Air ride vs coilovers

[csweston]

Im curious to see what everyones opinion is on the different set ups. Coilovers will obviously handle better, but you will also be scraping often :smt009 which id like to avoid. Air ride allows you to avoid scraping but doesnt handle as well and can never get a perfect alignment. Within the next month or so ill be slamming my OB on one or the other. If i go with coilovers then ill also be buying skid plates. So whats everyones opinion! :grin:

[Huffer]

Why do you want to slam your car?

especially in boise

[csweston]

I love the looks of the lowered 1st gen outbacks like sybir's. Also boise is no different than any other city, the roads arn't any worse. I dont go off roading in my car ever.

NW streets suck..

i would say coils if youre keeping it as a dd, but air ride for a mainly show car

[csweston]

I suppose boise roads just look good compared to the roads up here in Moscow.

[Okin DaVanh]

I'd say do what fits you and your lifestyle.

I.M.O. (which means, in no way is this written in the bible of Subaru :grin: )

Air Ride also came as an option in some early model Subaru's. Altho, they weren't controlled by the flip of a switch.
There are air ride systems that can adjust to sit and look like factory ride height as well as slam and or raised to look as if you're going off road.

Coilovers offer a firmer ride as well as less maintenance (bags blowing vs. replacing a strut).

Decisions.... Decisions....

[chuckthefuk]

if your planning on running your car in the winter or at least below 0 then stay away from air ride.. moisture in the lines can freeze and crack when its cold.

air ride is slow unless your trunk is loaded with compressors.. looks super cool but handles like an airbag of shit ;-p

coilovers are #1 if you like cornering.

but to each their own
-Chuck

[Huffer]

Praxis (here in Ohio) tried running a nice 3-stage air suspension system a few years ago. Their test mule lived in Akron, OH which regularly sees sub-zero temps in the winter. Their application was specifically for the Subaru WRX but they said it could be adapted to any all-strut vehicle.

[chuckthefuk]

ya you can run water extractors but its just more plumbing ..

-Chuck

[d1giPhux]

I think your in for a shit ride, for a lot of money with both. They are both going to ride like crap (see: bricks) on the street, and are both going to cost a lot of money. Your choice! If this was a track only car, id say go with the coils, but otherwise, id stay away from either of those options on the street. Unless you like pissing off everyone riding in your car, and making it feel like your riding on bricks.

[Huffer]

The Praxis system actually works pretty well. Air ride systems have come a long way digi...

[StatGSR]

^ truth, but its still pretty much ridiculously expensive...

[Huffer]

^ truth, but its still pretty much ridiculously expensive...

As are all things that are limited production and suit a very specific type of person.

[ouch1011]

Saying that all coilover systems ride like ass is not accurate. I've got Tein coils on my car, and yes, its stiff, but acceptible. Rides better than my friends STI (and handles better, at least according to him ;)