I realize this has been covered on every forum in existence for the past 20 years haha. But im trying to get as much opinion on the matter that i can before i order anything.

Basically i have a 97 ek hatch with coilovers on it right now, one of which has a knocking noise. They are no doubt cheap ebay coilovers and im going to just replace them.

Firstly this is just a fun project car for myself and not my DD. I just want something comfortable and fun that looks good (no wheel gap).

I have been researching for over a week now and the amount of options and info out there is overwhelming. The first thing i can't decide on is my budget. If it was my 2015 fusion i paid $35g's for i would obviously get some high quality coilovers no doubt. But with a civic i bought for $800 and have put maybe another $1500 into since it's hard for me to justify spending the same amount on just coils.

I understand every person on these forums does not recommend cheap coilovers (DNA/Yonaka/Truhart etc). I've gathered Function/form 1's can be decent for say $900CAD (Some say there crap as well). Ive also gathered everyone recommends Koni's with a ground control kit if you wanna go cheap. Well that setup with top hats is like $1300CAD minimum, which is not cheap really.

I've now started looking into just getting shocks/springs with a fixed drop. I really don't care how exact my "stance" is, just want a nice drop that rides comfortably and reliably.

I have seen kits with say D2 lowering springs & Skunk 2 shocks for $630CAD plus i would need top hats. Would this be a decent option, say over something like yonaka coilovers for around the same price?

Idealy i would love to spend $700-$800 canadian, however i do realize this may be unrealistic. The yonaka coils seem to be the only coilovers i can find in that price range where anyone who actually has them likes them. The only people saying they are garbage are the people who just assume so because of the price.

Lastly i do realize the majority of coilovers are made in the Bor Chuan factory in Taiwan, and basically just different colors. Even Buddy Club, Driftworks and Stance are all made at HD Systems in Korea, side by side, to the same specs.

TL/DR

For under $800CAD would the springs/struts combo be my best bet?

 

If you really just want springs and shocks...don't buy anything with more than a 1.5" drop. Bilstein B6's or Koni Yellows and Eibach prokit springs are pretty nice.

In the realm of cost efficient...but high quality coilovers, Tein makes the Street Advance, which should meet your budget.

Function Form 1's are junk. 100%.