Its always a difficult choice for me – second hand parts vs new parts. And I’m sure the choice is going to always be difficult for anyone that’s into modifying cars. On my s14a, one of my coilovers is knackered in the sense that it can’t be adjusted for different ride height, which is lame since getting my new wheels. My car remains on stilts!
Originally then, the choice was to grab a new set of the Driftworks HSD coilovers at a hefty £745 a set. However, a set of Tein coilovers became available on the SXOC (200sx owners club) for a mere £400. I was very interested in buying the set at first, but then thinking about it further – what if the coilovers were indeed a little knackered like my current ones?
I then investigated into how much it would cost to “service” such items, or indeed replace certain parts of them. I was quoted £55+VAT per coilover!
Lets do some math then, £63 per coilover including VAT.
That’s £252 for the whole set serviced (not including any components inside the coilovers that might need replacing at extra cost)
The original cost of the 2nd hand Tein’s is £400, coming to a total of £652
The cost of the HSD’s, brand new, are £745. That’s a difference of a mere £93 earth pounds.
So why bother going for anything less than brand new? 
I make the assumption that you have investigated the cost of servicing/repairing your existing “knackered” coilover?
No… but there are a few other issues with my current coilovers. The rears knock and clunk all over the place
And doing a bit of research, a number of people say this is common with the coilovers I currently have installed. Quite simply, I don’t like the sound of that. And it doesn’t half sound awful at low speeds in my car!
And then to find a front coilover on my car is already rusted up enough that I can’t adjust ride height! Now’s the time for new ones!
On the plus side I can now make a comparable review on my current coilovers vs the HSD coilovers – something that not many other people would be able to do since most people go from stock springs to coilovers straight away
Just came across your blog as I was researching HSD coilovers to fit on my Impreza Spec C. Interesting to know how they perform once fitted? Not sure whether to go for these or BC coilovers? ps great pics, Iv just started getting into it & recenlty bought a Sony A200!
Hi Ricky. Had them fitted over the weekend, and I have to say the HSD’s are brilliant! I would highly recommend them and well worth the money.
I have not heard of BC coilovers before, but I previously had Apex Performance coilovers fitted which my HSD’s replaced. They are a massive upgrade and improvement over these. So if thats anything to go by
Go for it!
Good to hear
I think the BC coilovers are the same as Apex ones, made by some company anyway. ps great website/blog you got!