The Debate Continues - Air Ride vs. Coil Overs - Tell Us Which Side You're On

[M.Burroughs]

The topic of air ride versus coilovers has been a "heated" point of discussion ever since StanceWorks began. We've done an article about this once before: Bagged or Static: Which is Better? but we'd love to get some fresh opinions, thoughts, and discussion going.



For once, we're taking the discussion seriously, attempting to compile some data about it, and thus we turn to our forum members. Some of us have stayed true to the static lifestyle, while some have experienced the joys of air ride and refuse to go back. Some of us bounce back and forth, but there's a place for each of us, and we want to know where you fall.

We've put together a survey, which you can do by clicking here.

It'd be a huge help to us here at StanceWorks, and of course, it should only take a couple of minutes to fill out. Give it a run through, and share your opinions here. Anything you feel that's worth sharing - Why you prefer coilovers? Why you'll never leave air again? Let's hear it!

[M.Burroughs]

And to start, I'll share my own thoughts!

I've always bounced back and forth between the two. I think they both have their place.
While a quality air ride system has a ton of perks, a quality coilover system can be had for half the price, and offers a performance benefit if you take the necessary steps.

I enjoy air ride for its ease of use, and the inarguable style advantages. For any daily driver, it seems like a no-brainer. The ride quality is often better, the option of adjustability on the fly, etc. It just makes sense.

But I've always struggled to wrap my head around air suspension on a sports coupe - not for performance reasons, as Air Lift and others have shown their struts are more than capable... but something "feels" a little weird about it. Take an E46 M3 for example. In my mind, they just don't seem to go "hand in hand."

Then again, I've seen some gorgeous bagged M3s, and all of those feelings subside each time.

[1badg35]

This is a hard topic as people certainly seem to have different opinions on what a solid ride is. From my experience, and I've had both setups on various cars, and I can honestly say I won't own another car on air unless they make major strides to bring the handling characteristics up for the setups.
With that said I also won't own another cheap set of coilovers either. I have been highly dissatisfied with both of these things. It's not worth being low if the car drives like crap...

A properly sorted suspension is pretty much the single most important thing you can do to a car, in my opinion. Doesn't matter how low or how much power you make, there are cars out there that make 200hp that can be an absolute blast to drive, in comparison to others out there which may have double or triple that. It's all about execution, and a fully sorted suspension can inspire confidence in a car/driver and allow them to get more potential out of the car being driven.

When a coilover is properly valved for the spring rate it it is set at, there is nothing out there like it. I still have yet to replicate the quality of the setup that is in the fairlady on any other car, but it's also quite a lot of money tied up in suspension components to get it to where it is. And that thing gives me a permanent smile from ear to ear every time I take it out...

[StayClassyZak]

im riding static right now but would love to get bags. i vote bags forsure. just something about pulling into the spot and just laying your ride down to frame

[Kielan]

A well setup static car > . It just feels right, anyone that has a well setup car knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I've driven a number of well done air cars, and they feel great, no doubt, and I would bag a daily (if I had a second car) in a heart beat. But static is the winner for best feel. No doubt.

[HWY HNTR]

I had a tire leaking one time and a nice dude I just met (thebrightlight) let me use his air tools that he had built into his bag system to help me air it back up to get to a proper place to work on my car. So that is definitely a plus, love the way you can have air tools at your disposal.

On sportier cars I prefer a static suspension like coilovers, not just cause of the ride but also because of the weight you save.

[Khalil]

Survey completed.

As for my own thoughts on the matter, I've owned cars on both coilovers and air ride.
I can appreciate both with no problems, but as a personal preference I always lean towards coils. For me there has always been a performance aspect behind coilovers over of air ride, not necessarily performance as in tracking or auto crossing, more as in the road feel and stability it offers. It just feels more solid and planted. Now a days though air ride is coming up and proving itself time and time again.

Also most of the time it really comes down to the type of car in question. As Mike stated above, a sports coupe doesn't really feel right being on bags versus a big body sedan laying out and looking stunning. In the end it's all personal preference, hard work on either should always be appreciated!

[YoSippitySam]

I agree with your statement that everything has it's place.
For instance, if I owned three cars I would have coils on my daily and my track car, but I would bag my show car. I can understand someone bagging a daily as well, it's just not something I would do. As for bagging a track car, well, that's something I definitely wouldn't do.

[Evil Panda]

As someone that doesn't care for speed or track performance much, I went air years ago and wont look back. I prefer air for the easy ride height adjusting and how it saves me from ripping my bumper off constantly, while still being able to keep the car low 99% of the time.

I am air for life.

[CandySucker]

I prefer different on different cars.

VW I always almost lean towards air.
BMW I really would prefer static.

Buuut static is coming back in a big way

[theseeker411]

When/if I ever get around to building a track car, it'll have a good set of coils. Both of my cars a currently very much just cruisers, so they have/will be getting air systems.

[parttimeprojectionist]

survey complete

the idea of bagging my daily (e36 m3) is very appealing, even if its gonna see some track use.
but i live in San Francisco which has more steep hills/ driveways and shitty roads than i have ever seen and some of my favorite places would be completely inaccessible slammed on coils.
so thats having a huge influence, because otherwise i wouldnt hesitate on a set o BWS's.

two things that stop me from bags-
1.price, i have to justify this shit to my wife and the realm of 3 G's is no easy sell.
2.and only becuase i have no experience with them, i question thier reliablilty for day in and day out usage- maybe someone could chime in on that

[Daffy]

For me it really depends on the car. There is no way in hell I would ever bag my 964, even if that proves to be more practical it ruins the car and the history of it for me. There's just certain cars that in my mind should never be bagged, and some that should never even leave stock suspension. That being said, bags have come a long way in the past few years. On a lot of cars they have now proved to track better than some of the leading coilover brands, which is awesome news. I think if I were to buy a newer car I would bag it, but all of my classics will always remain on coilovers.

A good thing to also keep in mind during this debate is what purpose is the car being built for? If it's for daily driving then yes bags make more sense, and even for most show-cars now the bags make more sense too. But when it comes to sheer driving pleasure, bags just can't beat coilovers for me.

Another reason I have stayed away from bagging a car is just the sheer cost of it, until you can get some really good set-ups for the same price of amazing coilovers I'm just not interested.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Made the switch from BC's to Air two years ago and for this platform (3/speed3) I'll never go back.

There came a point with the BCs where they were just generally unhappy with the height and settings I had them at and they just felt unsettled. I'm curious how KWs would have compared but I feel like any standard coilover setup run 'incorrectly' (ie no rings, helpers, full stiff) would ride sub par.

If I end up behind the wheel of a sports coup or something one day I'd probably try and get a proper set of coils designed to go low and ride decent like Broadway static or something like that.

If I get another truck (more likely) it will be bagged because my Blazer rode like a bag of hammers.

[oHSo EuRo]

Air is for tires!