What improvement over stock suspension does it offer?

How does it compare to the others out there: Zeal, TEIN, Mugen, etc?

How streetable? How stiff does it feel? How much do you scrape?

How much better at the autox and on the road course is it really?

Thanks.

 

Whatcha thinkin' about KenE?

Very streetable. Noticed a BIG difference once I raised the car up from Cliff's slammed settings. Car is about 1" lower than stock now and looks like an OE drop with the smaller diameter 205/15s I'm running. I have them set at 7 frt & 10 rear out of 13 adj. points. This seemed extremely neutral at VIR a few months back. I hear occassional noise out of the pillow mounts, but nothing compared to the descriptions I heard before getting them. Hope that helps!

 

The owner of All Version Motoring in orlando has the Apexi N1 suspension on his R and was running it at sebring this weekend. IIRC he was not happy with the setup at all and was going to be selling it for a different setup. Let's put it this way, if you tried to compress the back of his car, you could move it down at least 3-4 inches, the same person could push mine down 3/4" maybe 1". The Apexi were (according to the owner) setup with the stiffest springs available from Apexi and the hardest settings in the shock (which from what he said, are a PITA to set). I am running 600lb springs in back with bilsteins for what that's worth.

I didn't ride in the car, but I can't imagine it providing the handling that I'd want out of the car.

 

I had the 99-spec N1's on my civic for a while. The 00-spec have a larger piston and lighter springs. Aside from that, I think they're pretty much the same (and the huge price tag diff). They're VERY streetable. Their spring rates are fairly soft compared to other jdm coilovers F/R = 9kg/5kg (504lb/280lb). Even on the stiffest damper setting, they were still more streetable than most of the other jdm coilovers. On the track ,they were good, but definitely could be stiffer. They're more of a street/some-track coilover. I remember one of the AJR guys posting the BC RS's were 70% race/30% street while the Zeal B6's were 50% race/50% street....going by that type of rating, I'd say the 99-spec N1's (I don't have experience w/ the 00-specs) are more like 30% race/70% street. If it's mostly a street driven car, the N1's are a good choice, but if it's more of a track dedicated car, you'll probably want something stiffer. Since the Buddy Club RS, Zeal B6 and S6, and Tein RA and RE are all cheaper than the 00-spec N1's, those might be better options...unless you can find a 99-spec N1 for sale used. HTH.

Oh, to add...I liked the adjustable stroke (lower shock casing) of the N1's. It allowed for full stroke while lowering my car (it was lowered about 2") and rode very well. Someone I met also had a set and he dinked with it by lowering the lower spring collar (like standard coilovers) and thus shortening the stroke (he was bored and wanted to test things out) and he said it was STIFF as hell compared to when it had full stroke. All the coilovers I mentioned above have adjustable shock case length except the Tein RA, so if you went with Tein, the RE's might be a better choice (if just a lil harder to find). Also, from speaking to someone with Mugen N1's, those things are kidney-bleeding stiff! The Mugen N0's are supposed to be valved differently for more street use, but I've never known or spoken to anyone that had those. HTH.


[Modified by bhcvc, 6:35 PM 12/11/2001]

 

Two word about the 99' -> THEY SUCK!!!

I know because I had them, not the 2000', only the 99'.

What makes me say that? Because I tried stock, Tein RA and Zeal B2 on my own car and any of the above perform better than that Apexi ****!!! BTW, did I tell you Apex'i has the worst customer service I have ever seen? If you go with that, why not try the Reactive, it's cheaper!

 

you get what you pay for..although its called N1 its more of a street/track setup..
ive heard some complaints about the newer style pillow ball mounts though..
seem to be doing some damage..they are no longer tapered into the shock tower.. any one expirience this?

 

A guy on this board has 99' spec N1's and his floorboards spot weldings are ripping apart, might be something other then the Coilovers, but unlikely..and his car is like a 99 or 00 civic hatch.