The best suspension kit for a 02WRX?
Guest
Posts: n/a
My $.02.
I notice in North America there is a considerable media interest in purchasing parts to improve the ride of the wrx. In the past two years I've read countless articles on "improving" the suspension in the North American press, some of which were honest in stating the car was great for the track but less than ideal for the road.
On the other hand, the print media from Europe and Japan often state that the suspension on an 02+ rex is up to the task for a modified street driven car that sees the track only on weekends. Several foriegn magazines have recent rex build ups in which the only suspension change was a performance alignment. Much more is written about improving the motor and the brakes.
So I wonder, is the need to change suspensions due to a different suspension on cars imported to NA?, Is it due to our roads being different then those in Europe and Japan? Is it due to differences in driving style or how our butts feel after a drive? Is it due to the persistant marketing of "new" & "improved" through product placement and the competition for market share in a relativly new and relatively wealthy market?
Stiff suspensions are touted *****-nilly as bolt on improvements in NA media much more often than in the foriegn press. I suspect that the market in other countries has "been there" and "done that" due to the longer period of time that the car has been available. Likely the market for wrx suspensions is much more segmented. Thus there is less opportunity to sell race suspensions to commuters. There is little benefit to an editor (and a marketing director) to feature a suspension that is not matched to the car and driver's capabilities.
It is unfortunate that several major automotive media outlets are primarily product marketing services for the aftermarket industry. The editors seem to have little regard for the poor soul who purchases the product they recommend and then discovers that a mount has been ripped from the frame by a stiff supension or that a coil over suspension lasts about 3 months of daily use in the winter before needing a factory rebuild.
Case in point: When is the last time you read an article in the press that clearly states that a product does not work? Compare this with how many parts are in your own and friends' garages that do not work?
I notice in North America there is a considerable media interest in purchasing parts to improve the ride of the wrx. In the past two years I've read countless articles on "improving" the suspension in the North American press, some of which were honest in stating the car was great for the track but less than ideal for the road.
On the other hand, the print media from Europe and Japan often state that the suspension on an 02+ rex is up to the task for a modified street driven car that sees the track only on weekends. Several foriegn magazines have recent rex build ups in which the only suspension change was a performance alignment. Much more is written about improving the motor and the brakes.
So I wonder, is the need to change suspensions due to a different suspension on cars imported to NA?, Is it due to our roads being different then those in Europe and Japan? Is it due to differences in driving style or how our butts feel after a drive? Is it due to the persistant marketing of "new" & "improved" through product placement and the competition for market share in a relativly new and relatively wealthy market?
Stiff suspensions are touted *****-nilly as bolt on improvements in NA media much more often than in the foriegn press. I suspect that the market in other countries has "been there" and "done that" due to the longer period of time that the car has been available. Likely the market for wrx suspensions is much more segmented. Thus there is less opportunity to sell race suspensions to commuters. There is little benefit to an editor (and a marketing director) to feature a suspension that is not matched to the car and driver's capabilities.
It is unfortunate that several major automotive media outlets are primarily product marketing services for the aftermarket industry. The editors seem to have little regard for the poor soul who purchases the product they recommend and then discovers that a mount has been ripped from the frame by a stiff supension or that a coil over suspension lasts about 3 months of daily use in the winter before needing a factory rebuild.
Case in point: When is the last time you read an article in the press that clearly states that a product does not work? Compare this with how many parts are in your own and friends' garages that do not work?
Registered User
iTrader: (12)
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 18,369
From: Reno, NV
Car Info: 1993/2000/2001 GF4 mostly red
Actually, overseas markets generally get the better-handling, stiffer suspensions we crave here. The Japanese think we want everything to ride like a Cadillac, even our sports cars. While the suspension on a WRX is much better than some of its indirect competitors, say Accord, Camry, Altima, it's not very good for a sports sedan and it's not even as good as an RSX, TSX, or Celica GTS. It does need improvement for those of us who buy the car primarily to drive it hard. It's fine for those who want a car that they can use to drive fast in occasionally, but mostly just gets us around on ramps and such.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Deserted1
Suspension, Handling, and Brakes
2
Aug 1, 2008 08:19 PM
jasno999
Suspension, Handling, and Brakes
0
Feb 12, 2003 09:57 AM
