Alumilo

iTrader: (1)

Indeed, sir. I'm wondering, since I cannot have Xidas, whats the next best option? Maybe its Fox, Maybe its not. I'm trying to understand and form a process for evaluating which coilover to select. Thus the initial question came to mind: Why did Emilio say more compression damping was desirable when you step up to better track tires? I may have misinterpreted what Emilio meant (see Junkwhale's comment). The reference to the Tokico setup is that its $1000 less than the higher performing parts, I could then in turn spend that money on something else useful, like cat treats.

Also, my street miata has Megans for two reasons. I was sick of hitting the bump stops w/ factory suspension, and I was sick of reading useless coilover "review" threads in which some one buys a set of coils, installs them, and says now the car feels "more planted". So I found a used set for $400 and tried them out.

Junkwhale

Grippier tyres need more everything (spring, damping for the more spring). Emilio's comments re: compression damping were just saying he thought the fox's were underdamped in compression for the springs needed for the amount of grip.

Re: best option, there's no universal best option. Start at the start: what are your goals and what are you going to be doing with the car? Track? Autocross? DD?

Alumilo

iTrader: (1)

I just did my first track day w/ the stock NC and I think I have at least a basic feel for why the Flyin Miata stage 1/2 kits exist and why I wouldn't run it, but the koni sports do look like they could handle a more track oriented spring rate. I'd like to track the car 3-5 times a year and maybe look into some SCCA time trial competition and still remain somewhat comfortable for daily duty ~ 5,000 a year.

Mobius

iTrader: (2)

Well it boils down to what level of grip tire you want to run in time trial, and how oriented towards that time trial you want your shocks to be. As junkwhale pointed out more succinctly than I tried to, grippier tires need more everything. More spring to keep off the bumpstops. More swaybar to control body roll. More damping, both compression and rebound, to control tire oscillation.

Does MCS make a solution for the NC miata? That would be something to consider.

Junkwhale

MCS do 1-way adj, 2-way adj, 2-way adj w/remote reservoir & 3-way adj w/ remote reservoir. Priced $2,850, $3,550, $4,600, $6,100 accordingly. Goodwin & V8R both do Ohlins DFV and can revalve for higher spring rates / higher grip tires. Any of those are going to be on Xida level if set up well (which given what you'll be paying you can expect the shop to help you with specific set-up advice re: spring rates).

Or Feal 441 are a good mid level option ($1400) from Goodwin.

Or even cheaper you could try V8R's $1025 DSD coilovers, they sound like you tbh: https://v8roadsters.com/shop/suspens...-nc-coilovers/

All of these are gonna be way better than Megan Street's on an NA.

Alumilo

iTrader: (1)

haha, the Megans were cheap and better than bouncing off the R-package bumpstops. The NC car will eventually have 215 width tires (like Hankook RS-4s), but I don't plan on getting much more grip than that. So I guess I'll start there. MCS equipment is beyond my budget, but I have been looking at the Feals, also entertaining the idea of some custom bilstein/ground control coilovers.

Junkwhale

I haven't tried any of these options and haven't even driven an NC before. But, for the price the DSD coilovers look really good. Full aluminium shocks, good looking dyno charts, backed by V8R - way better option than messing with a bilstein/GC setup imo.

Alumilo

iTrader: (1)

I do like the curves, they look consistent through the range. Rear rebound is stronger than front, that's curious. I bet they are a similar insert to Feals, feal just happens to use Swift springs which drive the cost up.