RSpeed's new in house Coilovers finally here

[oldgrayfrog]

4797
http://www.rspeed.net/Rspeed_Fortune_Auto_Coil_Over_Miata_MX_5_p/nab-34500.htm

I just spoke with Joseph over at RSpeed, and the first ten sets of the LONG awaited RSpeed Fortune AutoCoilovers have arrived. In Joseph's words" Think Ohlins" at half the price. we're talkin 30 way adjust ability here, Forged aluminum tophats and mounts, oversize 50mm tube, re-valve-able and rebuidable here in the USA.You don't have to send them to Japan or Germany! Digressive valving means you have the ability to change out the springs without having to have the unit re-valved. The soft spring rates are 5k front and 4k rear, but are available in any combo you want up to 8k fronts, for the hard core track enthusiast, and teeth rattle crowd. Swift springs available for a $299 upcharge. These have been in the pipeline for 2 years. They came and were reworked a couple of times until the dyno charts were right, the performance was right, and frankly, until Joseph felt they deserved to wear the RSpeed name on them.

He's so pleased with them ,and I reminded him how incredibly loyal we are as a site, so he agreed to give us the first ten sets off the line for a group buy @ $1000. The regular price goes back into affect after the first ten sets are gone, and you must mention MX5ATLANTA to get the group rate. The regular price is still a great value at $1195, list is $1695 (probably what you'll see Moss and Go Miata selling them at in six months, just like RSpeed's Chapparal wheels)

[Bernie]

You lie! Vaporware I tells ya :lol:

[oldgrayfrog]

Like low flying aircraft, that comment went completely over my head.

[iscariot]

Vaporware - computer term, software or hardware that is talked about never actually develops or is delivered.

So I might be interested. I dislike my FM V-Maxx setup as the shaft length is way too short (thats what she said) and I want another inch (thats what she said) ground clearance. I might give rspeed a call and see what the travel distance is.

I'm doing some googling of forum threads on the company, and to save some people time..

Executive summary of threads:
Other threads on the forums below all mention that they've been very good with customer service, answering questions, sorting out clunks and pops. None of the threads have people telling horror stories, but on the downside I'm not seeing a whole lot of "best thing since sliced bread" reviews from experienced track guys (not necessarily a bad thing).


NASIOC -
1st page: Oh man these are just ripoff Teins
5th page: They ain't bad, but they're not (insert $2000 coilover here)

NASIOC butt dyno review: Fortune Auto 500 Series Coilover review - NASIOC

Don't get me wrong, compare to Stance, I now have much stiffer spring rate. But these still feel more comfortable and absorb the bumps better. So I think it means the 50mm piston are doing their jobs well? But be sure you understand these are not going to get you a BMW ride quality. Yes, you can still feel the road pretty much just like most coilover, every little bumps or uneven surface, are still noticeable, they are coilover, so get over it, lol.
One thing I do like is going over the rough road doesn't hurt my kidney now, so ride quality for Daily Driving, I give them a B+. (I give Stance a B-, Megan a C. Just as reference.)

evolutionm.net -

butt dyno review:
http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-x-tires-wheels-brakes-suspension-sponsored-tire-rack/499703-fortune-auto-500-coilover-review.html

summary: works great for commuting in LA so far
2nd summary: first coilovers ever on my car, felt good on the track (page 2)

longevity: http://forums.evolutionm.net/service-parts-tuning-review/490103-fortune-auto-500-series-coilovers-review.html

I have 8k miles on mine and they are still noise free and feel great even with four autox events on them. On my 7k/9k spring rates I get a gentler ride on full soft then I did my Bilstein/Tanabe spring and shock combo. After adjusting the dampeners for track use I decided to just leave it since it is very bearable on the street. The car handles like it is on rails an has added confidence when pushed hard. I will be upgrading my springs soon to swift 9k/11k and will let you guys know if the upgrade is worthwhile.


Another good input from evolutionm that seems fair and balanced - as with any car forum, there are guys that will say unless you're dumping 3k into a suspension you'll be disappointed

http://forums.evolutionm.net/evo-x-tires-wheels-brakes-suspension-sponsored-tire-rack/507670-fortune-auto-bc-coilovers-2.html

Fortune auto 500 pros
-great customer service
-comfortable ride quality for a dd
-bigger piston. Housing
-dyno tested to ensure consistency
-compatible with upgradable swift springs

Cons
-lacks. Mounting bracket for abs sensor
-made in taiwan
-difficult to adjust rear camber settings

[oldgrayfrog]

These reviews of Fortune 500's sound like they have some similarities to the new RSpeed coilovers. Not surprising really, if you go to Ford to build a car that you design, don't be surprised when they reach into the Focus bin for switch gear. In this case, RSpeed has been working with Fortune, an American company, for more than two years. Working on spring rates, and dampers, getting this unique coilover right.

If you go back about 18 months ago, when the first beta versions were in testing, there were some very experienced testers who were unhappy with the valving and the spring rates. The spring dynos didn't seem to support what they were going for, so Joseph pulled them off the market, and went back to the drawing board. I now understand the vaporware comment.:) These have been a long time coming.

