Struts and springs vs. coilovers

[EssPhore]

EDIT: Nevermind. I searched a little more and found my answer. Mods, please delete.



What's up everybody? I was wondering how critical / noticable the difference is between a strut / spring combo vs. a coilover setup. I use the S4 as a DD, and I doubt I will track the car. I understand there is the "adjustablity" factor with the coilovers as well as the "baller" status, but I'm in So Cal so i dont have to factor snowfall or anything like that. Will the spring and strut combo give the drop? I would appreciate anyones personal experience on either setup. TIA.



Sean

[AudiOso]

I'm running H&R coils with Koni Sport's. Nice riding, great handling and a very inexpensive setup. Left me plenty of extra $$$ to buy new sway bars.

[ZachPDX]

I'm running H&R coils with Koni Sport's. Nice riding, great handling and a very inexpensive setup. Left me plenty of extra $$$ to buy new sway bars.

how "inexpensive"?

[whartung]

how "inexpensive"?

^x2

[AudiOso]

I got the springs & shocks for a little under $900.00 this past spring. With the sway bars the whole deal was about $1300.00 shipped from the tirerack. I couldn't have touched the H&R coilovers for less than $1300.00 just for the kit. I'm more than pleased with my suspension. It does everything I want it to do and I love the way my car looks.

[WinterRunner]

I got the springs & shocks for a little under $900.00 this past spring. With the sway bars the whole deal was about $1300.00 shipped from the tirerack. I couldn't have touched the H&R coilovers for less than $1300.00 just for the kit. I'm more than pleased with my suspension. It does everything I want it to do and I love the way my car looks.

How does it ride compared to stock? The only 2 spring companies I know of are Vogtland and H&R, dont quote me though. I too would rather go the spring/shock route if I can get a ride comparable to the stock ride.

[LampyB]

^^Neuspeed & Tein make springs as well....

[Monchichi8]

I'am also going the spring/shock/sway bars combo.Looked into the coilover route and decided that for me,(1)Once the car is lowered..I'am never going to change the ride height(2) Never going to track the car(3)it would be easier to save up the cash buying the parts seperately then as a whole(4)I have had H&R spring/shock combo on all my cars and have been pretty darn pleased plus Iam getting sway bars outta the deal for the same price as just coilovers....So for me it makes sense.

[WinterRunner]

I'am also going the spring/shock/sway bars combo.Looked into the coilover route and decided that for me,(1)Once the car is lowered..I'am never going to change the ride height(2) Never going to track the car(3)it would be easier to save up the cash buying the parts seperately then as a whole(4)I have had H&R spring/shock combo on all my cars and have been pretty darn pleased plus Iam getting sway bars outta the deal for the same price as just coilovers....So for me it makes sense.

How compareable is the H&R/Koni combo compared to stock ride?

[Monchichi8]

How compareable is the H&R/Koni combo compared to stock ride?

On my B6, Iam not sure since I don't have them yet but on my B5 they were awesome.great ride,firmer then stock but not harsh.

[FastB7S4]

How compareable is the H&R/Koni combo compared to stock ride?

feels slightly stiffer than stock but not harsh at all. i recommend it if you don't want to shell out $ for coilovers.

[EssPhore]

Thanks for the input! I was totally expecting to get flame for this, but I was wrong. I will take everybody's comments into consideration. Thanks again.

Sean

[AudiOso]

How does it ride compared to stock? The only 2 spring companies I know of are Vogtland and H&R, dont quote me though. I too would rather go the spring/shock route if I can get a ride comparable to the stock ride.

The ride is awesome. Nice and firm without being jarring. It modulates well over choppy surfaces. I had the tech set the shocks at the number 2 click. I am very pleased with the ride AND the control. Like I've said before when this topic comes up, coilovers are great if you need adjustablility, but if your car is a street car that doesn't track then this is a viable solution that works very nicely without blowing the budget.

[SoCalS4Avant]

Hey OSO, how much lower have you been able to get with just the HR/Koni set-up?

[SlideWays]

Necro-bump.

Wondering if this is still accurate/relevant, as the common theme seems to be "coilovers or gtfo". My B6 is a street machine in an area with no snow, so I was planning to "set it and forget it" 1-1.5" lower than stock and maybe a hair firmer.

Springs + shocks + sways for less money than a CO kit sounds like a deal, but in all threads since 2011 I've searched, people are badmouthing the spring/shock deal. Just wondering why?

[WolfS4]

Well slide...I just got my koni + H&R springs done today and very pleased so far. Feels quite a lot like stock, but just a tad lower, and possibly stiffer. My gf even commented that it feels "sharper" and is not bouncy. I asked Koni what they recommended I set the rebound to and they said 1 full turn from full soft, so that's when I went with. Waiting a few days for them to settle a little more and getting an alignment.

[SlideWays]

Well slide...I just got my koni + H&R springs done today and very pleased so far. Feels quite a lot like stock, but just a tad lower, and possibly stiffer. My gf even commented that it feels "sharper" and is not bouncy. I asked Koni what they recommended I set the rebound to and they said 1 full turn from full soft, so that's when I went with. Waiting a few days for them to settle a little more and getting an alignment.

I may have to come ride if thats cool? It's high on my list of things to do (suspension, i mean....not come see you).

Well...suspension after new tune and exhaust. Ugh, I need a 2nd job.

[WolfS4]

I see how it is....ha! Just pm whenever and we can work something out. Know what you mean. I've had this car 3.5 years and just now getting around to the suspension. Do it a little at a time and the car will feel like something new each time.