Replacing old suspension with coilovers on an S2 Avant. Recommendations on brand.

[grim]

The title covers it really, I don't have any experience with H&R coilovers but I have used KW on some golfs many years ago and they were fine.

There's not much in it price wise between H&R monotubes and KW Variant 1's, so I'm just looking for opinions on which is going to be the better buy. I only use the car at the weekends for driving around in the country, I don't plan on taking it anywhere near a track.

I currently have Koni dampers and H&R springs, and although the dampers aren't leaking the fronts bottom out and hit the bump stops on almost any bump in the road and it's deeply unpleasant.

For the price of new dampers I can get a full set of coilovers and replace my rather sorry looking struts. So what do people recommend?

Thanks for any advice.

[M_GORDON]

Hi!
in the past I was with Koni and stock, later Koni with H&R and now since 2 years, Kw v1

Kw is smoother but... I was happier with the Konis.

Maybe... Kw v3

[Lago Blue]

Some Questions and a Plaintive Plea for Near Stock Suspension.

No less than your own Colin Chapman thought that happiness lay in something along the lines of softly sprung and heavily damped.

Please take everything I might say with a dose of skepticism as I have no experience with Avants, Konis or KWs; and I do have widgets to flog. Further, please also excuse my being blunt; this is not the recommendation you're asking for, here goes...

So, are you saying you are going to replace lowered and neglected suspension with possibly even more fussy and severe suspension, to travel country roads you already find too rough, is that about right?

I would ask you to consider setting aside price for a moment and think about what it might take to restore your enjoyment of the car and perhaps what kit you already have, as its' issues may not be entirely improved by any shinier replacements.

I would also suggest that if you do choose to replace your struts, just set them aside, don't dispose of them outright; store them.

If I'm wrong in this approach with what I might suggest you try first, know it will provide a proper base on which to fasten whatever you might choose; in any case.

Q: Is it not so that any S2 Avant must have the later style rear suspension (aka B4 type)? If yes, then it already has coil-overs and exactly what is to be had with their replacement?

Q: Is your "bottoms out" complaint in regards to both ends of the car, or just the front? Is it possibly not really bottoming-out on those "any bumps in the road" (I suspect it is not), but simply sounds / feels like it does?

Q: Have you taken your suspension apart to inspect the bushings and mounts; and how old are they? They may be overdue, can you tell?

Q: Are your Koni's not adjustable? Can they be better matched to the springs?

Q: Where you ever happy with the ride of your current (already less compliant than stock springs) set-up? Are the springs possibly too short &/or stiff to ever be less than jarring? Do you have the originals?

Q: Have you ridden in a wagon with the kit you might next mount; in the country-side?

In the archives, there are folks who have gone down similar roads, and then gone back to stock springs and up-rated dampers; there's no shame in that.

With your reply, perhaps you can illicit a response from some more folks who've BTDT?

Hope this helps.