[Chadwicksracing]

KW is going to be producing Adjustable Coilovers.

 

[ST_Rocky]

I've been using KW V3's on both my 2005 STi and 2008 R32, and loved them. Their quality and performance are the best around.

 

[stuntdoogie]

damper adjustment with a NYC setting on it?

 

[ST_Rocky]

damper adjustment with a NYC setting on it?

Back when I had my 2005 Subaru STi, all the rage was with going JDM parts, Japanese brand, no matter what. So the choices were Tien, Cusco, and Zeal. I went with Zeal, and totally regretted it, and on NASIOC (the Subaru forum) I exposed them for the junk they were.

Then I found a post from KW, and the guy explained their theory on how they build their systems to work, and the differences between theirs and the JDM offerings. Kw is all about keeping all 4 wheels on the ground, and at all times. Sounds simple, right? Not really.

The JDM systems have poor valving, and try to (over) compensate for that with stiffer spring rates. Thus why you see many Japanese imports bouncing around a lot. KW is all about proper valving inside the shocks, and design the spring rates to assist, not jar your teeth/bones. So pretty much when a race car goes over a berm, the wheels roll with it, and over it, instead of bouncing up in the air.

This is a simplified short version of that post, but what they had to say was tremendous, and sold me. I got the KW V3 coilovers for my STi (and so too later, other SCCA STi drivers), and later my R32. And if I were to mod my new FiSt for Street Touring, or even just for spirited street driving, KW's would be on it too.

 

[stuntdoogie]

Ill be saving my pennies for this!

 

[betterthansx]

I love KW. I have never had the chance to own them but front what I have heard is that the only company that would be considered "better" would be Ohlins and that is some pretty high praise. There are also the SUPER high end suspensions but I am talking about common companies.

Check this out, why I love the company;
Project Leroy: Custom KW Competition Shocks | Speedhunters
Builder>> Kw Suspension Pt.2 | Speedhunters

 

[ST_Rocky]

Notice the background car on the pics. Hmmm!

http://www.speedhunters.com/2013/09/taking-on-trax-exploring-limits/

 

[was-an-M]

So will these be more stance-scene oriented or performance oriented? KW makes great stuff, but their ST line of products tends to be more targeted to the looks crowd as opposed to the performance side of things.

 

[Chicane]

So will these be more stance-scene oriented or performance oriented? KW makes great stuff, but their ST line of products tends to be more targeted to the looks crowd as opposed to the performance side of things.

Jeesh, that's an excellent question.

I was curious what these are supposed to cure. What deficient handling or chassis dynamic trait have the compression/rebound settings and spring rates been selected to "fix".

I'm not being a smart ass, but for decades we have all run to the nearest shop to get shocks/springs to fix the awful handling that our cars exhibit. With new cars, particularly ones as sharply focused as this one, I am at a loss to understand what is being fixed with these shiny new parts.

I'm always told it's to make the ride height adjustable. Ok, let's go with that. Adjust the height down to the ground and RUIN the suspension geometry that made you want to buy the car in the first place.

If the goal is to simply slam it to the ground so it looks mean parked at a coffee house then I wish the vendors would just admit it. If, however, it's a part tested and developed to cure certain traits or to actually improve on what we have already paid for, then that would be a nice treat as well. To me, if one's goal is "stance", then why not buy a $14.5k Fiesta and remove the suspension and park it. Why waste the extra 10k when all is going to be done is most of those extra parts you paid for are going to be tossed off and replaced with shiny bits bought online.

 

[Savant]

From what I have heard the FiST tends to get a bit of rear inner wheel lift turning into a cambered dropping bend. This will move the force to the front outside wheel reducing speed and acceleration out of the bend. Lowered shocks may reduce this wheel lift but to eliminate it you would need a shock with adjustable compression and rebound dampening. Without these features stance is likely the goal but lowering the centre of gravity in any car will reduce body roll and likely improve cornering somewhat. Check this out for the wheel lift I'm talking about. PS. I will be getting the KW's too many people mod for power and forget about handling. What good is power if you can't transfer it to the tarmac. Brakes, suspension and tires are high up on my quickly increasing shopping list

 

[was-an-M]

From what I have heard the FiST tends to get a bit of rear inner wheel lift turning into a cambered dropping bend. This will move the force to the front outside wheel reducing speed and acceleration out of the bend. Lowered shocks may reduce this wheel lift but to eliminate it you would need a shock with adjustable compression and rebound dampening. Without these features stance is likely the goal but lowering the centre of gravity in any car will reduce body roll and likely improve cornering somewhat. Check this out for the wheel lift I'm talking about. PS. I will be getting the KW's too many people mod for power and forget about handling. What good is power if you can't transfer it to the tarmac. Brakes, suspension and tires are high up on my quickly increasing shopping list

I agree that people add power and forget handling (they also forget brakes). But I wouldn't assume these will do much if anything to improve handling. In my reading about ST (by KW) coilovers on other cars the best you can hope for is a lowered look and tolerable ride. The FiST handling is great as it is and I'm not so convinced that a budget-oriented set of coils is going to do anything to improve handling.

 

[Savant]

I agree that people add power and forget handling (they also forget brakes). But I wouldn't assume these will do much if anything to improve handling. In my reading about ST (by KW) coilovers on other cars the best you can hope for is a lowered look and tolerable ride. The FiST handling is great as it is and I'm not so convinced that a budget-oriented set of coils is going to do anything to improve handling.

