STANCE|WORKS - An Open Discussion - Bagged or Static? Which is better?

[POMAH]

Can you get the discussion working on the mobile site? Doesn't show on my iPhone.

same but with ipad3 lol

those things never showed up for me

[Jorge]

iPads an annoying one. Sometimes likes to go to the mobile site when it can deal with desktop. A link to select would be nice too

[Goettler412]

Static is more impressive, but air ride is overall "cooler."

I'll miss being static with my new car.

[sterling archer]

I've had both and I love both. I'm currently bagged but want to go back to static.

[Alexander]

Look at the pros and cons of each setup, then decide which option will fit your needs and wants better.

Don't be disrespectful to the people who choose the opposite of yourself. Each setup has valid benefits and characteristics.

[Masquerade]

Static all day urr' day on anything smaller than a Semi in my book.

Ain't sayin' bags are dumb, or I don't like them, or they're not more practical, or any of that shit.

But I'll only roll static, that's it. Until I buy a Peterbuilt. Which will be never.

[Rob&co]

I tend to drive my cars pretty hard. I always find my self pushing it just a little more. My current car is a 1986 325es slow yet, a fun car. It's very rigid and stiff. Very opposite of the newer plastic feel cars. I spend most of my time driving it. It's barely ever parked! I love the challenges that come with a static low car. I don't go to many "scene events" just a few local meet ups. I am not into the whole parked car thing. I love to find a fine point between function and low! When this is achieved one has a good feeling about self and car. The looks on faces of everyday people is priceless when I drive by. For me a car must remain low while driving or parked!

Thank You

[cardoza]

From a "stance" perspective, I like to see pictures and videos of cars at the height at which they are driven. I have nothing against bags if the car is driven low as well, but seeing videos of cars aired up with two inches of fender gap and stretched tires in order to have proper fitment while aired out really irks me. In my opinion, when presenting your car in pictures, videos, or at a show, it should be as someone would see it while on the road. That is, after all, the entire purpose of a car.

[KyleAnderson]

Having had my car on both, bagged is so much better. Performance is improved over stock, but not quite to the level of coilovers... very close though. Driving in the war zone of Detroit is what made me go back to stock, then eventually bags. My daily route includes 2-3" bumps. It was good to look at, but I couldn't enjoy driving the car on coils. With bags I can.

[OrangeBlue]

I think they both play for the team...

Static for the "racecars/sportcars"
Bagged for the "more comfortable cars"

But i think the KW Supension hydraulic lift system or the Broadway Static air cup lift system
connect the best of both systems...

[e36rjbmw]

my first venture into getting lowered were a set of FK's silverline coilovers, a little later (less then 6 months) I went for air ride, and tell you what, hopefully I'm never going back

the adjustability alone is worth waaaaaaay more

I've seen, read, and heard about people damaging, even destroying their cars because of a low static ride height, and I simply didn't want to be that guy

both setups have their ups and downs, maintenance and price wise, but I think bags provide a lot more satisfaction

as far as shows etc, bagged cars hold their own, all it takes is a push of a button, and watch those jaws drop!

talk about damaged pans is one thing, but when something breaks and catches fire - you are done - and it won't matter if you are static or bagged -so whatever you do, exercise caution, please!

This is exactly why my car is static and I wont go air. It has nothing to do with the money or advantages and disadvantages for each. You build and dial stance so that your car looks the way you like...why would you only want that presence while parked? 9 out of 10 guys on air ride do not ride low at all. Sure Id like the comfort of knowing this road sucks, I can just raise it up, but thats not the name of the game. My car is not a car that I built to win trophies, its built so I can drive it. My paint is chipped, my fenders are burnt and it still turns heads. Jaws still drop. My car drags frame on flat roads and I wouldnt have it any other way. The look is just awe inspiring, wondering how its even possible to be driving that low. I can still drive my car like its meant to be driven and I have the ability to raise it for track, winter, whatever I need with the twist of a wrench. While I do see the upsides to owning air, its just not for me, and I think the only way i'd ever purchase it, is for a car that I was strictly building for show.

[montgomery]

Static unless you drive aired out or close.

[1badg35]

having both currently, i can honestly say that air frustrates me a little. Lots of opportunities for leaks, takes some time to fill the tank, compressors in the trunk are still somwhat loud after the sound deadening... not my style.

with that said, ive always been a coilover guy, and having finally feeling happy after my 4th set of coilovers on the fairlady, I can honestly say that stiff properly dampened coilovers are worth their weight in gold.. The thing rides like its on rails. I guess it should after 10k in suspension upgrades but still....

[Jesus Christ]

The best solution by far is air cups. World class suspension, custom built to ride low. Convenience of picking the front up 2" which will get you over any obstacle or harsh road. Bags just can't compete when it comes to actually driving low, and that's why I will be static for life. Right now the price is pretty much the same as bags now too.

BWS x FA Air Cups from BWS Suspension on Vimeo.

[MrJereMoose]

Wrote this on my Facebook before I saw there was a thread here to go along with the feature article...

Having owned both a static car and a bagged car, I agree with both of these arguments. While I respect a static suspension set up more, I would never want another static daily with the roads here in The Quiet Corner. It is just so much nicer to be able to rase a car's height rather than have to turn around and find another route because of a dirt road, and more often than not the dirt road is my destination. The cost difference in negligible because of how many oil pans I went through on my static setup; with one year of driving each, the air bags were very much worth the cost. The air bags will eventually win out because the longer that I have the car, the more oil pans I will have saved from meeting their demise. That being said, the only bagged car I will own will be my daily driver. The next four cars that are already built in my head are all static. I miss having the tires rub, I miss scraping, I miss making my passengers cringe, and I miss being nonchalant when they ask, "What was that noise?" Is having air bags cheating? Yes, I believe that it is, but I do not mind being a cheater if it gives me a car that can do everything I need it to do, when I need it. I feel bad when I tell people that it is bagged, as if it somehow lessens the overall status of the car. Being static brings a sense of pride, but driving low and turning heads is the over all goal. Someone said that if you do not turn around to look at your car when you leave it in a parking spot, you brought the wrong car. That is extremely true with me. Low is a lifestyle that I want to live. For my Jetta, being able to go over speed bumps and driving on dirts roads is more important that status; I drive my Jetta for the fuel milage and comfort more than anything else. Overall I am more of a static fan, but I cannot argue with the convenience of having bags. They say bags are for groceries, and I agree, but that is what my Jetta is for. When I have a place to store my M3 out of the weather that is not in the middle of a horrendous dirt road, then the StanceWorks ZeroClearance coil overs that I have will go on. Coilovers are for the joy of driving, bags are for the joy of convenience. I do not think I can really choose between the two options, if I could only choose one; there are advantages and disadvantages to each in the long run. This is why I am greedy and will probably always own both once I can afford it. I love my bagged Jetta tdi, but I cannot wait to get back into something that is low 100% of the time.