RE: Advice on shock/strut & spring setup

["Simpson, Chuck" <chuck.simpson@zeltech.com>]

I feel the exact opposite on how Cameron feels.

I had a GTI with the Bilstein Sport & Neuspeed Sport combo (similar ride as
H&R Sports).  IMO, very harsh on bumps but handled well on tight corners.
It seemed that every time I hit some little bump on the road, the car would
go BAAAAAAAMMMMMMM!!!!!!  I dreaded driving down less-than-perfect roads all
of the time.  I also didn't like the drop.  The rear always looked way lower
than the front, but I guess that's completely normal for the Mk3 VW's.

I now have the Cup Kit and love every minute of it.  The drop is perfect,
the ride is supple, and my wife actually approves.  The drop leaves about a
finger gap on both wheel wells, but doesn't pose rubbing problems even with
my 17"x7.5 30mm offset ABT wheels.  I drive fairly aggressively, and I can
hang with my friends Mk2 GTI w/ Bilstein PSS coilovers in the twisties.

I personally think coilovers are WAAAAAYYYYY too harsh for daily driving and
would not recommend them.  Just find anyone with coilovers and try to push
the corner of the car downward.  It's so freakin' stiff.

I personally vote for the H&R Cup Kit!  :)
But... I would recommend finding some dub friends in the area and take other
modded VW's for a test drive!

-Chuck Simpson
'97 GTI VR6



-----Original Message-----
From: cameron@buzzneon.com
To: jettaglx@igtc.com
Sent: 3/7/02 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: Advice on shock/strut & spring setup

Hi Mike,

I tried the H&R Cup-Kit on my 97 Jetta GLX, and I didn't like it at all.
Sure
the handeling was amazing, but the day-to-day ride was just too harsh. I
sold the kit and since installed H&R Sports with Bilstein Sport shocks,
and I really love that ride. It's not as low as the Cup-Kit (which is
another plus for me), and really takes the edge of the harsh Cup-Kit
ride.

I had a few people comment/complain about the ride with the Cup-Kit, but
no-one has said anything about the H&R Sports. Obviously the handeling
is
not as good, but it's far better than stock, and a comfy ride, too. (No
more nose-dives whenevr you touch the brakes!)

Here are some pictures:
  http://www.buzzneon.com/jetta/clean/
I took them after a mojor wash/buff/wax (hence the name 'clean').

I'm not really suppose to be running a web-server on my DSL line, so
please
don't hammer it too much!

Cam.

> 
> It's time to upgrade shocks/springs on my 96 GLX.  Looking at
Bilstein/
> Eibach combo (conventional not coil over as I'm not interested in the
> adjustment factor.)  Looking for advice on pro springs vs sport
springs
> (ride/comfort, lowering, etc.)  I'm interested in an overall look and
ride
> comfort that is smart, clean, sophisticated and mature.
> 
> Any feedback on different shock/spring setups is greatly appreciated.

> Thanks.
> 
> Mike  
> 


-- 
    Cameron Silver:                  **    Be there, be there,   *  ,_~o
           cameron@buzzneon.com      ** I'm there and I like it! * /
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