This is a wholly different piece of kit. It has new valving and new spring rates. You can even choose to use Swift springs if you wish. I for one would like to hear from somebody who's experience with coilovers exceeds "better than Racelands" or, "Just like Teins" or who chooses 8k/6k springs for street use, and doesn't like the harsh ride. In other words, I'd like to see some of the folks on this site who have experience with the TEIN Mono Flex, Ohlins, Bilstein PSS9, and AFCOs give their impressions in a well setup car. One that is corner balanced and has some proper chassis stiffening. Then tell us what they think of these. For the Raceland crowd who just want to go as low as possible, these are probably way over your price range, and needs. For the competitive autox user, or the guy who wants to take the car down to Little Tally three or four times a year, then drive it on the street the other 355 days of the year, these are probably what the doctor ordered. In recent testing in Grassroots Motorsports, FatCatMotorsports' setup, ended up taking the day, with the fastest runs. A lot of testers thought that the more expensive coilovers "felt" faster, but the stop watch doesn't lie. The FCM coilovers although sprung more softly, more than made up for it with their shock valving. If you want to drive your car around with 9k springs forward and 7k springs in the rear, of course Joseph will be more than happy to special order a set like that for you. But please, don't go on all the boards, complaining about your fillings dropping into your coffee, when you order the stiffest setup offered :) Only two sets are at RSpeed, they are the softer sprung sets, the rest of the first ten sets are in Virginia, so that they can be ordered with the custom spring rates desired by the purchaser, and drop shipped directly to you. A softer 6kF/4k-5kR is expected to be the bigger seller. Hopefully some of the folks who take advantage of this group buy will be able to give us their impressions, as they get experience driving in a wide variety of conditions, and experiment with the valve settings . I'd like a spring set tolerable for Atlanta's pot hole strewn streets, but stiff enough when the valve settings are tightened up to handle Little Tally without inducing flop sweats.

I will see if I can get further information posted here, about shock rates, the shock dynos and all the combos available. I hope that a lot of us take advantage of this Group Buy, before the first ten are gone, and our local price returns to retail.

[iscariot]

It's not a question of wanting teeth-chattering suspension, its the question of need. I just managed to bottom out going over a bridge on 285 at 70mph on vmaxx.

[oldgrayfrog]

Like the site says, you need the digressive valving, you need S-L-O-W compression at 75 mph, so you don't bottom out and fast response at slow speed so that your car can react to wheel inputs from you, the driver.

The Springs in a car should reflect the enviorment you are driving in. If it's a billiard table smooth surface like a race track, the 9k front and 7k rear springs make sense, because it will hold those tires tight to the road surface. If the surface looks cratered like the Moon, then something witha bit more give, to smooth out the ride is called for.

The stock Miata springs are only about 4.5 k front and 3k rear, and that's the R Springs!! Why does everybody want to go all hardcore, and ride around on 7,8 and 9k springs? If its a hobby race car fine, but if it's regular daily transport then get something a bit more forgiving.

The digressive valve actually allows you to use a wider range of springs. The digressive shocks can be used from 4k to 9 k without getting revalved. If you threw 9k springs on a stock shock body, the valve would literally blow out. With this type of valve you are able to use softer springs to achieve a compliant ride with minimal body roll.

It's quite similar to what Shaik has been doing with his revalved R Bilsteins at FatCatMotorsports. He wins competitions at the track with a suspension that you would be happy to ride in a daily driver. I'm not going to throw rocks at V-Maxx, but most folks figured that there would be situations that a $400 coilover wouldn't be able to handle as well as a $1200 or $2000 coilover can. Sorry for your shaken body and ride, but I'm not all that surprised.

[NA6R]

Sell it! OGF

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I'd totally buy these if I was in the market.

[oldgrayfrog]

Sell it! OGF

Actually, I'm going to buy them. I believe in the product, which is why when Joseph told me,"If you want to give people a break on these, YOU SETUP the group buy!", I said I would. I am not, nor have ever been a employee of RSpeed. I happen to very much believe in them as a business and as people that I have come to view as friends over the past two and a half years.

[LagunaRoadster]

What spring rate are you going to get?

[nolift]

I would jump in on this however, my clutch is going out and I should prolly do the timing belt/water pump thingy since I'm at 111k miles. Everything is stock so its about time for all the wear and tear items to be replaced... whew. =(

[oldgrayfrog]

I'll probably wimp out and go with 6k front and 4k or 5k rears. NoLift, I would definitely agree that Timing Belts and water pumps should probably be done first. The car has a non interference motor, so when the timing belt goes, no harm, however water pumps have been known to fail around 120k, and you may not know if this is the original pump, I would most definitely do the maintenance first. Isn't it about time for one of our sponsors to do the annual timing belt special?? HINT HINT!!

[nolift]

Yeah, I need to get all this done this or next week. However, I live in Marietta and work in Lawrenceville so getting to RSpeed is no easy task. Anyway I wont derail this thread anymore then I have. =D

[Rspeed]

We sold 2 sets this morning one local and one to Egypt

Egypt Ohio that is
So we Have one 6k 5k
but can have any comb here in 2 days

[LagunaRoadster]

Just bought a 5/4 set today. I'll be posting a review when they have been installed and driven on!

[oldgrayfrog]

I just was informed that RSpeed was not honoring the $1000 group buy on the first ten sets, if you told them you were from MX5ATL. I'll call Joseph in the morning and try to find out where the lack of communication came from.

[Rspeed]

No Lack of Com only lack brains on my behalf; My mistake.

I only had 10 sets to start,

And I should listen to you Dave and made the group buy smaller, like 5 kits.

But they are just selling like hotcakes out the back door:banana:
People need them now, And that's a good thing for everybody.


So Regardless, I always care of my guys and so the group buy price is good anyone on this board no matter how many we sell. 3 or 4, , 5, 7 or 10 sets etc...

If we sell 10 kits the late comers will get from the next shipment already in production.

I know People are still recovering form the stupid high gas prices so I want to be as accommodating as possible.


Therefore, the Hybrid Group Buy up to 10 sets is good until the 8/1/11

Thanks Dave.

Sorry for the mix up

Joseph

[oldgrayfrog]

Thank you Joe, I'll take mine with 6k in front and 5k behind, nice and whimpy like me!

[MOOREOFSTEPHEN]

Highly interested. Not sure of what spring rated needed... ( THINKING NEEDED)