Perhaps the most costliest of my modifications has been the suspension. Based on my experiences I would recommend this: Keep your stock springs and shocks if you plan on replacing them, and DO BOTH SPRINGS AND SHOCKS AT THE SAME TIME. Why? Well for one, most people will tell you that if you lower your car more than an inch, (i.e. sport springs) you will go through the stock shocks in no time. Most shops charge a flat fee to do the springs and shocks. If you get them done at the same time, then you get charged one flat fee. Do them at different times, however, and you are looking at the same fee, twice. I initially purchased Neuspeed Sport springs, and decided I would take full advantage of the life of the stock shocks. For a while, everything was great. Then one night, while rushing a friend to the hospital (asthma attack), I flew (think Passat chase commercial) over a speed bump doing close to 80mph. The minute the car landed, I knew something had to have happened. Shortly after, I started hearing a roaring/rubbing sound coming from the front end of the car. This began on the front passenger side, and gradually worked its way over to the front driver's side. I had the dealership check the wheel bearings…nothing. Then I had the car aligned, yet the noise still persisted. At this point, I decided I must have blown the stock shocks. So I purchased the Neuspeed/Bilstein shocks (specially made for Neuspeed by Bilstein and adjustable up front) and had those installed. Now not only did I have the same noise, but now my tires were rubbing the fenders whenever the suspension was even slightly compressed. Another trip to the dealership resulted in their finding that the tie-rods were gone, and the upper and lower control arm bushings needed to be replaced. Citing my lowered suspension, the dealership refused to do the work under warranty, and informed me that I was looking at a $700.00 bill. I told them no thanks, and posted my problem on the Vortex and waited to see what happened. Within a day, Mike Russo (Passman) on the Vortex, volunteered to lend me his stock shocks and also help me change the rears back to stock. Since I had kept my stock springs, this worked out great. We switched the rear shocks and springs in about 30 minutes to an hour, and 1552 Design did the fronts for $100.00. I then brought the car to another local dealership who did the work under warranty.

I have since sold the Neuspeed Sport springs, because while the ride was not very stiff, the car was lowered slightly too much for my driving area. Just clearing the incline into my garage required very slow speeds and inevitably I would scrape the bottom of the car. The ride was very good otherwise. Lean, dive and squat were eliminated, and with the Bilstein's the car looked perfect with the 17" Type T's. I recently purchased a set of Neuspeed SofSports (H&R's are on backorder) which lower the car a moderate .75" instead of the 1.5" of the sport springs, and will be re-installing them this week along with the Bilsteins. Once I get them on, I will then install the 18" Type TD's and take some pictures of the new setup. I will also measure the level of drop from the SofSports and compare them with the stock setup to see if Neuspeed's claims are correct. The price break down is as follows: