MK5 Golf GTI
All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Daled0111 on July 14, 2015, 07:06:27 pm
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Hello need help deciding which one coilovers or air ride
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If you can afford air ride then it's a no-brainer imo.
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What do you want from the car? If it's performance/handling then don't get air. (Someone no doubt will try and disagree with me - if they can name one performance car on the market that has OEM air I'll rescind my comment.)
My opinion is that air is if you want to slam the car. That is just about the only reason to get it.
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Bag it. :drool:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpre05.deviantart.net%2Faf18%2Fth%2Fpre%2Fi%2F2010%2F166%2F8%2F8%2Fbagged_vw_golf_gti_by_jackinaboxdesign.png&hash=01139c8a0b65d57648fd1cbb10f4c7ec5ea80751)
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What do you want from the car? If it's performance/handling then don't get air. (Someone no doubt will try and disagree with me - if they can name one performance car on the market that has OEM air I'll rescind my comment.)
My opinion is that air is if you want to slam the car. That is just about the only reason to get it.
Porsche Cayenne S?
Air lift performance struts will be better than cheap or 'mid-range' coilovers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCWfKovtx-g (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCWfKovtx-g)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ScCHuaCLrM (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ScCHuaCLrM)
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Cayenne S? A performance car? It's an SUV. Do Porsches (barring the Cayenne), Ferraris, Lambos, AMG Mercedes, BMW M-Cars etc etc come with bags? All the cars I can think of that DO come with bags as standard (big limos) tend to have had them removed to make performance AMG and M versions. The old SL had bags, the SL65 AMG got rid of them, and the SL65 AMG Black Series had coilovers. Do race cars have bags?
The videos you've posted are promotional videos from companies looking to sell their products and as much as I dislike the Nissan GTR I don't believe for one second that an air suspension company knows more than Nissan's top engineers (or Subaru's for that matter). If Nissan thought it would be faster with bags it would have bags.
Saying they're better the cheap coils is a moot point. If the OP has money for air he has money for decent coilovers. In the performance stakes there is really no contest.
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Ive always had coilovers on my previous cars, they drive better than air, not saying air is bad quality, i know you can get good bags like bagyard or airlift.
Also with coilovers you dont need to worry about the boot space, compressors going wrong, bags leaking.
My current golf isnt lowered but if i wanted it slammed i would get a top end coilovers kit.
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i'm with Raz, had air, fitted a fair few kits too but there's always a risk of something going wrong, fuse pops, relay dead, freezing lines in the winter, bags perishing, etc etc
i had top quality stuff with e-level and would occasionally wig out as all electronics do once in a while, my favourite was when it decided to air out the front drivers wheel sending the subframe into the floor and wheel into the arch at 70mph
i like to drive my car hard and with air there's always that concern in the back of your mind that it's far more prone to failure than any other suspension and if it was you'd be in trouble.
maybe i'm too old i don't know, for a show car i'd run air again, anything else - no, i like to get in my car in the morning and turn the key and drive off knowing my suspension works :grin:
also be prepared to wear all suspension bushes out twice as fast and tyres as you're tracking will never be 100%
the air game is moving on though and coming down in price which will hopefully mean quality / new ways of doing it will be introduced, it's all a bit 'it'll do' when it comes down to it.
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Bag it. :drool:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fpre05.deviantart.net%2Faf18%2Fth%2Fpre%2Fi%2F2010%2F166%2F8%2F8%2Fbagged_vw_golf_gti_by_jackinaboxdesign.png&hash=01139c8a0b65d57648fd1cbb10f4c7ec5ea80751)
That's one heavy case! :signLOL:
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If you like to drive your car then KW or Bilstein coilovers.
If you like to show your car then get air ride.
Obviously air ride is getting better and handles pretty good but if you're into driving your car properly then good old coilovers is always the way to go.
Maybe even as a compromise get some H&R ultra lows and slam it for shows and raise it for the road? Bit of a PITA though :laugh:
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Get some decent coilovers. Unless your 18 and hang around in a macdonalds car park on a night then go for air
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I like to show my car and drive it so KWs are great!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FBuryFan12%2FMobile_Uploads%2FAE00A2F4-91C5-424C-A7D7-D6BCD6308D01_zpsprrpl1qv.jpg&hash=6121897c6385ebafcf44ebc6f45f4eda802a46b9)
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Cracking stance :happy2:
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Get some decent coilovers. Unless your 18 and hang around in a macdonalds car park on a night then go for air
Sug sitting on the fence, there. :signLOL:
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I like to show my car and drive it so KWs are great!
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2FBuryFan12%2FMobile_Uploads%2FAE00A2F4-91C5-424C-A7D7-D6BCD6308D01_zpsprrpl1qv.jpg&hash=6121897c6385ebafcf44ebc6f45f4eda802a46b9)
what kw coilovers have you got v1,v2,v3 or what
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V1s
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Get some decent coilovers. Unless your 18 and hang around in a macdonalds car park on a night then go for air
OP you have opened a can of worms with this post lol. Its like Subaru Vs Evo, it all comes down to personal preference, there are pros and cons for both.
