I need to replace the rear strut in my AP 1, so might as well do the left rear one too. The front seems fine. All OEM, original, stock car which has 68,000 miles.

I feel the ride quality is compliant for daily driving and see OEM as really the only way to go, but convince me otherwise. This car will never see the track and goes on a lot of bad roads when putting around, running errands.

Shop told me that he has seen a setup (possibly coilovers) out there that rides as well as stock, but performs even better. I can't imagine a Coilover setup riding like stock, but..

 

Why are you considering coilovers? Just cause a shop told you so? Do you want to lower the car or something? I mean if it's a stock ride you want and you have no intentions of messing with the coilovers why get coilovers?

If you have to be convinced into getting coilovers you probably don't need them???

 

I am not considering it at all. Yes, the shop said to look into it as it can be cheaper than replacing all 4 struts--that's the only reason.

I have had coilovers on other cars, and despite how "daily" people claim they can be, it never rides the same as stock.

Yes, I want stock ride height. So sounds like from your opinion, buy OEM struts and call it a day.

 

Well, the Ohlins reportedly ride very well, some say better than stock, but are a $2000 setup. There are other cheaper alternatives like Fortune Auto 500s and Bilstein PSS9s around the $1200 mark that get good reviews with reports of a compliant ride but YMMV. Of course, they all require some extra work to sort out properly

Brand new OEM shock are are ~$1000 for all four corners. You won't find anything better than the OEM shocks at that price point. Used, low mileage examples can be gotten for well under $400 still. If you like the stock setup and don't care to mess around with them then just search for some used shocks.

 

ya, thanks for the advice. What to people upgrade on these cars to make them better? Ohlins is definitely top of the line, but 2000, like you said. I feel they are so darm good from the factory.

I have been in a car with Fortune auto 500s and it was just awful.

I feel like anything I do is going to ruin the ride, which is surprisingly good.

Do APs and AP2s have the same suspension?

 

+1

 

The stock suspension, they changed the spring rates every two model years,and changed tbe shock damping to match. The changes were progressively more and more fwd biased (more understeer). The spring rates got stiffer with these changes, so ride actually got firmer with each iteration.

 

ok, makes me feel better about my observations. I am really digging the stock ride and how easily it oversteers, even with no low end tq.

The first year was 2000, so if this one is 2002, it oversteers less than previous years, but still much much less compared to 2008? Or is really not noticeable?

 

is a 2008 super stiff and uncomfortable?

 

I wouldn't waste money on the stock suspension.

Yes, there are plenty of coilovers in different price ranges that will ride just as well or better than stock.

HKS GT IV, Fortune Auto, Bilstein PSS/9, Ohlins, etc.

The issue with a lot of setups is that the end user sets them up badly...or doesn't set them up at all. The very nice Ohlins DFV doesn't ride all that well until you set up spring preload properly, for example. Sometimes this gets complex. People want more of a "bolt in and go" solution. I get it...

The Bilstein B16 PSS9 are fairly inexpensive at ~$1300 on rockauto with coupon code for 5% off (look under "suspension kit"). They're insanely easy to set up. And they'll last forever. They even have external rear reservoirs. Keep them at a fairly tall height and they'll ride better than stock. They're very compliant. You'll need to swap over your stock tophats...but that isn't a big deal.

Also...aren't you in SoCal? Bad roads?

...lol..

is joke?

I live in the upper midwest (Chicago burbs). I used to fairly regularly drive to NYC and sometimes Detroit. I've seen potholes swallow entire busses full of people. Poor bastards never stood a chance.

I can confidently say...there are LOTS of coilovers that ride better/as well as stock...and that statement goes beyond S2000's. Even goes to quite a few luxury sport sedans or wagons.