Now With PICS! - Coilover Extravaganza!

[The_Hawk]

Following on from the old thread I'm setting the time and place.

When: Sunday 31 August
Start: Meet in Woodbine MacDonlads @ 9:30am
Cruise down the freeway to Berrima the cut across to The Famous Robertson Pie Shop for a snack.

Now the fun part... Run down Jamberoo Mountain Road to Jamberoo itself
Then from there into Kiama to the lighthouse and blowhole for lunch (and to compare notes).


All up the trip is about 130km each way with lots of good roads between, will make a good day.

Estimated Timetable:
10:00 Leave Campbelltown -> Robertson is about 1:10 + stops if we want to change drivers/get fuel on the way.
11:40 Leave Robertson -> Jamberoo is about 30 minutes of fun road.
12:15 About 10 minutes into Kiama.
12:30 onwards Lunch at Kiama + test drives to Jamberoo and back.

We can run between Kiama and Jameroo (which is about 7km) to test the various setups and when it's all over we can fang it back up the mountain for fun.

So who's in and what are you bringing:

Attendees:

Name: The Hawk - Aaron
Vehicle: Golf Mk3 VR6
Suspension: Dynamic Coilover Kit Gold from GCP @ $950
Additional Passengers: None (at the moment, but I have spare seats, BYO bog roll)


In nothing else it will be a great drive and a great day out.

NOTE: Anyone with a handheld UHF CB radio please let me know and bring it along since they always come in handy.

There is a never ending debate over coilovers. Pricy brand name kits vs the significantly cheaper unit now available.

We all know the cheaper unit don't have the adjustments and some of the expensive units have lifetime warranties, but is the added cost really worth it?

Is the ride better?
Is the handling better?
Is there less noise?
Does it fit better?
Is the cheaper unit more likely to break?

You know what I think we need, we need a couple of the boys with KW (or other big name) kits to line up against those of us with cheaper alternative (and maybe a stocker or two) so we can drive the same roads and do a bit of a test. Even better if we get an impartial 3rd party or two in on the action for a blind test, giving each car a score out of 10 for ride quality, handling and general feel of the total package and see where we end up.

There are plenty of the Mk3 crowd with both options (and I'm sure this is where alot of the debate lies since KW V2's can be half the cost of a Mk3).

So Sunday August 31 at a location yet to be decided. Get together and answer the question once and for all. Is it worth the money?

That and we can have a BBQ and a chat.

I would be happy to hear from any suspension experts or KW, Bilstein, Eibach (etc etc) reps out there who might be interested in coming along to offer an expert opinion.

With two months to organise the final event I need volunteers with different suspension types to offer up themselves and their cars for a test. I would like to see each car driven by at least 3 people being a driver who has brand name, a driver who has the cheap option and a driver who has stock (or is a third party who hasn't driven anything).

I would also call for suggestions on a location for a meet. I'm thinking one of the Dams like Warragamba or Avon or Napean or somewhere like Stanwell Park. We are not looking for a race track, rather just some average roads, but also somewhere we can drive in and out of easily without having to worry about parking or too many people around. The idea is not to thrash the cars but see how they compare on the road in 'normal' conditions.


I'll put up my Mk3 VR6 with "Race Dynamic Coilover kit Gold" from GCP ( http://www.germancarperformance.de/ ) @ AU$950 to my door in Australia.

So who's willing to put stand up and put their KW's to the test?

[The_Hawk]

So who's coming?

[rayray086]

Yep but not bringing my car - bad swaybar links, clutch is close to being out and bad alignment has restricted my car to just short trips to and from work. If I can somehow get the money and get them all done before then, I'll be in with the car.

Yeah I know... excuses excuses

[Soundofav6]

you can ride shoot gun in mine ray ...

Who's comming ???

