I've been driving the country roads around Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where me mum lives and when she started complaining about the harsh ride that was it. I decided the STR.T kit has to go.

The state of the rural roads and the hard suspension has created a world of rattle, and that's just my fillings, so what'sthe best option to keep it low, tight, but not bone-crunchingly harsh?

FSD and Eibach springs are an obvious choice but I've been reading a lot about the FSDs failing after a couple of years, resulting in a bouncy castle car, and although Koni will apparently replace them under the lifetime warranty, I can't be arsed with taking them off, waiting for 3 weeks and then having to put them back on every 2 years :no:

So are there any other options out there that meet my basic requirements? And when I say 'low', I don't mean slammed down to the hubs, I mean standard vRS height as it is now on the STR.T kit.

Any advice welcome

Anyone? :|

vRS dampers and springs?! I'd guess they are softer than the STR.T's and FSD's.

Funny you mention it. Was considering replacing my factory shocks with FSDs or coilys recently and posted up about it.

Went out for a 4 hour drive around some of the most rural bits of Cornwall near where I live - damn that was bumpy! When the roads you drive on are ****, makes you think about options.

I've not heard of FSDs failing like that before though :wonder:

I think coilys are probably out, so I would look at either stock shocks and springs, or FSDs and either H&R springs, or standard ones.

dont think the eibachs are meant for the vrs hence issues.....

Had my fsd's for 2 years now not had any problems

When i first got the koni fsds i used them with the standard springs and they worked great, only thing they rasied the car slighty so bear this in mind.

So i then went for h&r springs car sits much better now, though also slighty stiffer.

I've been driving the country roads around Bridgnorth, Shropshire, where me mum lives and when she started complaining about the harsh ride that was it. I decided the STR.T kit has to go.

The state of the rural roads and the hard suspension has created a world of rattle, and that's just my fillings, so what'sthe best option to keep it low, tight, but not bone-crunchingly harsh?

FSD and Eibach springs are an obvious choice but I've been reading a lot about the FSDs failing after a couple of years, resulting in a bouncy castle car, and although Koni will apparently replace them under the lifetime warranty, I can't be arsed with taking them off, waiting for 3 weeks and then having to put them back on every 2 years :no:

So are there any other options out there that meet my basic requirements? And when I say 'low', I don't mean slammed down to the hubs, I mean standard vRS height as it is now on the STR.T kit.

Any advice welcome

I have not heard of issues with the FSD's on a MK 1 VRS. I have on a MK2 which resulted in call back on FSD's in some cases. There are very reliable on the MK1 VRS you should have no complaints and issues with them. Should outlast way over 2 years.

However you will have problem if you fit Eibach's to them, Eibachs are not recomended for the MK 1 VRS(lots of threads covering this and my original thread when i first fitted them) and especially not with FSD's either get standard OEM springs or H&R springs which are very well matched with the FSD's

Edited 3 May, 201016 yr by Bowders1

Cheers everyone. There's no issues with Eibachs for me because I don't have a vRS – it's a 1.8T Elegance

However, I have read a lot on here and the MKIVUK forum about floaty FSDs when they go. They get replaced but just a big hassle.

I don't think the STR.T springs would work with the FSDs either because I think it's those making the ride like a Raleigh Chippy on the lanes

Hmmm, where's my credit card …?

Now I think about it, was the problem with Eibach springs because they don't officially list them for the vRS?

Also, is it the springs or shocks that give the harsh ride? If it's the springs, which I thought it was mainly, maybe I could get away with some more pliable springs?

Any more answers welcome, especially to my credit card balance :'(