Yep if you keep it stock the handling will be fine as the car was optimised for the stock performance engine output. As soon as you start modding for more horses though it takes the suspension out of its designed performance range or at least more towards its limit. .
At the end of the day it just depends what you want to put in and get out of your FiST. For many stock will be fine.
I want to set mine up for street and track. It will as a result never be perfect for either but with adjustable shocks I will be able to harden or stiffen the ride for my needs. Ideally I would have one of each... A track car and a street car like many auto specialists do.[Ford: if you're reading this I'm happy to accept another and do this. whatever colour you have I won't be fussy]
I 4wdrive too and see many a stock car quickly out of their comfort zone in the bush. But if they don't intend to take it bush it doesn't matter anyway.

 

[was-an-M]

Yep if you keep it stock the handling will be fine as the car was optimised for the stock performance engine output. As soon as you start modding for more horses though it takes the suspension out of its designed performance range or at least more towards its limit. .
At the end of the day it just depends what you want to put in and get out of your FiST. For many stock will be fine..

I hate to say this, but I think this is largely a fallacy. The kind of power increases you're going to get aren't going to take the suspension out of it's "design performance range". All the reviews and such that I've read suggest that the FiST's suspension is very track capable out of the box and any changes like a set of coilovers will likely do little other than lighten your wallet and give you a lowered look.

Now if you want a lowered look that's cool. I understand that.

But if you want to go fast around a racetrack save your money on suspension bits and invest in the nut behind the wheel because I can assure you it's the weak point in the system. It is for all but the most advanced drivers.

 

[betterthansx]

All the reviews and such that I've read suggest that the FiST's suspension is very track capable out of the box and any changes like a set of coilovers will likely do little other than lighten your wallet and give you a lowered look.

Now if you want a lowered look that's cool. I understand that..

The ST's tuned suspension is great. Everyone seems to be stumped by the fact that such a little car has so much grip. It can be made to misbehave but that is done by driver input.

I can see a nice KW suspension that could perhaps soften the ride with the compression dialed all the way down.

 

[was-an-M]

The ST's tuned suspension is great. Everyone seems to be stumped by the fact that such a little car has so much grip. It can be made to misbehave but that is done by driver input.

I can see a nice KW suspension that could perhaps soften the ride with the compression dialed all the way down.

Softer ride, yeah, I can see that. But I don't think it will make it a better track car. Maybe with a set of KW Clubsport coils would be a track improvement, but I just don't see that happening. I think the issue with the FiST is it's not expensive enough for most owners to consider spending $2000+ on a set of coils which is what "better" track coils would probably cost.

 

[betterthansx]

Softer ride, yeah, I can see that. But I don't think it will make it a better track car. Maybe with a set of KW Clubsport coils would be a track improvement, but I just don't see that happening. I think the issue with the FiST is it's not expensive enough for most owners to consider spending $2000+ on a set of coils which is what "better" track coils would probably cost.

It depends on everything unfortunately. People seem to think that a stiffer car means faster/better grip. Not always the case.

The Mk7 GTI was actually faster around Top Gears track in Comfort mode than in Race mode.

If I were to swap out suspension I would go for the Clubsports. I have had good experience with the V3's in the past and they were great but I think next time I would like to go all out and see the difference.

The biggest change would be getting the rebound AND compression damping adjustments so that you can fine tune everything from brake dive to high speed and low speed stability. The biggest change to be honest would be tires. Throw some Michelin Pilot Super Sports on and this car will corner like in the words of Mr Clarkson "a horse with something spicy up its bottom."

 

[Savant]

Yep V3's for me ... clubsports if I could. Can you give a writeup if you do get the clubsports? I saving my 10k from a FoST purchase and putting it into kitting out my FiST. Seems like a lot to play with but when you want to do a moderately quality kit out it adds up quick.

 

[was-an-M]

Yep V3's for me ... clubsports if I could. Can you give a writeup if you do get the clubsports? I saving my 10k from a FoST purchase and putting it into kitting out my FiST. Seems like a lot to play with but when you want to do a moderately quality kit out it adds up quick.

Are there Clubsports or V3's even available? I didn't see that anywhere. Given the limited market for the FiST on the aftermarket I'd hold off and spend that money on track wheels, track tires, and track time. The only thing I'm considering is buying the 2011 Fiesta BBK from Wilwood which apparently is a direct fit. But that's largely motivated by the lack of track brake pads for the FiST and the fact that the Wilwood calipers make pad swaps super easy.

 

[betterthansx]

Are there Clubsports or V3's even available? I didn't see that anywhere. Given the limited market for the FiST on the aftermarket I'd hold off and spend that money on track wheels, track tires, and track time. The only thing I'm considering is buying the 2011 Fiesta BBK from Wilwood which apparently is a direct fit. But that's largely motivated by the lack of track brake pads for the FiST and the fact that the Wilwood calipers make pad swaps super easy.

The car is new. Give it a year and the market will be huge! What tuning company wouldn't want to capitalize from a car that more people can afford and want to modify?

 

[was-an-M]

The car is new. Give it a year and the market will be huge! What tuning company wouldn't want to capitalize from a car that more people can afford and want to modify?

My worry is that they'll look at the price of the car and figure there isn't a market for the pricey performance parts like a well thought out suspension kit, or a balanced big brake kit. I hope I'm wrong.

But I will confess the car would look so mean with a set of big calipers and rotors filling the wheels. And of course it helps performance too