Suspension...Are Nitrons worth it for a 'normal driver'

[da_murphster]

Having swatted hard on suspension options I still have no idea what to go for and what to spend.

I read an interesting point the other day about how sports cars are probably not driven to full capacity by 95% of their drivers - I consider myself to be an adequate driver - one of these 95%!

Would a 'normal' driver be able to tell any difference between 'budget' (thinking Gaz sort of cost) suspension and good (Nitron/Ohlin) suspension.

I am an enthusiastic driver who intends to do a slack handful of track days a year (prolly 5 max) and I also intend to do lots of driver tuition (Andy Walsh days etc)

Is my money better spent elsewhere (ie tuition) and buy cheaper suspension or can you really tell the difference if you are not a hardcore driver?

Opinions please.....

[JR]

Coming from a 220 I'd say it would make a noticable difference. Whather it's worth the extra money is up to you.

[TT Tim]

Re-bushing the suspension and changing to any, half decent, new shocks and you'll transform the car over a standard set-up. Oh, and don't forget to get it set-up correctly, that plays a major role in how the car feels.

If you had said you were a Sunday polisher, but enjoyed a cross country blat I'd say go for the less expensive end of the market, as you'll never test the new shocks, with a few track days in mind I'd be tempted to spend a few quid more and go the whole hog.

It is a lot of money though, and only you know if you can justify it.

Tim

[simply red]

Couple of years back I changed my 4 litre '92 Griff from standard shocks to Nitrons - and set up by Topcats - the difference was amazing - felt and handled like a totally different car. I do around 8 track days a year and the car is brilliant on cornering.

[V8 GRF]

I have Nitrons and they were fitted by the last owner. When I got the car it was a lot lower than standard and hit every speed bump etc and it was quite harsh. I had it raised and as a result the ride softened.
I've never driven a standard shocked Griff in anger but I have to say the car corners like it's on rails with very little discernible body movement whether that's down to the Nitrons I don't know. It improved further still when I fitted Steve Heath front droplinks and 16" front wheels and the car feels very 'planted' with reduced understeer.

Had a real hoon over Kirkstone pass coming back from the Cumbria Megarun yesterday and boy was that fun..

The ride is a bit harsher than a standard Griff on roads with less than smooth surfaces.

[da_murphster]

I do struggle with the concept of new suspension costing more than my daily runabout and a significant proportion of what I paid for the car.

I have no doubt that I will be able to tell the difference between my now tired standard suspension and a half decent upgrade - but is the difference between Gaz/protech etc and Nitron/Ohlin worth £700??

£700 is alot of money that you do not see back when you sell the car!

[V8 GRF]

da_murphster said:

I do struggle with the concept of new suspension costing more than my daily runabout and a significant proportion of what I paid for the car.

I have no doubt that I will be able to tell the difference between my now tired standard suspension and a half decent upgrade - but is the difference between Gaz/protech etc and Nitron/Ohlin worth £700??

£700 is alot of money that you do not see back when you sell the car!

As someone said above only you can really decide that and it sounds to me you'd be more comfortable with a less costly upgrade. I'm not sure I'd have been able to justify the cost of Nitrons but then again as I said I got them with the car and I've never pushed another Griff as hard as I do mine.

We need the opinion of someone who actually did the conversion....

[da_murphster]

On my first track day (Castle Combe in the pouring rain with 2*Scoobys creaming into the side - scary) I got some tuition in my then totally standard VX220.

With 145bhp and standard car we (I mean him!) absolutely whipped everything else out there - almost comically so.

Really made me realise how much is the driver and not the bhp....

[H 8 ROK]

I upgraded to gaz golds on my chim , a major improvement all round,about to order the same for my tamora, have been quoted £830.00 fitted,(to include geometry) hope this helps

















]

[V8 Animal]

da_murphster said:

I do struggle with the concept of new suspension costing more than my daily runabout and a significant proportion of what I paid for the car.

I have no doubt that I will be able to tell the difference between my now tired standard suspension and a half decent upgrade - but is the difference between Gaz/protech etc and Nitron/Ohlin worth £700??

