I really would like to hear of people’s own experience of both options, my head is swimming!
I want to lower the car. I don’t want ground myself or sweat too much about speed bumps. I don’t do track days, ever. I’m trying to just focus on these! I live on the Isle of Wight, roads aren’t the best and the car will hardly ever leave the island.
I know coilovers will cost me much more but I don’t know how much meat my 36k shocks have left on them having never had one of these before. I will also soon need 4 new tyres.
I still haven’t decided on what ARB route to take. I fancy the yellow spots but instinctively don’t really want to put an old part from another car on mine, just feels wrong.
I have decided though to sell a kidney! You only need one, right?!
Argh! Any advice/experience is gratefully received.
It’s a funny one, folk that have aftermarket adjustable coil overs will tell you that’s the way forward, other folk who have just lowering springs fitted, (like me) will say they’re great too! I’ve had Meisterr coil overs on 3 cars (admittedly mk1’s) and absolutely loved them, I’ve also had -30mm Eibach springs on the NC1 that I’ve just sold and thought they were great too. £150 for springs or £800 for Meisterr’s, plus fitting costs. You achieve the look with springs for far less money! I’ve not had one issue with the car in 3.5 years almost, of navigating potholes, speed humps, whatever car handles fine. I also found that once I had the setting sorted on the Meisterr’s, I didn’t touch them again? Better damping control yes, but in normal motoring, are they really necessary? Yes if you’re after the kudos of having them, no if you just want your car to sit better (lower). Regarding ARB’s, mine are standard, I don’t drive particularly fast or whatever, but have not been left behind when out and about on a run or whatever. Shaving milliseconds of your journey doesn’t cut it with me for a road going car, no two journeys are ever alike, so you’ve nothing to measure against. You might feel that you took that bend faster or didn’t have to brake to get round but what are you comparing it with? Will there be less body roll? More than likely, will you really notice it? Who knows.
Fitting second hand or used parts? The bits that are on your car are 12 years old, will fitting more 12 year old bits affect it? probably not in a detrimental way.
Just to add to the excellent explanation Barrie gave…
I had lowering springs fitted to the Bilsteins, same year/model as yours. I can only describe the ride as bouncy on undulating roads but apart from that they did the job and the car handled great. I’ve now got Meister’s fitted and from day one it was definitely a correct decision to spend the money on them. Of course you will need to get the car set-up to suit, alignment etc and don’t forget they can be adjusted for ride comfort hard/soft or somewhere in the middle.
From my own experience I would suggest coilovers. Over the years I have spent ££££ on suspension changes and have never been 100% happy until I got the coilovers. Also the outside temperature will effect the suppleness of the tyres, harder in winter than summer, so the adjustment that coilovers can overcome the problems with a harsh ride in the winter. During the summer you will be able to dial in a stiffer setting without too much of the harshness of cold tyres. I’m changing a the settings quite often so much more fun too
Out of interest what is the difference between the Eibachs and Eibach Pro springs? Other than about fifty quid!
I can’t ignore that coilovers are probably going to cost me 600 quid more, maybe I should use some of that money on yellow spot ARBs instead for a better bang for my buck? I do get the feeling that once I found a good setting I’d just leave it there forever!
IIRC the basic eibachs are only for MK3 NC1 (2006-9)
The pros give a slightly bigger drop (up to 35mm as opposed to up to 30mm), They also have two different sets one for the NC1 and one for the NC2+3 (mk3.5 and 3.75) They also designed in the folding hard top so provide a slightly better option for the hard top version.
My first NC1 had the basic eibachs and they were fine (I had the folding hard top), My second NC2 I went for the pros as the drop looked much better without any loss of comfort and handling
I have an 2005 NC1, and have done exactly what you’re thinking about.
I fitted the -35 eibachs about 8 months ago, and have just (last week) fitted the RX8 yellow dot ARB’s.
Ive never driven a 5 with coil overs, so I’ve nothing to compare to, but the -35 springs work for me most of the time. When fully loaded (me, the Mrs, 2 weekend bags & a full tank of fuel) it does sit low at the rear, and that’s where adjustable springs would come in handy, but the rest of the time (just me) it’s much better than the old springs in looks & handling.
Ive not really done enough miles to form an opinion on the ARB’s, but my first impression are good. Definitely firmer in the corners and feels more planted.