A4 Avant:
I initially had Stasis SS coilovers installed on the A4 and although the ride was very smooth, the rear end sagged. Even after trying to raise the rears and adding spacers, I couldn’t get the rear up to 25” (fender to ground height). Based on this, I decided to look for replacement coilovers. After doing some research and having the opportunity of driving a car with Vogtlands, I decided that the “firmer” Startup Racing GT's would be a great solution as well as a performance upgrade. The added appeal of easy adjustability while on the car helped seal the deal. After having the coils installed, I recognized an improvement in handling, no sagging rear and a firmer yet very civil ride (not harsh or bouncy). The total cost for the initial install and alignment was approx. $450. I decided to return this car off lease rather than buy it out so I demoded it and sold all the aftermarket stuff except for the coils which were stored in the original box (ready for the next car !).
S4 Avant:
I took delivery of this car this past December and decided it made sense to install the GT Vogts for a couple of reasons:
1. I found the OEM ride very firm and almost harsh at times. From both a performance and comfort standpoint, the OEM ride did not compare to what I had enjoyed in my A4 with the GT Vogts.
2. I wanted to reduce the wheel gap that I knew would be more prevalent once the 19” summer shoes were installed.
A few weeks ago, the winter that would never end appeared to be done so it was time to do the coil install as well as winter/ summer wheel swap. Tapp Auto, having done the original install and removal from my B6, was obviously experienced so an appointment was made …
Nothing like the versatility of a wagon
…
I dropped the car off and requested that the height be set at 25.5 inches all ‘round. Knowing patience is a virtue but having none, I decided to “touch base” to get a status report. I was informed everything was going well; however, due to not lubing the coils since the initial install, one of the shocks had partially seized (our winters combined with road salt wreaks havoc). Fortunately, it was a minor issue and lesson learned: lube the threads on the shock bodies at every seasonal tire changeover to avoid this in the future. The good news: all that was left to do was dialing in the height on all 4 corners so the car would be ready a bit earlier than expected. Install cost: $300. (4 hrs labour).
Within a minute of driving off, I noticed the difference - I was pleasantly surprised to experience a smoother ride even with my 19’s (tires pumped up to 40 lbs) compared to the OEM setup on 17” winter wheels !! The jolts over ruts and bumps were gone and the suspension felt more compliant ! This was even better than when the coils were on my B6 A4.
After giving it a few days to settle and having to put up with another bit of winter weather, the car went in for an alignment. Cost: $110. Unfortunately, the shop I used did not do a great job (specs not set per my request). Due to disappointing turn in (my 19’s felt no better than my 17” winter setup) and the specs were asymetrical, I brought it to another shop for a proper alignment. With the new adjustments made, there was a noticeable improvement in turn-in. Two days later, I was on the highway for a 4 hour drive and this proved the car tracked nice and straight even on a section of highway being prepped for a new skin. Here are the alignment specs …
S4 Before:
S4 After:
More feedback to follow after the next step... the track:Calabogie Motorsports Park
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Originally Posted by jza80
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