Help with another BC vs swift decision, but this time with...

[chrismau808]

This looks like total ramble, but there are actually questions in here, lol. Thanks in advance everyone.

SO...I've searched and read, both here and google, countless threads, thought for hours, no luck. So here's my question/dilemma. Swifts/Koni combo or BC coilovers (true rear) with swift spring upgrade, is the decision i need to make. Im getting a great price going either way. With them i'm purchasing a complete Stoptech brake kit front and rear. Im also looking at either SPL camber arms or the SPC performance arms with xaxis, but considering if I go SPL i still need the lockout kit as toe bolts so i'd be paying around $150 more for the SPL vs the SPC performance arms(not the regular bent looking SPC camber arms). At this point i've already blown my $1500-1600 budget on this order and realize i want some spacers.

So initially i'd be more cost effective to go Swift/Koni combo since i'd only be doing the front Koni shocks since the rears would be easy to do down the line and it would help put some cash into other parts, but I would eventually need the Koni rear shocks which then either option Swift/Koni vs BC/swift upgrade will be basically priced evenly, BC/swift upgrade being about $100 more. I'm doing the complete Stoptech kit since I need new pads and would need to have the stock rotors turned, so ball out...right lol!?

The only reason i'm indecisive on which combo is the fact that 50% of the pictures I see with swifts on they look perfect,the other 50% look not low enough. And i'm not about getting low, but I do have my preferred stance, which the Swifts very much ride that line, I don't want to budget ball the f out and go...crap i'm in the 50% of where it doesn't look low enough. But I know if I go the bc/swift route i'm really going to lower it to the point where people will think im on swift springs lol. Plus going the BC/Swift route there's a lead time for build on them and more cash up front. But I'd get my custom spring rates, valving and they'd be true rear coilovers.

So with camber arms, I want SPL, but for the extra cost ($368 arms,lookout kit, toe bolts) above the SPC performance($229 complete with arms,lockout kit, and toe bolts, remember not the normal SPC) camber arms do I need them on a DD/weekend warrior setup? I mean dayum the SPL are great, but $140 better?

And i want/need 20mm/25mm spacers lol.

So again my initial budget was $1500-1600 on this order but would really, really, really, really like it to stay around $2000, what would you guys suggest. I mean I know it's my car my money, but i'm sure many of you have bought stuff and realized you either needed better or could've been fine going with something i bit more inexpensive. And I know people have their own preference, im not any different, but honestly how many of you swift spring guys really wished you were a bit lower, or am i just not getting a good look at the pictures!? I mean like i said when I look at people's pictures, for me it's 50/50 on how perfect the stance is vs it's not quite low enough.

Thanks for your help in advance everyone and wanted to very much thank Josh with Kamispeed since he's the guy dealing with my indecisiveness and has been great to deal with.

[sandersd]

I bought Swifts, had them on for a month. I hated them, they were squishy. Bought BC ER coilovers with the Swift spring upgrade and couldn't be happier. There is no comparison between lowering springs and coilovers - the coilovers blow them away in every measure. Don't waste your money on lowering springs if your after performance or if you want to lower your car to the perfect height.

More info: BC ER Install and Adjust

[brancky3]

New brakes you say? How much for your Akebonos?

[chrismau808]

Originally Posted by sandersd

I bought Swifts, had them on for a month. I hated them, they were squishy. Bought BC ER coilovers with the Swift spring upgrade and couldn't be happier. There is no comparison between lowering springs and coilovers - the coilovers blow them away in every measure. Don't waste your money on lowering springs if your after performance or if you want to lower your car to the perfect height.

More info: BC ER Install and Adjust

Well i was just going to do the BC BR with swift springs, but I think even that way i'd still be happier in the end. thank you

[chrismau808]

Originally Posted by brancky3

New brakes you say? How much for your Akebonos?

sorry, actually just doing a replacement Stoptech brake kit (rotors, pads, lines, fluid) keeping the Akebonos.

[Zeezuu]

hahaha its crazy that i am exactly in the same situation as you chrismau. everything down to the dot. Ive been thinking about this for the past few days and I'm so glad you posted it cause i was just about to. I honestly have been researching this for the past week and i think i finally have a solution for me.

swifts are great, but personally i feel like they need to be a little bit lower too. 2 of my friends have Swifts, and they are happy with them but I'm telling you that there is wheel gap and they also agree. The front looks good, but the back looks like its NEEDZ MOR LOW and its noticeable. I daily my Z and i honestly have been researching around and think the Ark GT-S springs would be a perfect stance for me. I know where i want my car to sit at, so i see no point in getting coils if the springs do the job perfectly.
A lot of people on this forum will say "COILS, SPL, ETC or GTFO". I don't track my car at all, So i see no point in getting SPL, SPC performance is perfectly fine, it won't break and your car will be fine. Many people just get the lowering springs and nothing else. Your shocks will last for a long time lol, dropping 1 inch- 1.5 inch isn't going to harm them that much. YES they probably won't last as long as stock, but your still going gonna have them fine for years. Plus by then, you will probably be onto bigger and better things.If your fine with some wheel gap on the rear, then get the swifts. You honestly won't need the Koni's but if you want, buy them as well. 20mm and 25mm spacers fit perfectly flush, the rear will have a little poke but it looks aggressive and nice AF. As for the camber arms, when you get alignment, if you need them to get back into spec, then buy them. Both of my friends did not need them, they are running just the swifts with 20mm and 25mm spacers for awhile now.

[cv129]

Chrismau, reading your post, your ultimate criteria is to have the exact ride height and stance you want, I think then coilovers are the way to go. Simple as that isn't it?

In defense to the SPL arms suggestion....SPC arms have snapped under high load before, there was a thread in this very forum. Could be an isolated case, but that depends on your risk tolerance. Just because you don't track doesn't mean you won't have to dodge a drunk driver and hit the curb at a bad angle. Suspension arm snapping can cause major damage to a whole lotta stuff. Extra $140...that's like 3 tanks of gas...or a pair of shoes...or a fancy meal...vs a peace of mind. To some of us, that's well worth it.

[Zeezuu]

Originally Posted by cv129

Extra $140...that's like 3 tanks of gas...or a pair of shoes...or a fancy meal...vs a peace of mind. To some of us, that's well worth it.

WHAT kind of gas you be putting in for 140$!?!
but seriously, if u don't mind go for SPL!

[cv129]

Originally Posted by Zeezuu

WHAT kind of gas you be putting in for 140$!?!
but seriously, if u don't mind go for SPL!

I think I said 3 tanks of gas.

[brancky3]

Originally Posted by cv129

I think I said 3 tanks of gas.

My last 3 tanks were around $28 each $1.83 for premium down here.

[cv129]

5 tanks then, same logic applies.

[chrismau808]

thanks Zeezuu and cv129 for the responses. I am in it for better performance rather then looks but at the same time I do want it to sit where i want it, which is really like .25 inch lower then swifts. But yeah I agree about the SPL vs SPC and actually didnt think about how little the costs are extra in comparison to some of the random stuff I buy daily. I think i'm just overthinking an already blown budget on this order. Like I keep thinking all I really need brake wise right now is new pads but then I start thinking, well if i'm already there mind as well do it all, even though in reality, just a new set of pads and lines would probably handle some business and I could put more into my suspension. Ah too much thinking for now. mahalos again for any responses.