£700 is alot of money that you do not see back when you sell the car!

I bought a set of golds today (£600) and i will be fitting them myself.
I aswell struggled to justify another £600 on a car thats probbaly only worth £10k.
It's all down to opinions and weather you can justify the outlay.
BTW You could put your old shocks back on before you sold the car then you reuse or sell them
Paul

[yanmar]

if you are going to track days get the best you can afford , the same with brake pads and tyres - enjoy

[Mustang Baz]

I don't mind saying I would be in the 95% but in my view, it has made a discernable difference, even more so when you experiment with the settings. I test drove 8 Tuscans when purchasing mine and getting Nitrons was a mandatory consideration after those experiences. However, if your geometry is out, you still may have issues, regardless. Mine certainly was, even though a "main dealer" had undertaken the geometry check and charged me for it. When RG re-did it, they could barely believe anyone had bothered the first time around.

[Ubernoober]

V8 Animal said:

I as well struggled to justify another £600 on a car thats probably only worth £10k.
It's all down to opinions and whether you can justify the outlay.

No idea what my Chim is worth ('99 400, 56,000) but I am planning to spend around £2-3k on it this coming year, doesn't matter on what, but I do not regard this as an 'investment' by which I mean I do not expect to get my money back or increase the value of the car. BUT, I am going really enjoy myself making the car that whole family enjoys into one that is going to be more enjoyable, rewarding and rock steady reliable (please!) and with maybe a smidge more wellie - that's what I regard as an investment.

If you are really having to justify the spend, and a main consideration is to get your money back (not a chance, whatever you do IMO) if you don't get a 101% return on your expectations, whatever they are, you could end up disappointed and on a down with your car so limit the potential downer by going for Gaz (sounds like and advert, that) or be an optimist and go for Nitrons cos you just know your going to love them!

[Mr John]

da_murphster said:

Having swatted hard on suspension options I still have no idea what to go for and what to spend.

I read an interesting point the other day about how sports cars are probably not driven to full capacity by 95% of their drivers - I consider myself to be an adequate driver - one of these 95%!

Would a 'normal' driver be able to tell any difference between 'budget' (thinking Gaz sort of cost) suspension and good (Nitron/Ohlin) suspension.

I am an enthusiastic driver who intends to do a slack handful of track days a year (prolly 5 max) and I also intend to do lots of driver tuition (Andy Walsh days etc)

Is my money better spent elsewhere (ie tuition) and buy cheaper suspension or can you really tell the difference if you are not a hardcore driver?

Opinions please.....

Hi Mate,

Give Julian a ring at Track car solutions.
I spent hours deliberating over which to have fitted on my T350.
He will advise you on the best option for your type of driving. He came up with a solution for me I hadn't considered.
The general concensus is that unless you are a track day superstar, save yourself alot of cash.

[Blues]

I found they were definately worth it. They really did make it a better drive.
I did not try any other brand, so can't ptovide a comparison to anything other than teh standard Chim set up.

But don't do it as an "investment".

[Hoover.]

I personaly can't comment on Nitron's as run Gaz..... however I look at suspension in terms of I something I understand which is hifi..

which is for a good investment you get a fanstastic improvement, after that spend a lot of money for performance upgrade....

where the initial investment becomes sensible investment is what this question is about

[Rocket Pepper]

Hoover. said:

however I look at suspension in terms of I something I understand which is hifi..

I run a Rega Planet CD and a P25 turntable through a trusty Linn Intek to some well seasoned Acoustic Energy AE1's. My question is, what suspension set-up do you recommend for my 93/94 Griff 500

[hiltonig]

I think with that HIFI set up I would go for some Hydragas suspension !!!!

Edited by hiltonig on Tuesday 22 April 06:23

[SmokinV8]

What!! No boom box?

Actually, Im really interested in this thread cos one day Im going to upgrade mine from OE.

[rev-erend]

Save your money .. and go for gold.

Gaz gold

They are really very good.