Pretty sure I've met a guy with a wrx at Sac Raceway a few months ago that was riding on KW V1. If so, please chime in.

Anyway, backstory: I've owned KW V3's a long time ago and sold them because they were unnecessary for my needs. ( I just need a comfy DD setup, not a baller race suspension ) I went with Koni/RCE setup on my 13 hatch. I like it a lot, but now I hear that the KW V1's and/or FEALs are actually even more comfortable.

Since I'm a grumpy old man, I want the absoltely most comfortable (but not stock) suspension known to mankind on my car, without spending 3 grand on bags. (also I hate bags and "hardpark/stance" gheyness)

So here's what I'm looking for: I'm really curious about ride quality on normal/every day roads. If you have a set of KW V1's or FEALs on your 08+ WRX, I'm wondering if we can meet up and if I can drive your car around the block a couple times. No hard driving, no nonsense, I just want to see how they feel comfort wise. You can of course also drive my car on Koni/RCE setup and see how you like it. (it's really nice, but I'm trying to figure out if there is anything at all even more comfortable out there).

TIA

 

Do you care about height adjustment?

I should take you for a spin in my car.

 

Not really. As long as it's slightly lower than stock. What are you running on yours these days?

 

Koni and Ground Control with arguably soft (350/400) springs. I have stiffer springs (450) that I have been meaning to put in.

 

So, same shocks as mine but with much stiffer springs?
..umm yeah I don't think that's what I'm looking for

Actually to be more specific, I'm looking for more low speed compliance, since the current setup is excellent at everything else. (I'm not even sure yet if there is actually anything more comfy, hence the thread. My current setup is supposed to be the best daily setup)

 

You can get softer springs though. I was originally planing to go 250/300 but was advised to go stiffer. Yeah, 350/400 is kinda stiff on the street. But damn is it in a pretty good place overall.

What kind of low speed compliance are you talking about? You feel all the little ruts putting around the parking lot? It just flops around over the speed bumps?

How much time have you spent adjusting the dampers?

The key is the damping. You can get stiffer/softer springs. But if the dampening sucks, the ride will suck. But I think you know this. I've had some experience with KW. I'm not convinced that their dampening is better than Koni. I haven't had experience with Feal. But I know there are a couple people out there that have Feal.

I hate to go hurrdurr AutoX. But I've realized that the people out there kinda know their ****. When half the field is running similar components (Koni) it says something.



Not trying to derail this thread. I like talking suspension. Especially since I'm borderline retarded about it. So this is a chance to learn more. I'm also really bored at work.

 

It's fine, you're not derailing, but this convo really isn't about performance.

As stated, I have same dampers as you, and my springs are already about as soft as it gets for performance lowering springs, something like 250/280 rates, and RCE supposedly makes the best lowering springs. I played with damper settings some, but on full soft is where I like it.

Honestly I'd probably run stock suspension on my car if it didn't look ridiculous with 17x9's on it. Because comfort to me is the most important thing on this car (I have other cars for going really fast )

I guess I can try cobb or swift or epic springs, but IIRC the RCE's are better than all of those.

I heard that the V1's have uber soft springs, like in the 200's soft, and the dampening is matched to that. I don't know the details, but supposedly they're supposed to be super comfy.

I'm really not in a hurry to change things up though, so I'd like to drive/try a few setups and see what I think.

PS: my car feels excellent. just want to put that out there. I'm just weird and picky lol

 

Ehh, it's not "go faster performance", it's "gently caress dat *** performance". Both are demanding.

GC should be able to get down to 150. Eibach has 150lb 8" springs listed in their catalog. Which would probably be the length you want. But then you're dealing with too much damping.

But hey, I ran stock springs with my 17x9's. **** looked so cash.

I was on WRX 217/194 springs. I liked it a lot. Hated the height. Hated the body roll. I was actually afraid to go to the GC kit because it rode so well.

Want to try my 2.5i springs? I think they're 151/136. Your car should weigh a bit more so it should sit a little low.

Not going to lie, I think front 2.5i and rear WRX springs would be a great combo.


It's going to be hard to find someone with basically Cadillac suspension on their Subaru.

 

Yep, basically. And this is why I'm not buying/trading anything until I try things out.

I can't run softer springs on the current setup becuase then I'll be on the bump stops on the big bumps. Same problem would rear it's ugly head with the impreza springs, and I'll be overdamped and it will ride like GD sti suspension: like crap.

My thinking with the coilover setup is that they often have much shorter shock bodies, therefore reducing height while retaining proper travel, and then you can run softer damping with progressive soft springs achieving excellent low speed compliance while still having enough travel to absorb high speed and large bumps without living on the bump stops.

But I'm no suspension expert so this just a theory.

 

Are you jumping the car? I never had a problem hitting the bump stops on the stock springs. I'll hit them on occasion with the GC kit but I have the height pretty low with only about 1" of bump travel. (I know it's stupid)

Epic and H&R are your Progressive options AFAIK. Progressive isn't a bad idea. I just can't think of anyone that raves about them.

Full coilovers do generally have shorter bodies. But they tend to also have shorter travel which is worse IMO.

You can create a progressive feel with coil springs by just stacking different rates. But I don't think there's enough space for all the springs. Swift has "Assist Springs". Think high rate helper springs. Those paired with a softer main spring may provide some interesting results.

 

Stock springs are stock height. I don't want stock height. And dropping height even 3/4" really eats into travel. See, even you hit the bumps and you're on stiffer springs than I.

I'm really going to need to look into the coilover travel distance vs what I have now.

 

Bro, my car is dropped like 3 inches.

 

 

#becauseracecar


Actually it's probably closer to 2" drop.