[casualsurfer]

Here's what the car looked like before:





Look at THAT wheel gap!

Also the fact that the suspension felt floaty was enough for me to want to change it out. After doing all kinds of reading & research I had originally wanted to go with Bilstein + Eibach, but unfortunately the places I checked didn't have them in stock, so I went with Koni Yellow + Eibach from Tire Rack (20% off sale on Koni!). I had the same exact setup on my 2004 WRX before, so I was confident Koni would do pretty well.

I had the suspension installed along with my 60K major service, here's what it looks like now:

front


rear


The wheels/tires are my 17" winter setup, when this weather warms up I'll put 18" summers on.

Initial driving impressions are extremely favorable. Since a lot of folks have already chimed in as to how the car feels I won't repeat here, but at my current setting (1/4 turn from softest), the car handles bumps and uneven roads extremely well and is very comfortable. Going around the infamous roundabouts where I live is now FUN.

I don't plan to track/autoX/race the car, and I wanted something comfy yet getting rid of the floaty feel, and I think this setup is perfect. The drop on the Eibach is right on the ball as well.

Big thanks to everyone who chimed in regarding Koni settings, additional parts to buy (front bump stops and dust shield were excellent suggestions). The car drives like it's new and I'm very happy with it.

[zipstic]

Looks great! Upgrading the suspension makes a huge difference.

[#Tee]

wheres the after pix? i see a large amount of air gap in both pix lol

[ajsalida]

Looks good. Are you running RFT's on those 17's?

[casualsurfer]

Originally Posted by ~XxTeexX~

wheres the after pix? i see a large amount of air gap in both pix lol

It's hard to tell 0.8" of drop I guess. But to me it's very noticeable and anything more is just not practical.

[casualsurfer]

Originally Posted by ajsalida

Looks good. Are you running RFT's on those 17's?

Yeah that's my "winter" setup. Got 18" on new RFTs I got from another member waiting for the temperature to go up. Groundhog lied!

[ajsalida]

Originally Posted by casualsurfer

Yeah that's my "winter" setup. Got 18" on new RFTs I got from another member waiting for the temperature to go up. Groundhog lied!

Must get rid of RFT's!

[casualsurfer]

Originally Posted by ajsalida

Must get rid of RFT's!

Would like to...but since they're worth nothing on this board and I'm cheap, I'll use up the tires first and then get Michelin Pilot Sport which I luuuurrrrvvved on my Cayman S...

[ajsalida]

Originally Posted by casualsurfer

Would like to...but since they're worth nothing on this board and I'm cheap, I'll use up the tires first and then get Michelin Pilot Sport which I luuuurrrrvvved on my Cayman S...

Do a couple of driver's schools and make them die quick for a good cause.

[casualsurfer]

Originally Posted by ajsalida

Do a couple of driver's schools and make them die quick for a good cause.

[casualsurfer]

OK reporting back after a week and still loving it. Quarter turn from softest is, I think, the best setting for getting around town/highway driving.

[01tj]

Looks really good IMO but then again I think it looked good before. I'm not a fan of having the tires up into the fender's.

[ska///235i]

if i go this route, what else should i change out since my car its 8 years old?

[casualsurfer]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

if i go this route, what else should i change out since my car its 8 years old?

get new bump stops (Z4) for the fronts, new rears and have them trimmed, maybe dust boot.

If you want to really take care of the car, do the rear sway bar/links too - I plan to do it next time, it's a big job because you'll need to drop the subframe, and while you're at it replace the bushing too.