Instead of taking a forums perspective (because a few on here are this like this guy above, a stupid comment and or no experience of air because they think its for chavs, it doesn't handle, why don’t race cars have it blah blah blah...) try both first yourself, speak to someone with air ride and ask for a drive and a ride out, then do the same with someone with coils.
You won't be able to make your mind up based on this thread that’s for sure, i mean how could you take proper notice of someone who says "i've always had coilovers on my previous cars, they drive better than air" WTF hahaha that was a pointless statement, how could you possibly know?
In my experience, I have never had any issues with air in the last 5 years of ownership. If you get the system fitted by a reputable company with extensive knowledge of these complex systems then you will have no issues, its not just about bolting it all on and a quick wire up, it takes time to get it all set up correctly, you don’t have to have all your bushes wear out? i haven't on mine, and you dont have to have crazy wear on your tyres, that comes down to widths and offsets of wheels, camber etc...
I don’t know why majority feel you can’t 'drive' your car on air? and have to have coilovers, air is absolutely fine for spirited road driving or driving your car 'properly' as some like to put it, again, i have no issues at all?
You don’t have to lose your boot space either? i used to have a full hidden install in mine so i could retain the full boot for shopping purposes when the car was a daily.
There is a 5 gallon tank, 2 compressors and a rainbow IPaul amp under the floor:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2FP1000051.jpg&hash=d9f4bfaa6f66c770cad14b79e264718a0d382c87)
Back in the day:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2FP1000098.jpg&hash=ce7120188482e51a1e1174b90feb7a25f928eb58)
Now:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2Fimage1_zps4fztevqx.jpg&hash=95e82bab971f01c1b4114ea320375e01e31dda29)
TBH mate, look at you budget, purpose and your goals and decide from there
:happy2:
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For the record my statement was based on me having driven a few cars with air but preferred coilies :), but end of the day its up to you. See if you know anyone who has air and ask them to take you for a spin before deciding.
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In my experience, I have never had any issues with air in the last 5 years of ownership. If you get the system fitted by a reputable company with extensive knowledge of these complex systems then you will have no issues, its not just about bolting it all on and a quick wire up, it takes time to get it all set up correctly, you don’t have to have all your bushes wear out? i haven't on mine, and you dont have to have crazy wear on your tyres, that comes down to widths and offsets of wheels, camber etc...
i wasn't saying your air will go wrong but there's always a risk - MUCH more risk of failure than coils
your bushes will wear out quicker as they are travelling through a much larger range, the stock bushes don't like it, polybush etc - no worries as they are designed to pivot without resistance
your tracking will never be 100% so yes your tyres will wear quicker, nothing to do with widths and offsets
i'm not slating air, it serves a purpose but was offering my opinion based on my experience having had cars on air and coils, the above are things you need to take into account when going for air, it's rarely fit and forget.
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nice car by the way delboy :happy2:
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Get some decent coilovers. Unless your 18 and hang around in a macdonalds car park on a night then go for air
OP you have opened a can of worms with this post lol. Its like Subaru Vs Evo, it all comes down to personal preference, there are pros and cons for both.
Instead of taking a forums perspective (because a few on here are this like this guy above, a stupid comment and or no experience of air because they think its for chavs, it doesn't handle, why don’t race cars have it blah blah blah...) try both first yourself, speak to someone with air ride and ask for a drive and a ride out, then do the same with someone with coils.
You won't be able to make your mind up based on this thread that’s for sure, i mean how could you take proper notice of someone who says "i've always had coilovers on my previous cars, they drive better than air" WTF hahaha that was a pointless statement, how could you possibly know?
In my experience, I have never had any issues with air in the last 5 years of ownership. If you get the system fitted by a reputable company with extensive knowledge of these complex systems then you will have no issues, its not just about bolting it all on and a quick wire up, it takes time to get it all set up correctly, you don’t have to have all your bushes wear out? i haven't on mine, and you dont have to have crazy wear on your tyres, that comes down to widths and offsets of wheels, camber etc...
I don’t know why majority feel you can’t 'drive' your car on air? and have to have coilovers, air is absolutely fine for spirited road driving or driving your car 'properly' as some like to put it, again, i have no issues at all?
You don’t have to lose your boot space either? i used to have a full hidden install in mine so i could retain the full boot for shopping purposes when the car was a daily.
There is a 5 gallon tank, 2 compressors and a rainbow IPaul amp under the floor:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2FP1000051.jpg&hash=d9f4bfaa6f66c770cad14b79e264718a0d382c87)
Back in the day:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2FP1000098.jpg&hash=ce7120188482e51a1e1174b90feb7a25f928eb58)
Now:
(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fk148%2Fmidnightsti%2Fimage1_zps4fztevqx.jpg&hash=95e82bab971f01c1b4114ea320375e01e31dda29)
TBH mate, look at you budget, purpose and your goals and decide from there
:happy2:
Can beat a bite :laugh: end of the day mate it's up to you go for what suits your needs etc