without compromising too much handling?

i was almost dead set on either keeping my supra and getting a tsx (and breaking my bank) or getting an rx8 as an only car (nice car, but no power and bad gas mileage).

then, i saw a black 350z last night at a gas station in yonkers. mmm, so sexy.

but from what i've read, they kinda beat you up for commuting.

are there any shocks out there that might give a more comfortable ride without killing the handling. softer tires than stock that still grip? anything?

i really want one now but need it to be able to handle the expansion joints and ocassional bumps of my commute.

 

My wife and I each own '04.5 roadsters. Mine has 18s and hers has 17s. Hers is much softer riding, with not much compromise in handling, and of course, you can greatly improve grip w/aftermarket tires/rims. Also, having driven '03s and '04s, I think that the '04s ride a bit softer w/the "tweaking" they did to try to solve the tire feathering prob. on the '03s.

Also, both of ours are daily drivers. I put about 25-30k/yr on mine; she puts just under 40k on hers. We're also codgers by most people's standards w/this car (both 37), and no significant complaints from either of us. The seat is a snug fit for me (6'/205), and occasionally, if I have a 70 mile or so long drive home late at night, I wish I had something a little more "cushy," but the majority of the time the fun I'm having more than makes up for it.

Finally, one last suggestion as another option to consider, if you don't have your heart set on Japanese cars: a low mileage, '03 C5 'Vette. With the C6 out, the value of the C5s dropped, but they're still great looking, great performing cars, and they're substantially softer sprung than the Z, with softer seats to boot. My wife and I just drive too many miles to buy a Chevy, even if it is an awesome one. Good luck on whatever you choose.

 

You could install some Eibach springs. They are a progressive rate spring, so they've got a little more initial give, then with more compression they stiffen up. They give the car a mild drop, too, which I think looks really nice. See HERE for a few pics of a Z with these springs.

 

koni adjustable shocks are great. You can get them for about $650shipped, and they are 5 way adjustable. The softest setting is a good amount softer than stock, but the car still handles pretty well. And since their adjustable, you can change it for more spirited driving, or autox and road racing.

 

Eibach springs would help. But the stock setup is not that bad.
Also, the nismo setup isn't too bad either.

 

I didn't know the Konis were softer than stock on the softest setting?

I was looking into making my Supra more daily drivable, but the Supra Konis on the softest setting are stiffer than stock, and stock is fairly stiff to begin with.

Do you have firsthand experience with them?

 

Koni shocks are a huge improvement over stock but won't make the ride "softer".

I used Tein H.tech springs to improve (soften) the ride, the result is almost no drop and a much more comfortable ride (i.e., less harsh over crappy roads) and are better for commuting. However, you may experience slightly more body roll so I suggest installing stiffer sway bars with these springs, too.

 

The ride is softer on 17" rims, because the side wall is higher, so it absorbs more of the shocks, but there is a con to this, because the tire is "higher" it also tends to "swing" more than the lower 18" tyre, which is NOT an improvement for handling, but the diffrence is so minimal, i bet a normal driver will not notice the difference, but will apreciate the better shock absorption...

 

I installed Tein S-Tech springs and they "softened" the ride. It's tolerable now, what you would expect from a good handling sports car. The drop was minimal (around .5 inches), but improved the looks and still can align w/o probelms. Handling the same or slightly better.

 

i installed hotchkis springs and the rear springs are noticeably softer and the ride is much better than stock. handling was not compromised imo.

 

I'm quite happy with my setup: Konis @ Hotchkis springs, set on full soft.

 

The Konis aren't softer than the stock shocks when they are set on soft. They are just valved better to work with the stock spring rates at rebound.

 

does that translate to better real-world comfort?

 

try tein CS coilovers?