[evorobin]

Where the cheaper coilovers are concerned hottuning, jamex, janspeed and raceland are all the same kit. Raceland comes in the nicest box I've got a mk2/3 set here now

[fuzion]

So who's coming?

im working so im definitely out.

not having a go, but you cant exactly compare a kit on a car without having the exact same layout on another car as well as someone who has 10+ years more r&d then another. bilstein, kw, big brands are the best for a reason.. it comes down to what you pay for and what research/quality has gone into them.

for on road use, its your choice in the end. im doubtful you will have reps interested in comparison for they're products.

each product i think is suited to each persons needs! i dont doubt they all do the same thing equally, but how and how good is the difference!

[The_Hawk]

im working so im definitely out.

not having a go, but you cant exactly compare a kit on a car without having the exact same layout on another car as well as someone who has 10+ years more r&d then another. bilstein, kw, big brands are the best for a reason.. it comes down to what you pay for and what research/quality has gone into them.

for on road use, its your choice in the end. im doubtful you will have reps interested in comparison for they're products.

each product i think is suited to each persons needs! i dont doubt they all do the same thing equally, but how and how good is the difference!

I agree that the *best* situation would be to have 5 identical cars with different suspension or even better the same car tested 5 times after changing the kit over.

The whole point of this is to get 5 people to drive each others 5 cars scoring how they *feel* the ride and handling is in what are *normal-ish* road conditions. Sure it's not a scientific as it could be and it's not about pushing these things to their limits. Theoretically the more expensive setups with all the R&D should come out on top, but the idea is to see if 5 people driving different cars agree that they can *feel* that the money spent on a more expensive setup is justified. Consider this the readers choice of coilover comparrisons! No scientific method other than personal opinion x 5.

Remeber that half of the idea is a good excuse for a fun drive down a winding road

*Note: When I say 5, I mean as many as turn up, but the more the merrier.

[The_Hawk]

C'Mon! Where are all those willing Mk3 drivers from not long ago...

/me points at YOU!

[Golf Houso]

Not all of use have coils or are looking to spend 1/2 a day taking wheels off and adjusting spring rates and ride heights if we have a set...

Why don't we just make it a drive Aaron? That way everyone can get involved

[The_Hawk]

No one has to take anything off or do anything other than drive their cars! The idea is you agree to let someone else drive your car "as is" and give it a rating out of 10 on a few different categories.

Than plan being that if an independant (or a number if different people) each rate each car, the average score give an indication of how each car compares.

Failling all that, the drive down jamberoo mountain will be fun!

[Golf Houso]

I should be able to come along for the drive, but no one else is driving my vehicle besides me and thats that. Anyone else?

[The_Hawk]

Three words... "Oh Dear God"

We went for a biyt of a bush walk to Minnamurra Falls today so I took the scenic route home.

Jamberoo -> Robertson -> Albion Park -> Campbelltown.

I tell you what, Jamberoo mountain and the road from Robertson to Albion Park and going to leave me having some nice dreams. WOW there going to be some fun roads to drive.

[The_Hawk]

Right, so with 4 days between now and then, who's coming? While it will be nice to get a few Mk3's with different suspension I expect the drive itself to be amazing considering the road

I'm looking at those who were interested in the old thread... although some of you *cough* Mickey *cough* can't drive...

Bug_racer
static1800
DubSteve
Soundofav6
rayray086
Mrk_Mickey
GT15VW
jayjay
malteser
bboyskidz

So who's in?

[The_Hawk]

OK people, time to put your hand up and confirm attendance.

So far it looks like Golf Houso, malteser, Soundofav6 and myself.

We can make the decision on the day, but choices for the drive down are either freeway to Berima then cut across OR (the more fun way) of going through Wollongong then up Macquarie Pass, into Robertson, then down Jambaroo Mountain.... all about the drive!

[Mrk_Mickey]

although some of you *cough* Mickey *cough* can't drive...

Hah. Nice dog shot you bum! I've got more important things to do on that day Flocking HSC....