people together for a photoshoot. There is a severe lack of eyecandy on this forum. there's like 4 new photos posted a week Q-Q whatever is a troll to do??

TotalAutoPerformance

Are these cheaper coils you plan on getting seeing track abuse and strain...no. City driving can be just as harsh just in different ways. Hard impacts, uneven surfaces, etc. Prime conditions for things to fail.

Instead of wasting $400 apply it to a great setup, since it seems to be $400 bucks comes pretty easy for you.

Your choice on what to do though.