Coilover at $1200 price point? So many options >_<

[xjdesertfox]

So, as some of you have seen my build, Im building a car for light track use(hpde, adams motorsports park, etc), autox, and to hit the local canyons.

The car spends the majority of its time in the canyons and at adam's(for those of you who dont know, think go kart track).

The time has come where I need new suspension, the car has some non-oem branded oem type shocks with lowering springs and its killing me, and my passengers.

I need a suspension that will handle decently well, while not washing out in the rough road.

My options:

Koni + GC 450f/300r + FCM mounting setup = $1200 (I hear the excessive rebound of konis may cause washout over rough road?)

Koni + GC 375f/250r + FCM mounting setup = $1200 (Lower rates that the konis can handle better?)

949racing Tein street advance setup (NB top hats, 9k/6k springs) = $1150 (I hear good and bad about tein, Halp?)

Rspeed Fortune Auto coilover setup = $1100 (Im only mildly considering this, Ive heard good and bad, and I havnt seen enough about them to really trust fortune auto)

Megan Street coilovers 10k/8k springs = $850 (Greenteee halp? Ive seen the dyno plots, people say they dont look great...but I dont know how to read dyno plots so I have no clue?)




Or should I not even be considering this price point? Should I save up for 6 months just to buy some xida's or FCM's? Im on a college student budget here.

The koni setup seems nice because it has a lifetime warranty on everything, while everything else has a 1 year warranty... But on the flip side konis are hell to revalve, while teins are rebuild/revalveable here in cali.

I've ridden in koni cars, but never with linear spring rates. I've never been in a car with fortune autos. I've seen tein flex setups perform well, and my buddy is supposed to let me drive his car with megan EZ's on it pretty soon.

[The Platypus]

Save some more and get FCMs like me. Honestly, you won't regret it.

[— kung fu jesus —]

I have to throw this out there, but read up on how to decipher shock dynos and how they relate to your driving requirements. It takes a little reading to grasp the info, bit it will help you make a better decision. All of your choices are from top notch Miata vendors. $1100 is nothing to sneeze at, so rather than taking a risk on subjective opinions start by qualifying your search by learning the data. Good luck!

[The Driver]

Save some more and get FCMs like me. Honestly, you won't regret it.

I'll be going that route, but man 1700 mollars is A LOT of mullah!!!

[adamvanxxx]

Heard/read SO much about how awesome the Xida CS is, if it were my money I would put it there.

[stormin'norman]

Haven't been on the Xida's in particular(obviously people love them) but from some sour experiences with other AST models/ and the company as a whole at work I personally wouldn't recommend it. However having been in a FCM equipped Miata I would gravitate that way or Ohlins DFV (awesome).

Should also throw this out and mention I've spent time chasing Ohlins DFV and Tein Monoflex equipped Miatas at ORP and there was a blatant night and day difference in cornering speeds between my car (Basic 8/6k) and the DFV 8/6 whereas only marginal difference in cornering speeds vs my friend's 10/8k Monoflex.

[concealer404]

Mmmmmmmmm Ohlins mmmmmmmmmmmm

[stormin'norman]

Should also make note of the obvious wait times that seem to come with FCM products. But well worth it is what I hear from everyone I've talked to that purchased.

[concealer404]

Should also make note of the obvious wait times that seem to come with FCM products. But well worth it is what I hear from everyone I've talked to that purchased.

When i was in Grand Junction with my MSM, there was a guy that i hung out with for 2 days that had a CHERRY red n/a with an FCM setup. It seemed to handle extremely well. I had to hustle pretty hard to stay with him. Looked very composed. I'd be interested to see how it would react being pushed to 9/10s or 10/10s.

[stormin'norman]

When i was in Grand Junction with my MSM, there was a guy that i hung out with for 2 days that had a CHERRY red n/a with an FCM setup. It seemed to handle extremely well. I had to hustle pretty hard to stay with him. Looked very composed. I'd be interested to see how it would react being pushed to 9/10s or 10/10s.

Unfortunately I've only experienced FCM's on the street and with surprisingly mild spring rates ~375/250 iirc. I was really shocked with how much grip was made available to the car. Mid corner bumps were absorbed in stride at just about any speed. The car was never upset by potholes, seams and imperfections but just felt very very sporty and taught without being too harsh so as to lose grip. Great street setup that really made Shaihks shock knowledge shine. I imagine something more track oriented would be equally as incredible.

[xjdesertfox]

Wow this is really making me reconsider some fcm's. The fact that he just raised his price to $1750 makes it harder though


Maybe ill send him a message. If not, I think ill go the tein route.

[The Platypus]

I'll be going that route, but man 1700 mollars is A LOT of mullah!!!

Yeah, and the wait time was almost unbearable. But I pretty much fell in love with my car again (and twice as hard) after installing them and driving on them for the first time.
I have never drove on any other aftermarket suspension though, so I can't say that FCMs are better than blah blah, but I can say that I would definitely buy them again.

[The Driver]

Yeah, and the wait time was almost unbearable. But I pretty much fell in love with my car again (and twice as hard) after installing them and driving on them for the first time.
I have never drove on any other aftermarket suspension though, so I can't say that FCMs are better than blah blah, but I can say that I would definitely buy them again.

How long ago did you order/get them? I know someone who just got the "new" FCM's and the wait was six weeks...

[The Platypus]

How long ago did you order/get them? I know someone who just got the "new" FCM's and the wait was six weeks...

I ordered them back in October/early November. I think I was one of the first to get the "new" ones, but I got them for the previous price (I think mine were possibly the first to be painted like that. He also used them for the pictures I think). I received them in mid to late January I think

[bedheadben]

Ohlins if you've got the dough, but for $1200 I'd say Tein for sure.