Friday, September 09, 2005 - 07:53 pm, by: Roger Costello(Roger)
Tom
Why do you hate the airbags? The new ones which have 1999-2000 valving use very high quality variable dampers and rising rate air springs. Old tired ones on stuffed suspension rubber can be dreadful but try and have a drive of a 31 with new struts and new suspension rubber before you condemn air suspension completely. They came a long way in 8 years with the valving on the Air Struts and VFT rubber will fix the wibbles. The ability to adjust both height and damping while driving is also a plus.
Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 06:23 pm, by: Damien Smith(Damien)
You could probably find some 2nd hand coilovers for around $1400+ and new ones for $2000-$2500. I changed mine from airbags to coilovers in about 3 hours plus another hour later to remove the air pump and most of the lines.
Saturday, September 10, 2005 - 06:35 pm, by: David Vaughan(Davidv)
Second hand brings all sorts of prices and conditions in either so compare the new and then work out the best price/value in the one you chose on new costs. Looks like you can go wire strings for about 2800 or float on air for 3700.
Having new air struts all round on my car, my view is with Roger's. The Soarer is a very fast tourer. It is not a sports car despite the extent to which some people hot them.
Sunday, September 11, 2005 - 08:49 am, by: Don Bagnall(Baggs)
Another small, but significant point is, RESALE VALUE. Speaking for ME, I would keep it original with air suspension, as this is how the car was manufactured. If I was looking at buying a 31, and I found it had been converted to coils, I would walk away.
Having said that, it's YOUR car, and if you intend keeping it "Forever", then by all means convert it, but be aware that you may be cutting yourself off from potential future purchasers who have the goal of a 31 with "Float on a Cloud" air suspension. And lets face it, MOST air-struts have lasted for 14 plus years, with possibly indifferent owners, so the potential is for replacement air-struts to last AT LEAST as long with a caring owner such as yourself.
BUT, as I said it's YOUR pride & joy, and YOU must be happy with it.
Monday, September 12, 2005 - 09:19 am, by: Damien Smith(Damien)
It's not just resale value for if/when you sell but it also affects market value for insurance. As I recently found out after getting hit from behind, all the little changes you make taking it further away from stock make it more likely for your car to be written off if the numbers don't add up for the insurer. What seemed like an obvious fix to me was a line-ball write off for my insurer. Luckily for me they're reasonable and it's getting fixed.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005 - 12:47 pm, by: Damien Smith(Damien)
Fitting air lines and wiring. The wiring loom going to the suspension ECU has over 50 wires going to it which you'd have to make and install from scratch.
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