looking to buy coilovers

erecsean · Postby **erecsean** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:48 pm

Hey guys, im new to the mazda scene here, i just purchased a na mx-5 a couple of weeks ago and i've been looking to buy some coilovers for my car. Im not really looking for performance here. More about the looks. I found a set of fairly cheap coilovers but i have never actually heard of this brand. Its called raceland. If im not mistaken they are about $400 for a set and they are brand new. I was reading through their website and apparently they are australian made. The only reason im going cheap is cause i am only earning like $170 a week as i am only a year 12 student doing 1-2 shifts a week. Has anyone here heard of experience this brand before?

emily_mx5 · Postby **emily_mx5** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 2:52 pm

www.clubroadster.net

MrRevhead · Postby **MrRevhead** » Wed Mar 27, 2013 4:22 pm

erecsean wrote:If im not mistaken they are about $400 for a set and they are brand new. I was reading through their website and apparently they are australian made.

Unfortunately, Raceland's aren't made in Australia, if they were, I doubt they would be selling for that price.

On top of the $400, you need to factor in shipping, which is $300, so you're looking at approximately $700 landed.

I do realise you're on a tight budget, but if you will be outlaying $700 on Raceland, even though they have mixed reviews, I would personally either:
a) look for a second hand set on these forums
b) consider spending a little bit more on Megan EZ Streets, entry level Tein, Yellowspeeds or entry level HSD.

If you're just looking on getting low and don't want to adjust your damper settings etc a good shock and lowered spring combo might also be an option and can be had for a few hundred second hand.

erecsean · Postby **erecsean** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 1:02 am

Thanks for the reply guys. Sorry that was my mistake. Raceland are not australian made lol. Yeah i have considered second hard coillovers but its kinda hard to look for them. I did think about shocks+springs but i'd prefer to go coils. I suppose i have no choice and just save up :/

sailaholic · Postby **sailaholic** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:31 am

Best way to ruin mx5 as a handling car is to dump it on its ass with a cheap and nasty set of coil overs.

What don't you like about a shock and spring combo ( which is still physically a coil over shock, but lets not get picky)

Is it not enough street cred? Can't get it low enough? Think coil overs will handle better?

Not being an asshole, but the best advice can only be given if we know what you REALLY think.

If you have just bought the car and are only earning that much I would save the money and get your maintenance items done first.

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 9:27 am

sailaholic wrote:If you have just bought the car and are only earning that much I would save the money and get your maintenance items done first.

Agree. On the budget you mentioned, don't spend unnecessarily. These are cheap cars to run relative to many, but they still require regular maintenance, rego and insurance and these items alone will take about $40-$50 of your weekly budget. That's before you even drive it!

You haven't mentioned whether your shocks/springs are worn out, or whether this is to try to improve handling or purely cosmetic.

As you've only had it for a short while, as long as everything is in safe working order, I'd be tempted to just drive it and get a good feel for it. That way, when the time comes to modify or repair anything, you will have a much better idea of what you really want.

outbreakmonkey · Postby **outbreakmonkey** » Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:19 pm

Given you have near zero driving experience, unless the current shocks are completely stuffed, spend your money on driver training and/or track days.

michaelz · Postby **michaelz** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 3:04 pm

erecsean wrote:Hey guys, im new to the mazda scene here, i just purchased a na mx-5 a couple of weeks ago and i've been looking to buy some coilovers for my car. Im not really looking for performance here. More about the looks. I found a set of fairly cheap coilovers but i have never actually heard of this brand. Its called raceland. If im not mistaken they are about $400 for a set and they are brand new. I was reading through their website and apparently they are australian made. The only reason im going cheap is cause i am only earning like $170 a week as i am only a year 12 student doing 1-2 shifts a week. Has anyone here heard of experience this brand before?

i bought a cheap set of used G4 coilovers from another NB owner for $450 delivered. just some cheap coilovers and there's not much adjustment either. i didn't have high expectations but they ride surprisingly well and i'm satisfied with them overall. definitely a improvement.

i've splurged $1700 on tein monoflex before for my 300ZX, they're absolutely sublime but not 4x the price better.

erecsean · Postby **erecsean** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 10:41 pm

sailaholic wrote:Best way to ruin mx5 as a handling car is to dump it on its ass with a cheap and nasty set of coil overs.

What don't you like about a shock and spring combo ( which is still physically a coil over shock, but lets not get picky)

Is it not enough street cred? Can't get it low enough? Think coil overs will handle better?

Not being an asshole, but the best advice can only be given if we know what you REALLY think.

If you have just bought the car and are only earning that much I would save the money and get your maintenance items done first.

dude if i knew everything already i wouldnt start this thread in the first place. i obviously didnt know anything. that was the main reason i asked. not cause its not enough street cred or not low enough. buying a new set of shocks and springs will probably cost nearly as the same as a set of coilovers. correct me if i'm mistaken. like i said earlier on, i am more after for the looks rather than performance as i have no intentions of tracking the car etc. that was why i also asked if anyone knew about the raceland brand. Also, i have done the simply maintenance. there is nothing really wrong with the original shocks and springs.

M1474 · Postby **M1474** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:30 am

If your shocks are ok and you just want to get low a set of lowered springs will cost about $250 new, half of that second hand. Don't go overboard on spring rates.

Cheapskate option is to get your existing springs re tempered?, more than an inch will have your ass sittin on bumpstops most of the time though.

I have no knowledge of Raceland coilovers but if they were any good for that price everyone would be running on them. Chances are they'll have poorly matched spring and damping rates and flog out pretty quick.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 10:29 am

I cannot see how they can make the product so cheap and still have it be good quaility. If you are prepared to spend the money, knowing they may need replacing in a year to two. Then go for it. It's not like you are outlaying a huge amount of money.