Coil-overs vs. Adjustable shocks/sturts and lowering springs
 

ok all, i was wondering, are coil-overs really that much better than jsut getting some tokio illuminas with eibach springs for example better than getting some coil-overs???

and y is it that i can get a set of TEIN HE's for 1250, yet some Kei offices or something like that cost like $3k????

i want to either get some struts springs, or coil-overs at the end of winter after i get a few other things out of the way and was wondering where the best place to put my money was as far as struts/springs go

Really, coilovers arnt any different then anything else, all they really are is a shock or strut with a adjustable spring perch. But, it seems most people associate 'coil-overs' with racing or performance hardware, and ususaly they are adjustable. Though, most coilover systems have really high spring rates, usualy way higher then the springs you get with an H&R or Eibach kit since those sprigns are designed to be streetable. I know those Tein HE's have something like 550lbs/in sprigns for FC, and stock the FC has somthing like 100lbs/in. Also, you cant even put a spring as stiff as 550lbs/in on a normal over-the-counter shock since they have to be valved to be able to handel shuch a high rate. and being adjustable dosent cover that since the adjustment is just used for tuning. Coil-over systems are designed so all components work together.

Most coilover use standard 2.5" diameter racing springs, so you have almost unlimited choice in spring rates and a reasonable choice of lengths. The biggest advantage of the adjustable spring perches is to "corner weight" your car to set it up appropriately for the particular track you're running, your weight, etc. - to spotimize performance.

OC's response was probably the most definitive answer that I have heard in the simplest terms possible.

off topic:
OC_, do you just do that parking lot stuff, or do you also do autoX with midwestern counsil at blackhawk farms?