Cup Kit or Coilovers

[EuroGolfJay]

Thanks for showing interest in my thread. Im saving up money and I want to start doing some amateur autocross racing. Currently my car has a stock suspension but that will change mid summer and I looking for a good quality suspension for a beginner. If you don't mind, please let me know your opinions on this matter.

[chois]

Can you share a little more about what you want to do?

Are you just planning to go play with the car, or are you interested in being competitive? Is there a rule set involved with restrictions on allowed modifications?

In general, I have found "Cup Kit" packages to be designed for looks, and not optimal for performance. Of course most coilover kits are the same way - though they have more flexibility to make them work better with different springs.

Not knowing the goals, or your car, a good basic starting point for an occasional play suspension would be a set of springs that do not lower the car very much, with rates that are high relative to stock or typical lowering springs and Bilstein or Koni shocks with an larger rear anti-roll bar.

Also consider asking in the autocross sub forum here.

[EuroGolfJay]

Thanks for the reply chois. I was hoping to get into a novice class. I want to basically take my DD and track it every now and then for fun but I am not looking for a stock class. I am planing on purchasing and investing some money into my car during summer and I would like to know what type of suspension I should get. Are there any coilovers that you might be able to recommend? I am also redoing all of the necessary components to refresh my suspension.

[chois]

I would not recommend starting with coilovers. Just get out there on track with a car that is in good working condition. Until you get a feel for what the car is doing with your driving style, it will be hard to decide what the best modifications would be.

A safe, reliable car is all you need for track day and autocross learning. Then you can focus your go-fast parts money on the ones that will give you the most benefit.

There is no better investment in making a car faster than track time for the driver.

[Mmack]

I'd echo chois's comments -- your best start at this venture is by investing in yourself and gaining seat time before modifications. But if you're determined to bypass the stock suspension, definitely skip the cup kits in favor of something that doesn't necessarily lower the front of the car too much. I have a Ground Control/Bilstein setup from my 20AE that might be right up your alley. And I'm local -- just north of Clearwater, FL. Shoot me a message if interested.

Mmack

[andrewmartinee]

cheap coilovers are crap if you like to drive your car the bead they action are the identical or ancient greater than the capital brands, but the blast over bumps rather than blot them, I would anticipate if you accumulate a agog eye out for bargains again coilovers at £500 or so ( NEW ) or additional duke about £350 again for the cycle bar and bead links about £100. ( there are alone AP's , KW's and WEITEC's that can use the S3 / R32 cycle bar set up due the ascent credibility on the struts

[2003 golfer]

I'm less experienced than many in these tech forums, however from my recent experience and previous research I would definitely suggest a cupkit with a mild drop (I'm driving a mkiv golf). I got a used set with Koni sports and Neuspeed springs. The drop is nearly unnoticeable, but the adjustable, and significantly stiffer shocks, definitely helped my road-holding ability. I was almost doing the same speed around the corners as my friends newer M3 (with significant susp mods and much better tires), and I don't even have low-profile tires yet.

Then later, when you have even more track time, and want to upgrade again, you can get coil-over sleeves with custom spring rates, and keep your adjustable dampers.

[dadasracecar]

I've never met a coil over that didn't eventually fail or make noise. I'd recommend you start on stock suspension and then progress slowly. In on stock dampers with vogtland springs. I the car rotated better on the stock springs but the roll was significant. I did sway bars to help the rotation with the vogtlands.
Probably a better use of your money is a good set of summer tires and brake pads.


2010 GTI 4dr autobahn, APR Stg2, AWE tbe, ECS sways, Vogtland springs, SS lines, Motul RBF600, Hawk HP+, Unibrace XB, DXD Stg 2 endurance, Peloquin LSD, 93k mi