I replaced the shocks and springs on my VRS with AP springs and matching shocks, which gives it the perfect stance -

I know they were not expensive, but I want a quick solution to improve the handling as the original 122k shocks were knackered and wallowed all over the place.

The handling is much improved, but the ride quality is far too choppy, and on some occasions its actually too low for some of Norfolks roads.

So I'm looking at coilovers as a solution, having driven an Astra recently with coilovers I was pleasantly surprised that It rode better than mine! This will also solve the ride height problem and raise it up half an inch all round or more.

The question is, which ones to go for? I will have a budget of between £4-500 hopefully.

My mates VRS has HR springs and FSD shocks and rides just as good as original but with more poise and less roll, but thats an expensive option, I would also like it to look lower as the height is virtually identical.

get some joms and then a spare set, 4 years of trouble free motoring minimum.

Serious replies please. Might not have been here long or post that much but I wouldnt be putting my money on that stuff.

They won't fit the vrs anyway,shame about your set up looks good

Fair enough mate and thats your opinion. But dont for a minute think that a non serious post is because you are new, or a low poster. Most threads at some point have a comic element from one or two.

If you want to take it THAT seriously then you may get upset overtime from jokes and japes on your threads, and others.

You will get your answers! Just because i was joking, doesnt mean no one else will post.

Incidentally I have Joms, i love them, they are very very good for the money, and many others have them and are happy too.

Lighten up and enjoy the forum

Regards Lofty

Fair enough mate and thats your opinion. But dont for a minute think that a non serious post is because you are new, or a low poster. Most threads at some point have a comic element from one or two.

If you want to take it THAT seriously then you may get upset overtime from jokes and japes on your threads, and others.

You will get your answers! Just because i was joking, doesnt mean no one else will post.

Incidentally I have Joms, i love them, they are very very good for the money, and many others have them and are happy too.

Lighten up and enjoy the forum

Regards Lofty

I just wanted a straight, honest answer.

someone will give you a straight honest answer! My honest answer is Joms are great.

for your budget you will get better, but i cant answer you about them as i dont have them. I shall note your preference and make sure not to reply unless I have a serious thing to say.

After all I am not a confrontational person. I hope you find your answer, and would be interested in your choice.

Lofty

someone will give you a straight honest answer! My honest answer is Joms are great.

for your budget you will get better, but i cant answer you about them as i dont have them. I shall note your preference and make sure not to reply unless I have a serious thing to say.

After all I am not a confrontational person. I hope you find your answer, and would be interested in your choice.

Lofty

AFAIK JOMs do not have the ARB bracket on the strut so it isnt an option, but thanks for your contribution. No need to not reply, I know what forums are like in the general lighthearted response to most things but despite what you say, when your relatively new and you just want a question answering (hence the reason for posting) it sometimes comes across the wrong way.

I've got weitec coil overs there essentially the same as ap's and kw's just different budget, ap's being the cheaper then weitecs then kw, they will all be fine although the lower you go the worse they become, but some more expensive ones are better lower then the cheaper ones etc

well you can always assume if its from me, its lighthearted and meant as nothing more than a bit of fun.

You have your answer by the looks of it

p.s if you search there is a jom related vrs kit at £212 that does. But with your money go with above of course

Edited 18 September, 201213 yr by Lofty79

I've got weitec coil overs there essentially the same as ap's and kw's just different budget, ap's being the cheaper then weitecs then kw, they will all be fine although the lower you go the worse they become, but some more expensive ones are better lower then the cheaper ones etc

So in order of cost starting with the cheapest we have

AP

Weitec

KW

Is that right? The problem is there is alot of choice! I'm not used to that!

i have driven a fabia vrs with ap coilies and they were superb, may even leave you enough change to do an ARB or something

if you want quality, then joms are not as good as APs in that respect. AP are made by KW as part of their budget range, imo weitecs are not a big enough improvement for the effort of changing over the APs, i suspect the APs are nigh on identical to the Weitec gts give or take anyway.

A lot of budget coilovers can be choppy when low, i would look at something like the kw v2s or v3s if you can afford it, they come up secondhand sometimes are way better quality shocks in general offering rebound and bump adjustment depending on the kit.

Running too low has an adverse effect on handling and geometry in general, its a compromise you make...form over function and all that!

It does need the ARB set up for the rear. The only thing that puts me off AP is the fact that I already have them albeit in non-coilover format and the quality of the kit was fine but the ride isnt good enough for me. My Mondeo on Eibachs only sits perfectly yet still rides the same if not better than the OE set up and I never have clearance issues. On some back roads in Norfolk i'm literally cutting the grass with the lower brace!

just reread and see you have matched AP springs and shocks rather than AP coilys, i dont think its worth changing these for AP coilovers, especially if you run that low, recon v2s or v3s tbh as the weitecs can also be choppy when low..

So in order of cost starting with the cheapest we have

AP

Weitec

KW

Is that right? The problem is there is alot of choice! I'm not used to that!

For the basic kits yep, although some do overlap lol but it will get complicated if we go into that,

I've had weitecs and kw variant 3's on octys obviously there's no contest with the v3's but then 4-500quid vrs 1200quid lol, ap's are a good budget option but obviously I can't comment as have had no personal use of them, best off trying to find someone with some and see what they reckon,

For within your budget I'd say the best option is the Weitec Hicon GT kit.

Damian @ DPM Performance

Im running kw v1 basics (galvanised strut)

About £550 iirc and the car is transformed. Being kw they quality is already there

Thats what id go for

from what i remember reading the v1s are just galvanized weitec gts, and have the same shocks, if you want the better upgraded shocks, you need the v2s or v3s, ask bowders...(where is he when you need him:>)he has had gts and now has my old v2s, he will tell you the difference in ride quality is noticeable

To be honest a lot of it is hear say.

But in my experience kw v1's are far more than capable for a skoda octavia road car

Anything more is for track stuff

no i read something online somewhere that said they were the same, plus when i spoke to KW uk when arranging to get my v2s rebuilt they also expalained the different levels in the shocks, v2s used to have koni shocks, however they are now made inhouse by kw like the v3 shocks.

V2s offer a much better quality ride over the v1s/weitec gts as the have rebound adjustment too, the result is a better allround ride in terms of comfort if required, or aggresive driving if required.

Serious replies please. Might not have been here long or post that much but I wouldnt be putting my money on that stuff.

They are joms on the astra !!!

They are joms on the astra !!!

You sure? He reckoned they were FK.

I fitted them, I'm sure they were.

Well with some big things happening right now its on hold for now until it settles down. I may even sell the VRS! Thanks for all the comments chaps.