Tein mono flex coilovers vs xida? (with a side of V-Maxx)
 

Normally the Xida and Tein mono flex are about the same price point, but one vendor carries the Tein's at a lower price for the GSM64-FUSS1, and is currently running a tax return sale dropping the price even further, down to $1507.

The Tein setup does not come with helper springs though.

I was close to getting the xida, but the $2209 price wipes out my entire budget, so no wheel and tire upgrade from the 15x6 195/50/15 package I am currently running so I had decided to drop down a level to the V-Maxx XXtreme Sport package for $815 along with a set of 15x9 wheels with 225/45/15 street tires. This is just barely in my budget. Now with the Tein option I am sort of going nuts a bit. If I get the Tein I will not be able to get the wheels and tires, but I could do sway bars.

From what I understand, the Xida are excellent both on track and for daily driving, smooth and compliant daily drivers with superb damping and grip on the track. The Tein seem to be a more track only setup since they don't have the helper springs, and may compromise the daily driver portion of my setup. The V-Maxx XXtreme would be the opposite with more of a street daily driving compromise at the expense of all out track performance. Currently the car is my daily driver with drag strip use. If I ever get into autocross or track days it will be just like my drag racing, not for competition just for fun.

So, with a $2500 budget and these three options floating around in your head, and my current and future usage plans what would you do? Money will be in the bank in about a week.

Keith

I was going to say the answer is always Xidas, but since you only DD the car the VMaxx are a reasonable choice. 9 inch wide wheels may become tiresome (no pun intended) on a DD if you have a depowered rack or even a slightly wrong alignment. Bear that in mind.

Which of any shock listed above was designed around the miata?

I think you should wait for whatever the next big thing is. It's sure to be available any time now. Just wait.

if I was spending over 1k on suspension I would get Xida hands down. why settle for good when you can have best, and its not like you're saving a ton of money at that point, you're still spending a ton.

what I cannot comprehend though, is how someone could look at monoflex and xida and then consider the vmaxx? I mean.....do you go shopping for a porsche or ferrari but then consider a miata just cause you'll have money left over to paint it pink?

Since it's a DD and drag strip use, I'd say get the cheap coilovers and wheels/tires. The helper springs on my xidas are almost always fully compressed, so it's more of a spacer during most driving. So if you're looking for comfort, get whichever setup comes with softer springs.

Not sure what kind of power you're running, but i'd say if you have only ~2k, cheap coilovers + 15x9 will net you a better overall performance gain than JUST great coilovers + 15x6. (On track anyways)

If you know you'll have the budget for it later, then get the xida now and get the wheels later. IMHO

It's okay, I don't know how droop works either.

When I was doing research about suspension, what I found here was pretty consistent. Buy something cheap or used while you save up for Xidas, or just buy the Xidas.

Do you disagree with my statement? That's perfectly reasonable, my understanding is quite limited.

The OP made a comparison with Tein and Xidas, inferring that the lack of helper springs on the Tein made them less suitable for DD use. My understanding is that the helper springs on the xidas don't do much for DD comfort, but are there to keep the main springs seated. As such, if he wanted comfort - get something with soft main springs.

For my benefit, would you point out the errors in my ways? =)

I don't feel like looking up Emilio's explanation about helper springs vs tender springs, but to sum it up you're wrong. Just because they are fully compressed at static ride height doesn't mean they don't do anything during normal use.

I never said they don't do anything. I said that in relation to comfort, softer main springs will do more for you than having helper springs will.

They keep your main spring seated during full droop and they also keep your tire on the ground during full droop. So...say, keeping the inner tire on the ground during a high speed sweeper?

How often does that happen on a DD car? =P

I'm no expert, but I imagine they are working every time you go over a bump big enough to unload the tire in question. So like every 20 feet here until they repair all the potholes from winter.

Yup. The rougher the road, the bigger deal helpers are. On a dead smooth race track with no kerbing and high spring rates, you can get away no helpers because the wheels are never in droop.

On the street with taller ride heights, you get into that range of droop more often. You don't necessarily want all the spring rate fully extended anyway. The other issue is that high rate springs tend not to have that much stroke so we have to use helpers to keep the mains on a full droop. When I developed the Xidas, I thought if I have to run a tender to hold the mains in place, I might as well put it to good use. So we have our own special rate /length helpers made for the Xidas. Works!

Cool video on of my customers shot during an autocross. I think these were 700/400 or thereabouts.

Xida's will be ordered when tax return comes in. I will give a call to discuss specs when I order them.

Thanks for the helpful posts in the thread, I can always get wheels and tires later :)

Keith

I finally was able to talk to Emilio today about my spring choices, and settled on 550 front 350 rear standard length with the helper springs for my current setup. When I upgrade wheels and tires I will get a new set of springs all around (700/400) along with sway bar upgrades, end links, and suspension bushings.

Order is in, no more danger of my wife spending the money out from under me :)

Keith