Coilover/strut recomendations: ST; Solo Werks; FK AK; BC Race HR/Bilstein? Avant dd

[jws]

My 1.8t Q Avant is a daily driver non-sport. I am not looking to drop the car. Sport suspension ride quality and height would be fine.With coilovers I would be running in the highest setting (i.e. not low). I take my Avant on fire roads to Moutain Bike events. I also plan on installing a hitch to tow a little pop up trailer (150# tongue weight) ~1,000#'s. I used to tow this with my Subaru. I don't really need coil overs, but I like the price point, and if they offer what I need why not?

1. Of the low budget options, which has the least drop?
2. Which would offer good spring rate in rear to handle additional load?
3. Which offers the most comfortable ride?
4. Which would offer the most sophisicated dampening?
5. Which offers best quality and ease of installation?

jws

[rockbeau25]

This is as low as possible on solowerks...not that low. But you can kiss your ride quality goodbye with solowerks.

[MrSnickelsnizer]

^^Second this^^ Ride quality be gone on solowerks.

[tar]

My Konis ride great and sts were good but noticeably worse than the Konis.

Bilstein pss/pss9 sounds like what you want for not low and good ride

[jws]

My Konis ride great and sts were good but noticeably worse than the Konis.

Bilstein pss/pss9 sounds like what you want for not low and good ride

I'm looking at the $400-$700 price point.
I'm open to springs and struts, but they are more money than the FKs, and Solos, and maybe abou the same as the STs

Are there any other sport touring decent ride quality setups theFKs say the highest drop is only 1.1", does anybody have any reference on the ride quality?
I would like stiff, just not big on poor dampening or crashing over expansion joints.
jws

[jws]

My 2006 Subaru Legacy Wagon was cornered better than my softly sprung highly damped Audi. It was plenty comfortable and composed. It felt athletic

[rockbeau25]

I'm looking at the $400-$700 price point.
I'm open to springs and struts, but they are more money than the FKs, and Solos, and maybe abou the same as the STs

Are there any other sport touring decent ride quality setups theFKs say the highest drop is only 1.1", does anybody have any reference on the ride quality?
I would like stiff, just not big on poor dampening or crashing over expansion joints.
jws

I'd go STs then. Although STs go stupid low but I think they go moderately high and ride the best out of the "budget" coilovers

[Cgoon009]

This is as low as possible on solowerks...not that low. But you can kiss your ride quality goodbye with solowerks.

I have Solowerks on the wagon. Don't like them, but they go very low, I wonder if you have a updated model? I had them with about 2 inches of thread above left and the 16s I had were contacting the fender. Avant looks money btw.



OP, check out Vogtlands, very happy with mine.

[tar]

My 2006 Subaru Legacy Wagon was cornered better than my softly sprung highly damped Audi. It was plenty comfortable and composed. It felt athletic

Oh really your car meant to "off-road" was better than a 15 year old lux car. Its apples to oranges willing to be the lesboru probably had alot less miles
St's are good, a bilstein or koni with good spring combo is stiff also. Had no issues with my bilstein/neuspeed race springs combo. Again I feel you need a truck over trying to make the audi into a tow vehicle my work f150 seats 6 and we constantly tow with no issues.


I second the voglands over sts

[rockbeau25]

I have Solowerks on the wagon. Don't like them, but they go very low, I wonder if you have a updated model? I had them with about 2 inches of thread above left and the 16s I had were contacting the fender. Avant looks money btw.



OP, check out Vogtlands, very happy with mine.

Bought coilovers in summer 2015? You tell me haha! Thanks for the kind words, love your avant as well! An inspiration of mine actually!

[Johns]

I don't have any gripes with my solowerks. No issues with the ride, and it looks like they can go <23GTF. I'm right around 25"gtf and I have over 2" of threads left. Install was a breeze since they're just plain old c/o's with no dampening adjustment

[xdewaynex]

Im still satisfied with the ride of my BC Racing Coilovers. I wish I could lower the front more, but I would need shorter strut bodies and springs, about a $300 buy. 32 way dampening adjustment (which I havent touched) separate ride height and preload adjustments.

[rockbeau25]

I don't have any gripes with my solowerks. No issues with the ride, and it looks like they can go <23GTF. I'm right around 25"gtf and I have over 2" of threads left. Install was a breeze since they're just plain old c/o's with no dampening adjustment

Go low, then you'll see lmao

[jws]

Oh really your car meant to "off-road" was better than a 15 year old lux car. Its apples to oranges willing to be the lesboru probably had alot less miles
St's are good, a bilstein or koni with good spring combo is stiff also. Had no issues with my bilstein/neuspeed race springs combo. Again I feel you need a truck over trying to make the audi into a tow vehicle my work f150 seats 6 and we constantly tow with no issues.


I second the voglands over sts

I don't have enough parking places and don't need another vehicle. The occasions for towing would be infrequent. In Europe they do much more of this sort of thing and the tow ratings are not as conservative as the litigous US. The Subie did fine towing the pop up, and my APR stage 1 has more power.

The Subie was just a Legacy wagon, not the OB. I just mention it for a point of reference. It cornered better, didn't squat or dive as much, and while not as plush as my Avant, it was plenty comfortabe.

[chris@fifteen52]

PM sent about the STs