If you have used both PIC and Mugen Lowdowns on your ITR, please share your experiences, thoughts (pros/cons), etc. on them?

I'm trying to decide between Lowdowns and PIC (10K-front/8K-rear). As my car is used mainly for dailing driving and some autocross/HPDE throughtout the year.

I've already searched HT archives and found some reviews on both. How ever, I think there's a few members here that have had both of these setups on their ITR.

Thanks in advance!

 

Where can you get mugen lowdowns now? Are the discontinued?

 

message "get right"

 

IIRC the Mugen is 8k/6k? So the PIC will allow for firmer rates. Both setups adjust in the same fashion. The PIC is more than half the price of the LowDowns. If I was in your position (and unless you just want the Mugen) it would be hard to not go with PIC.

These are both nice "compromise" setups. They can do anything you throw at them pretty well but they are not the best at any one thing. Either way you go I think you will enjoy either for what you are asking them to do.

I dont know if they still have them but King still shows them.
http://www.kingmotorsports.com/category.aspx?cat=44

 

Agreed
my wife has PIC's (10K-front/8K-rear) on her R and she drives it every day. We have had no issues w/ them.

 

How long has your wife had them on her R? Just wondering about reliability/longevity.

Thanks

 

I daily drive my R with PIC's and have no issues. Although I think my rear may be blown hence they've been on the car for 5+ years.

Anyone recommend another decent setup for me to go with on my ITR? I daily drive the car, but want something agressive like the PIC, plan on bring the car to the track more often in the future.

 

What are the spring rates on your PICs?

 

The downside to the Mugens is that they are way more expensive. All their stuff is really expensive.

 

yea use pic again

 

You will not find better customer service than Jim and Al at PIC either. All signs point to PIC unless you insist on your suspension being Mugen.

 

Paul, PIC is getting ready to introduce a new line. Keep your eyes peeled on their website, or you could always call Al to discuss. Fantastic guy....he'd be happy to discuss your options.

 

hmmmmmm good info, PIC selects and bushings were on the short list.

 

If your car does way more daily driving than HPDE's, then I'd go with Mugen. The Showa shocks that Mugen uses will last and the springrates are tuned to them very well. They are very much like the stock setup, only better. And the stock setup is very good as-is.

If you do more tracktime, then go with the PICs and get custom rates to your liking.

http://www.kingmotorsports.com/category.aspx?cat=44

And holy hell, my Mugen NZ kit (without springs) is now $3500!

 

How about Mugen Lowdowns vs. Stock Springs/Lowering Springs + Koni Yellows?

 

The problem with most lowering springs for the ITR is that they offer very poor springrates and actually end up making the car push in the corners.

Spoon makes good lowering springs for the R (in terms of springrates) and so does Tein. Otherwise, not much else out there that'll actualy help the ITR handle better.

Personally, I'd rather go OEM springs + Koni yellows.

 

I switched from Mugen NZ's to the 12/10k PIC apex kit on my car. Probably over 10k miles on them and I love them. Not to mention their customer service is A+

 

What about a daily driver that only sees autox 4x a year? Best option? Stock springs and koni yellows? How about the GC/koni combo?

 

again, get right has experience on gc/yellows. I think I remember him mentioning that he never could get a feel for them. I daily drove on my 12/10k PIC apex's, felt perfect to me.

 

I hated them but I had the race yellows with the valving (SSPS3 or sumthin?) no matter what I tried with them I could not get a feel for them.


The regular yellows wont be as harsh as the race versions. For PYITR678 purposes they should be a fine setup for DS or Koni/GC for STX.

 

I only considered Mugen Lowdowns b/c they're tuned specifically for ITR. My shocks r starting to go, so need to get them replaced. My car is used mainly for daily driving. The HUGE downside to Mugens is the the price. But seeing everyone's experince with PIC, I'm starting to lean towards them. Just thought PICs might be too harsh for daily use.

If I decide on PIC, it would probably be Selects (10K/8K). Or may wait to see what this new product line PIC will introduce (as mentioned by "Jon D" above) ; )

 

NZs will be my next setup when the current LowDowns need to be retired.

 

Shawn, I think you'd like the N1's better. In a perfect world, and I do not know why Mugen doesn't do this, the more aggressive fronts of the NZeros and the more aggressive rears of the N1's pair up nicely. And the ride as you know is nice as hell.

I can say that the off the shelf Konis with OEM springs and Comptech springs rode as rough or rougher than the Lowdowns, and the Lowdowns are known for being rather harsh. On track, I had 1 HPDE with the Koni/Comptech combo, but from what I remember they perforned very well.... but I was a slow newb. Mugen Mike has 140K+ on his Lowdowns and they are still good.... I think. My Konis didn't make it past 70K.

If the OP has any track experience, the PIC R3's could also be an option. I know AL and Jim have sold those with softer springs, like 10ft/12k rear.

 

Looking at the kingmotorsports website, I see there are a few different Mugen kits for the ITR (I'm assuming they are for the ITR since some say ITR LCAs are required for DC2 applications). Can someone please explain the difference between the three kits? Looking at it, I cant see my self spending $3500 on a suspension that will spend 99.8% of its time daily driving. However I MIGHT be able to spend the $1900 needed for the "5 way adjustable" Mugens.

I am also interested in the Buddy Club N+ kit. Does anyone have any experience with these?

One other thing (actually two things)...

The Koni Coilovers (the ones priced at $1040 on the kingmotorsports site)... are those just Koni yellows /w GC springs?

Furthermore, now that the above poster stated the stock springs on the Koni yellows is rather harsh, I am worried. Again, most of my driving will be on the street and I dont really want to induce kidney failure due to too stiff/harsh of a suspension. I really like the idea of being able to lower the stance a bit by using the secondary perch on the Koni's as well as increasing performance with the better than stock shocks, but not at the loss of ride quality (I am willing to sacrifice SOME quality, but not to the point where it is uncomfortable to drive long distances).

Is it really that bad, even with the yellows set to their softer settings?

And does putting the stock springs on the lower perches throw the suspension geometry/camber off?

 

There are two different Koni Yellows for the ITR. The normal ones and the SPSS3 Race valved ones. The normal Yellows provide a fine ride and are not harsh at all. The SPSS3 are valved for pure racing applications and are way harsher than the normal Yellows.