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I just got my 16 year son a 02 Honda Civic SI. I'm getting ready to purchase a full coilover kit for him and I was wondering if anyone had any input on whats best out there for the best price. The main reason I am is cause after we purchased the car we soon realized what was on there already was junk (or just shot and not put on right to begin with) and made the car ride and feel like crap. So, its already lowered and he would like to keep it lowered but if we go with the coilovers we could adjust how low it actually is. He's really into his car and plans on keeping it for years to come and put more time and $ into to make it how he likes it. So, on that note I dont want to get him junk but at the same time he does not need no set up for racing or anything like that cause that is NOT happening. We just want it to handle well with a good look and have an every day good and comfortable ride on both highway and back country roads.

Any thoughts?

 
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Honestly, I would replace it with stock, an aftermarket suspension is just asking your son to push the cars limits in the corners even more than we all do at that age. I lost two friends to single vehicle car accidents in high school driving modified cars. That's your call though.

If you want a coilover recommendation we need a budget.

 
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There is so many brands to choose from on coilovers but you need to think about what he wants to do with the car. Coilovers are really designed for track use so you can set up your car for each track. You can do a simple lowering job with a good set of springs and shocks and the car will look and ride very nice.

As said before below though for a 16 year old both of the lowering options will give him the ability to out drive his experiance fairly quickly.

 
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at the age of 16, he's gonna push it anyways... stock or aftermarket.

so might as well get him something good so that way he can at least have a "buffer safety margin" of the car's handling capabilities.

i totalled my first car....cuz i was 18 and pushing my car's handling to the limit

 
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Progress Technology
http://www.corsportusa.com/store/cat...roducts_id=483

 
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progress is good. but they are non adjustable.

 
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progress technology are height adjustable exactly what he wants don't confuse the man.

 
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"So, on that note I dont want to get him junk but at the same time he does not need no set up for racing or anything like that cause that is NOT happening"

and you bought him an si? not need no! sorry to say, but a kid his age is GOING to race/hot rod his car around no matter what. whether it's lowered, lifted, si, dx, corvette or an suv. Skunk2 is always a safe expensive bet though

 
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best...
it's what you can afford, and will not break down (nor driver's back) down the road.
02 Si are pretty good enough in stock form. If he learns how to handle that, then it's time to modify. If not, it should stay stock.
Too many HP for even a more experienced guy to handle.
Most cannot handle a dog, much less a horse, but still wants more horses.

 
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Thank u everyone for your responses. I have been doing some thinking regarding this and I think I may just take it back to stock for now. The last thing I need is for my son to be all hyped up thinking he is invinceable (because all teenagers pretty much already do) with his new coilovers and thinking he can take turns at 60+ MPH. Or have his friends to try to show them what the car has. I agree that the SI's do have great handling with stock so that just may be the best way to go. Then once he becomes more of an expierenced driver and becomes an adult, he can add them if he wants to. I had done up lowered vehicles in my past and I must say, I love when I take his car out for a drive! It does run and handle great !

We actually already talked about taking it back to stock and I think what we both want now is the car to have a smooth ride and handle well ecspecially when he will be driving it on all kind of roads and conditions. This way his car will still look good but he wont have to worry about bottoming out and scraping over everything.

So, on that thought should I just go out and get average struts and shocks or get an aftermarket setup? I kind of want to keep the cost a little lower since there is a good chance in a few years to come he may want to add coilovers any way. What is exactly all needed to get it back to stock (struts, shocks, springs, other hardware)?? I wish I knew more about this stuff.

Any thoughts? Thnxs!

 
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dam you guys just talked his son out of some coilovers actually if the car were to be slammed then he would have no choice but to drive cautiously. like said above it does not matter what hes driving or what suspension it has he is going to drive like an idiot regardless.

 
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for our civics, they are not dampening adjustable....which takes them out of the higher end of coilsovers. they run a tad better than tein basics (same class)

 
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How many times are you going to have the exact same debate over Progress?

 
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get him the car on one condition, he cannot mod it without ur consent (ANY MODS). thats my advise to you.

buying stock struts are way over priced. Tokico blues struts are a great aftermarket alternative that will retain stock ride capabilities and they last longer...not to mention they have a lifetime warranty. (must buy from authorized dealer)

here are some relativly cheap (prise wise) OEM springs $40 shipped
http://forums.clubep3.com/showthread.php?t=801336

note: im not sure if there are spring difference between the 02-05 si so u might want to ask, but im sure they are the same.




its gonna be ironic/funny as hell if he later joins this forum asking us what options he has to lower his SI...lol

 
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Honda HFP would be my recommendation. Progressive rates prings provide a better ride than coilovers, drops it a bit, but not too low. Kinda hard to find nowadays, is the only drawback.

 
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how else are we suppose to stay bffs? lol

 
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hey, max, i guess there was no HFP for Si's?
and most likely the stock springs are still OK. they last a whole long life unless rust from salt

 
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I would pick up a set of stock or 02-04 DC5 springs, and pair them with KYB GR-2, Tokico HP, or Koni Street struts.

The difference between pushing the stock versus a modified cars handling to the limit is the point that it breaks free, because we all pushed our cars until they broke free, with stock and least it's at a relatively low speed.

 
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^my accord was dropped on eibach sportlines with tokico blues with hankook 215/45/18