just completed my first auto-x and i am most definitaly hooked. decided that i wanted to lower the car slightly / consideing h&r due to least lowering any suggestions or feedback. are coilovers realy necessary?
thanks in advance for the input

 

btw - i am leaving stock wheels and tires until eventualy 16" rega evos

 

don't lower the car at all because (1) the car will probably not like it and (2) the SCCA will not allow it (in AS). your more likely to hurt the car's handling than help it...leave it as is. if your dying to modify, you can do the following and remain AS-legal:

cat-back exhaust
air filter
tires (biggest improvement)
rims of same size&width (not many out there)
front sway bar
shocks (not coilovers)

oh, and you can also put on all those cool stickers you always wanted to!!!

 

Believe me, spend some seat time before you start modifying. When you find you just can't go any faster, then consider upgrades. Don't take this as a hack on your driving skills, I'm just saying the car has a whole lot to offer, and not many ( including myself ) have tapped it's full potential.

Tires on the other hand...go get them!!

 

You could leave stock, I did, one season of once a month events only and I (maybe ten or fifteen actual miles) pealed a good number of miles (Hundred?, thousands? more than ten...) off the life of my tires. So bad after one event that the edges were cupping. This is with Stock wheels and tires, and alignment.

It has been suggested the the most significant improvement you can make is to put dedicated tires on for SoloII. Most people are going with Yokahama, Hoosier, or Khumo. Opinions on which is best very greatly, look in the Competition forum. I can't speak from experience since I am still trying to decide just which way to go... <Sigh>