I'm looking for a good suspension setup that's not too much money. My budget allows for a max of around 2k. I plan on taking the car to the strip every so often (mostly just to test power upgrades), auto-x on occasion, and hitting up a track day maybe once a year.

I also wanted the ability to adjust the damper settings from inside the vehicle for when I have friends, family, etcetera in the car. So I've narrowed it down to these three:

Tien Flex w/ EDFC $1900

Tanabe Pro Seven w/ TEAS $2100

Cusco Zero 2E w/ E-Con $2300

From what I can tell, the Tanabe seems to be the most advanced...the dampening is automated and connected to the vehicles' speed sensor. It has the pillowball mounts, height adjustment, and the highest spring rates of the three (12/10 kgf/mm). So far it seems to be the best bang for the buck. The Cusco's seem to have the same features, but with lower spring rates at 7/5 kgf/mm, and a higher price. The Tien's also have ride height adjustability, w/ varying levels of dampening, spring rates of 9/8 kgf/mm, and are priced the lowest.

Since I don't have any experience with car suspension companies (I came from the motorcycle world when it comes to suspension technology), I'll be needing some input from you guys.

Can you all give some input as to what you're running or what you'd choose out of these three? Feel free to make a suggestion on another set that I might not have named that would fall within the same $$ catagory (or less!).

Zeals FTW! but...you won't be able to change the damping setting inside the car.

Out of those three I'd go with Tein. They've been making suspension bits for longer and have a rebuild center in the US. So nomore shipping off to Japan for 3 months to get it rebuilt.

if you've got 2k to spend...i'd go w/ mullerized JIC's or Buddy Clubs...i think either of those two will outperform any that you listed as they'll be specifically set up to your car, unlike those others which are off the shelf

Can I adjust the damper settings from inside the vehicle w/ JIC's or BC's?

You won't be able to adjust the settings with BC or Jics.

To be honest, i'll bet the electronic adjustment will be something you'll find yourself not using...I know people who have the teins and once they got their favorite setting, they never cared to adjust it. Most would rather adjust it for a random track day or autox manually and have the money back they spent on the controllers...

That being said...I have a set of cusco zero 2r's for sale......no electronic box, but they'd fit your budget and are an awesome set up...............-Gabe

I got a set of Zeal Function Xs with custom valving w/ 10kg/10kg here for sale, and these are inverted front and comes with front and rear camber plates. pm me if there's any interests..

The only reason I really want the electronic controller is to have a couple of "memorized" setups available so I can push one button and go from say a track day setting to a daily driver setting to a comfort setting for passengers. I know I'll be using that when I have passengers. But you have a point. Maybe I wont...

and I'd rather not buy used when it comes to coilovers, but thanks for the offers guys. I saw them already in the for sale section. I was actually thinking about making an offer on the Cusco's, and may still in the future if they're still there. But I think my suspension buying is going to be a little further into the future and I'm planning for now. I am buying the chassis reinforcement components right now though...since they're quite a bit cheaper used.

Something else I was thinking about, when dialing in, on the motorcycles, I'd set the rebound while the bike was static by pressing down quickly on the bike and then setting it to a level that allows it to immediately return--without having to "settle" (i.e going higher than its original resting point and then settling). The compression I'd set at the middle and use trial and error in my riding to find the stiffness I wanted.

Is that pretty much the same idea in the settings on the car? Just times 4?

Checked out your website...you have two Cusco zero 2's for the EVO but with different pricing. The description is the same. What's the difference in them? Spring rates?

+1 Zeal Function Xs

Sorry for not being clear. I will re-edit the descriptions.

The difference between the Zero2 and Zero2R is that R version is inverted ram piston setup in front but with same spring rates. These coilovers are 2 way ride height adjustable.

Specs:

Cusco Zero-2R Coilovers

*Inverted ram piston design

*2-way Height Adjustment

EVO VII, VIII: (Front: -50~0mm; Rear: -70~0mm)

*5-level damping adjustment

*Spring rates:

EVO VII, VIII: (Front: 7kgf/mm; Rear: 5kgf/mm)

*Includes upper mounts

EVO VII, VIII: (Front: Pillow Camber Adj., Rear: Fixed)

I ended up jumping on this one after doing some research on it! Go ahead and ship em' cuz you've been paid my friend.

What exactly was customized with the valving and why the same spring rate front to rear? Is that to dial out the understeer?

Tien Ftw

I already bought the Zeal Function Xs's. I was going to wait and most likely go w/ Tien flex, and liked the idea of being able to do a rebuild in the conus and having the EDFC; but ended up jumping on the great price for that custom set of Zeals. Some deals you just can't pass up.

My passengers will just have to put up with the bumpy ride.

You should look at some of KW's offerings as well