springs or coilovers

silentneon01 · Post by **silentneon01** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:54 am

so I'm toy with the idea of lowering my car.

My main reasoning for not is this. I drive 100 miles round trip for work and I drive another 50 to 100 miles(city) for work. I work in DC where we don't have potholes we have sink holes big enough to take out SUV let alone my neon. City is gettin better but these and pot holes form in the blink of an eye.

An due to the amount of cars and speeds you don't always have the chance to avoid what ever is coming at you.

So whatever I get must allow for my wheels/tires which are 15's and 60 seires I'm not going to 17's due to I need the cushion of the higher tire. I need nice ride I spend most of my time in my car I don't need to feel all the lil bumps. An while I know that if I hit of these mother of all holes either stock or after market I have chances of hurting something bad. I want the best possiable chance of not hurting something bad.

Coilovers make most sence but I don't feel like adjusting them all the time just cause I'm leaving or going into the city.

So ideas, comments, real world xp, other major city drivers. All welcome.

Oh and this is my DD btw if you've not guessed.

Cabbs · Post by **Cabbs** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:26 am

I don't know much about suspensions, but I do know this: If you get springs, your struts won't like them for very long.

kc2005ptgt · Post by **kc2005ptgt** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:44 am

we have horrible roads in missouri, and in kc I deliver pizzas - I run on 1st gen rt springs and acr struts. now, I have some problems with certain driveways with scrapage, but all in all, the potholes jolt me BAD, and on more than one occasion I thought for sure I popped my tire - but none the less, nada. So I dunno, personally, I would go with a good set of adjustable coilovers over springs.

OB · Post by OB » Sat Apr 21, 2007 1:51 am

Based on what you said, id suggest sticking with the stock suspension. If you want to pursue modding the neon, maybe think about buying another DD so you dont have to worry about it, or the other way around. Reason I say all this is there is no such thing as an aftermarket suspension that is as comfortable as stock. Lowering springs are stiffer and aftermarket struts are less forgiving as well. You have to decide whats more important, a comfy ride, or performance and looks. Coilovers are generally stiffer and even at their highest setting might drop the car lower than you d like. My eibach prokit and tokico hp setup is fairly stiff, and its very mild compared to a lot of other setups. I would go stiffer and lower, but I cant afford it. Then again, a stiff ride is my cup of tea, and ride quality isnt a factor. Wouldnt have bought a dodge neon if I wanted a luxurious ride haha.

OverDrive418 · Post by **OverDrive418** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 10:44 am

Sorry to burst your bubble but for the type of duty your need your car for now, I'd say stay stock or stock equivilent (maybe upgrade to performance struts if anything to better handle some of the road conditions). Lowering doesn't sound like an option. Coilovers will be nothing but a pain in the ass for you to keep adjusting and not worth the time and money. So either buy a cheap Honda or Toyota for your DD and mod out your Neon or just leave the Neon as is until the roads get better or Hell freezes over, whichever comes first!!

yankeesking · Post by **yankeesking** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:45 am

i lived in d.c. for university and i dropped my corolla 2 in lower and put 17in rims. few months later, one of rims cracked due potholes..

too hard to drive avoid it when ur in heavy traffic. very very bad roads out of there. stupid taxi didn't give a damn if they hits u or not. they drives like 11 years old kids.

If u want slam ur neon, u'd ride the train or bus. or u may go ahead and take risk. GL

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:13 pm

2" is too low anyways.

1.5 is the LOWEST I'd go. I think these guys are right, with the coilovers, you can put it where you want... 1.25", 1", or .5" drop.... and change it later with the included wrench. Plus the springs included will have a stiffer ride for nice cornering out-of-town on weekends.

You can also run with what I have... 16" wheels, and then use 55 series on them. I have 205/55's:

I could prolly go 60-series, and it would look okay... not sporty, but the bigger wheel helps over a 15. it would also fill in the wheel well gap.

Either way, with the coilovers you have complete control of the height, and if you dont like where you put it, you can change it.