Yiannis' Albi Blue R27 - Toning down...

+1. Its coilovers for me next. Spax looks like a decent piece of kit but is it the whole 'you get what you pay for argument'?
 
I also usually have this attitude and usually always go for the biggest most reputable brands, however i don't think Spax can compete price wise with KW for example that has built up its reputation as a market leader in my opinion. Therefore 600 for Spax in comparison to KW V1 which is around 800 seems right to me...
 
The Spax kit is usually £900! It's only due to Danny knocking most of his margin off that you can pick them up at £650 atm
 
I've used Spax stuff a couple of times in the past, never had a single problem.
 
Chris197F1 said:
Credit to you mate, some money spent on making it look superb and it's really paid off!
Click to expand...

I agree with Chris197F1 also, you have spent alot on it not just mechanically but especially getting all the plastic sprayed and clock and radio screen flocked, which all looks really nice. Stands out with the shiny gun metal grey but not in your face, like any other colour would.

I personaly also like what you have done with the RS badges and stuck them next to the R27 metal car number plate inbetween the 2 front seats, that looks cool.
 
racer2011 said:
Stands out with the shiny gun metal grey but not in your face, like any other colour would.
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Thanks a lot mate, as I said that was the idea and I'm really glad you think it's worked:smile:

Regarding the Spax coilovers, I don't know guys, I really don't know. You see, one part of me thinks an approximately £850 fully adjustable coilover suspension kit provided and fitted by Danny from 519 who is a respected Renault tuner/specialist is a bargain, my other just refuses to understand how is possible for a fully adjustable kit to be so cheap. Yes I know is on offer, but £600 from £900? That's not an offer that is a giveaway. A KW respective kit costs more than double the money, even a fixed damping kit (V1s or H&R) is around £300-400 more expensive. I mean...where is the catch? Is it a marketing trick that tries to push people to buy SPAX in order to realise what a great kit that is? I believe (I'm not in the marketing industry by the way) that if that's the case then marketeers got it wrong because for most people it has the reverse effect. IMO what they should have done given that they have faith in their product is keep the price high and at the same time give a few kits to unbiased and respected people from forums who deal with motorsport/track days etc for them to review.

If the price was on the region of £800 then someone would think ok, instead of buying a KW V1 kit or H&R, I'll go for the SPAX one (a well known company as well) which is fully adjustable. Two birds one stone. But now they'd think (including me) ''pay cheap pay twice''. By no means I'm slagging SPAX off. Obviously I'm not because I've never driven a car with such kit fitted. Am I being a market victim? Possibly. The difference in money is HUGE and nothing comes cheap these days. But even though this kit is really good money indeed it's still nealy a grand to be lost should I fit it and be disappointed. And I'm afraid I can't risk it. I prefer to play it safe tbh so after giving it some good thought I believe I made up my mind. Am I being wrong? Possibly..

Sorry for the long post. The above are all personal thoughts and doesn't mean I'm right..
 
what are you going to go for then? :smile:

I agree with you on some parts, then again i don't see Spax charging the same prices as the market leaders, they aren't in the position to in my opinion and they therefore price accordingly is what i think. Think of the mark up on KW coilovers, i'm a 'brand snob' when it comes to such products as i also tend to avoid buying average parts and then replacing them but i think there isn't a catch on this one. If i had the money i would obviously go for the KW clubsports or something simillar. I think there is a big hype that has been created by KW with all these new technologies coming out from them like the DDC sytem or whatever it's called that allows you to adjust through your iPhone. The development costs must be huge for such new products, those are my thoughts anyway...
 
That's my point exactly Ollie. Even at a price of £800-900 (which apparently is their initial price) are still slightly cheaper than the fixed damping market leader ones and considerably cheaper than the fully adjustable ones, still being considered as a bargain.

Also one more thing that put me off is the 24 level adjustment? I mean is it the more the better? Aren't 24 levels too many while at the time KW does 14 and AST 12? So if you are on the 13th click and you change it to 14th will you notice any difference? I really doubt it so that makes it even more difficult to adjust them IMO, with the ''can I get more of it'' thought running constantly in the background.

I'll do it once and for good Ollie, my R27 is a keeper so I don't mind the spending therefore I'll go for the ASTs without the top mounts. I've got the top mount kit from Simo anyway unless of course I decide to sell it in here and get the AST one, haven't made my mind on it yet. Top of the range ones, low weight, coilover design at the back as well (not separate spring) and they can be rebuilt. KW are great kits but after having a thorough discussion with motorspot people who deal with clubsports on a daily basis I decided against them.
 
The thing is people often forget what coilovers were developed for....track use primary and adjustability. The reality is most people do neither. The cars are rarely tracked and fitted and never touched again. Equally, they really need to be set up properly which can cost about another £80-£100 alignment. With all respect, most people (including myself) are not good enough drivers to exploit the expensive coilovers. If they are honest, most just want the ability to lower it as much as they want which can upset the handling anyway.
Personally, I'll wait till someones parting out some KW's on the forum as very few cars are a keeper and someone will look to want to recoup their initial expense. If you pay the right price for them, you can sell them for around the same price 12 months later.
 
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litchy said:
The thing is people often forget what coilovers were developed for....track use primary and adjustability. The reality is most people do neither. The cars are rarely tracked and fitted and never touched again. Equally, they really need to be set up properly which can cost about another £80-£100 alignment. With all respect, most people (including myself) are not good enough drivers to exploit the expensive coilovers. If they are honest, most just want the ability to lower it as much as they want which can upset the handling anyway.
Personally, I'll wait till someones parting out some KW's on the forum as very few cars are a keeper and someone will look to want to recoup their initial expense. If you pay the right price for them, you can sell them for around the same price 12 months later.
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i'll put my hand up and be honest and say i only want them for the ride height adjustability and i'd never adjust them once set,might do the odd track day in time but thats about it
 
The 28 point adjustability is great for the initial setup but i doubt I'll ever change them again. I feel I've got them at a great level of handling/comfort, it's going to be down to you. I've found that the more you read on forums the more you struggle to make your own opinion. Do what I did and take the plunge of what you think is the right way to go, be it KW or SPAX nobody can really convince you to go either way.
 
my opinion....

-eibach/h&r spring: same performance of the standard chassis, not good work with standard suspensions, low price.. only for lower the clio 300€?

-kw v1, h&r coilover...: same performance of the standard chassis, good kit, height adjustable 1000/1100€

-kw v3: better performance, good kit, height and hydraulic adjustable 1600€

-kw clubsport, ast, orap, stac, coilover or not coilover!: excellent performance, excellent kit.. bad price :lol: 2100/3500€
 
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