Had a chance to drive Strike's car back to back with mine yesterday at Buttonwillow. We're both running 205/245 RA1s, AEM CAI, uprated brake pads, etc. He has recently installed Ground Control coilovers. My car is running completely stock suspension (35k miles on it).

I have to say I was impressed with the performance of the GCs. I've been looking for a reasonably priced set, and at $2k these are in the range (of course, cheaper would be nicer :-). Overall, the car exhibited more stability everywhere, but it was particularly noticeable in the fast corners (Riverside for example), where Strike's car didn't move around on the suspension as much. The back end was also more planted putting power down in a variety of situations, but it was especially noticeable over Lost Hill.

I don't know how much faster the coilovers would make me, but the level of consistency is certainly higher, as is the confidence level. Its amazing how much OEM suspensions deteriorate over time without you really noticing until you compare it to something else.

UL

 

You have to drive davepk's car for another datapoint. It really inspires confidence. There's none of that bouncy bouncy that happens on the stock suspension.

 

When I originally replaced my OEM shocks (50kmiles w/ a set that had 19k on them) the difference is quite noticeable.

The GC was a nice shock, I got to drive them when they were on DT's car.

pll daves shocks aren't in the 2k range either.

 

hehe, I know, but it's nice to compare the $2K shocks with the $6K shocks to see what the extra money buys (or doesn't buy).

 

ground control makes full coilovers for the S2000 now?? for $2000?? are they better than JIC or buddy club (which are way less than $2000)???

wow i must be living under a rock to not have heard of this...

 

GC makes three adjustable coil-over kits for the S2000 to my knowledge. There web site sucks, however, so you will need to call them if you want much more info than I've listed here.

1. A coil-over kit that works with stock shocks and Eibach springs in any rate you want. I run this kit with 340/380 lb springs and am extremely happy, especially for the $400 price. On the track, these are much more stable and consistent than stock springs. With the relatively mild spring rates, the stock shocks do not seem to be overwhelmed. I've driven a car with kg/mm "race" springs and stock shocks, and it's easy to feel how the stiffness of those springs and the lack of damping with the stock shocks is a serious mismatch.

2. A coil-over kit that works with Koni adjustables, very similar to the above but with upgraded shocks. You can "upgrade" from kit one to kit two by reusing the same springs and top mounts and getting new bottom mounts. GC also sells their own custom valved version of Koni's for this kit.

3. A coil over kit that works with their own "Advance Design" multi-adjustable shock. AD shocks are purported to be in the same league as Moton, JRZ, Penske, etc.. The shock body itself is threaded in this kit, making it more of a "true" (whatever that means) adjustable coil-over kit.

Which shocks was Strike running? and what where the spring rates?

 

AD's are also nice since both adjustments are made from the top.

 

I don;t know if I would but them in the same league as JRZ, Moton, Peneske, but they did feel nice and the price is attractive.

 

I believe Strike had the AD setup.

krazik - yeah, I believe you get what you pay for and certainly the companies you mentioned have earned a reputation for providing shocks setups that are worth a premium over other brands (whether they're worth the size of premium they command is a personal decision :-).

For the price, the GC's are looking interesting. I've got a line on some used setups from other makers that are a bit higher dollar, but I'm in no huge rush right now. I'm sure that as soon as I go coilovers, the other folks in my class will have added some other part to help keep them ahead of me anyways - its an arms race :-). Maybe next season I'll have the time and committment to make a serious effort at contesting for points at more than a couple of races.

UL

 

I would highly recomend the Ohlins. Strikes shocks started out on Bitterman's car. Shortly after getting them he decided to sell his car (nothing to do w/ the GCs). At which time he started co-driving my car w/ the ohlins, and both he and I have nothing but rave things to say about them.

They are closer to $3k range.

But IMO they are worth every penny for those not looking to fork out the ~$5k for moton, penske, jrz.