Mazdaspeed "susp kit" vs. JIC coilovers

ghetto waggon · May 7, 2003

I'm seriously looking into upgrading the suspension on my p5, by going with mazda's "Mazdaspeed Package" (something I guess the dealer here has put together), which consists of:

Mazdaspeed Struts, Sway Bars, and Springs

BUT, if I were going to spend all that money, I have to stop and consider the JICs

...How much of a difference would there be in handling?

The JICs will end up costing about $400 more installed (not that big of an issue), BUT: it will void the warranty (on the suspension) at best.

I'm not an autocrosser, or racer. Though, on the weekends, I find myself frequenting the twisty roads, to the point where I have a hard time staying in the seat going around the turns. (Most likely a small feat, due to my lack of courage)
In the future, I may want to begin autocrossing.

Any opinions on the package vs jic's ?

PaulMP3 · May 7, 2003

for 400$ id get the JIC

Option · May 7, 2003

Unless being able to say that you have JIC's is important to you, I'd skip them since they are borderline prefessional grade equipment (and you pay for that). With the "mazdaspeed kit" you will get a nicer ride quality, sway bars, $400 and keep your warrenty. Don't get me wrong, I love the JIC's but I think they are wasted on street applications.

ghetto waggon · May 7, 2003

Also, I've heard the JIC's are high maintenance, and do not fair well in bad weather?

Has anyone installed MSP struts on a P5? What's your experience been?

Option · May 8, 2003

milmoejoe said:
Also, I've heard the JIC's are high maintenance, and do not fair well in bad weather?

Has anyone installed MSP struts on a P5? What's your experience been?

My friend has had them on his daily driven civic for about 3 years now (with insane springs put on them) and he is just now thinking about having them rebuilt. He has noticed a rust problem but he lives in Washington so its a pretty extreem climate as far as moisture goes.

ArkosP5 · May 8, 2003

Not sure what you mean by high maintenance, ... There is quite a bit of tuning involved with the JICs, .. and your ride comfort will suffer until it is complete. I agree wholeheartedly with Option's opinion. If you're just tooling around back roads, ... and do a bit of highway driving, then go with the Mazdaspeeds. If you're willing to live with a bit of bounciness for the most AMAZING ride the P5 will EVER offer, ... then go with the JICs.

I actually went and test drove a Mazdaspeed Protege at the RevItUp event, ... all I can say is it handled like a BOAT compared to my car, ...

TwitchFoot · May 8, 2003

ArkosP5 said:
Not sure what you mean by high maintenance, ... There is quite a bit of tuning involved with the JICs, .. and your ride comfort will suffer until it is complete. I agree wholeheartedly with Option's opinion. If you're just tooling around back roads, ... and do a bit of highway driving, then go with the Mazdaspeeds. If you're willing to live with a bit of bounciness for the most AMAZING ride the P5 will EVER offer, ... then go with the JICs.

I actually went and test drove a Mazdaspeed Protege at the RevItUp event, ... all I can say is it handled like a BOAT compared to my car, ...

I would have to agree with you on this one. Mine aren't tuned yet so my ride quality is not too good, but hopefully it will be better when I get all the bugs worked out. Even though my ride quality isn't bad, IMHO, my car on the softest setting handles A LOT better than the MazdaSpeed I test drove. Too bad the dealers didn't have a "Turbo Package" for us.

ArkosP5 · May 8, 2003

Hey Twitchfoot, ... what settings are you running? And what fender height? I think the JIC owners need to start communicating better with each other, ....

After about a month of playing with settings, I'm starting over this weekend.

I'm going to reset the spring preload (which has NOT been done on the rear), I'm going to reset the ride height (my front is higher than the rear), then I'm going to get yet ANOTHER alignment done.

After that's done, I'm going to start at softest and work my way up.

So far, ... 1f/1r is nice (full soft, currently running that)

I've also found that 6f/7r is nice as well. Stiff but not too stiff.

Anything over 5 and I start having issues during acceleration over rough terrain (especially dips).

WShade · May 8, 2003

ArkosP5 said:
I think the JIC owners need to start communicating better with each other, ....

I agree

Familia323 · May 8, 2003

sounds like for what you are looking for milmoJoe the Mazdaspeed struts, springs, and sway bars will be your best bet... You dont sound like you need fully adjustable coilovers.. besides I'm pretty sure the mazdaspeed struts are 5 way adjustable.. Someone correct me if I'm wrong... But anyway.. with the suspension kit you are not only getting new struts and springs but sway bars to boot... Thats more suspension tweaking than the JIC's are going to give you alone...... unless you bought the JIC's and the sway bars... but thats gonna cost you a little more I think...

ArkosP5 · May 9, 2003

1) You won't really need different sway bars with the JICs, ... it'll run better without them, than the the mazdaspeed setup with them.
2) I believe the mazdaspeeds are 4 way in the front and 5 way in the rear.

ARD MP5 · May 9, 2003

I just finished the install instructions for the JIC's and will be emailing them to you guys. Thanks for your patience.

I love the ride quality of my JIC's. Especially with stock wheels. OMG, that thing handles amazing with SP5000s hehe. lol.

Rishie

Pm me with how much the dealer out there will sell JIC's for. $400.00 difference isn't anything. Let me know what wheels you are running and sizes also.

ghetto waggon · May 10, 2003

Who here's got the MSP struts on their P5. Speak up! How are they? Are you happy that you poured up to $800 in them?

It seems stupid to "settle" for the MSP suspension, when you can have "the best of the best" at just a little more, which like I said doesn't bother me much. I'm totally willing to work for them if theyre the better way to go.

After thinking about it, the short and skinny is that this car will be autocrossed. I, in no means plan to make it some "autocrossing car" where I remove the seats, strip the interior, and put a roll cage in there, but I definetly do want to start autocrossing. ( I just don't know what I'm doing, yet)

The part thats got me hung up is:

Will the JICs compromise the day-to-day reliability of this car?

I've seen alot of people who've run into problems with them, and I don't want to constantly have the car in the shop. I HATE having to drive the purple '90 dodge dynasty when I could be driving the p5!

*edit*
I also want to stay the hell away from a loud, squeaky, clunking suspension...

TwitchFoot · May 10, 2003

milmoejoe said:
Who here's got the MSP struts on their P5. Speak up! How are they? Are you happy that you poured up to $800 in them?

It seems stupid to "settle" for the MSP suspension, when you can have "the best of the best" at just a little more, which like I said doesn't bother me much. I'm totally willing to work for them if theyre the better way to go.

After thinking about it, the short and skinny is that this car will be autocrossed. I, in no means plan to make it some "autocrossing car" where I remove the seats, strip the interior, and put a roll cage in there, but I definetly do want to start autocrossing. ( I just don't know what I'm doing, yet)

The part thats got me hung up is:

Will the JICs compromise the day-to-day reliability of this car?

I've seen alot of people who've run into problems with them, and I don't want to constantly have the car in the shop. I HATE having to drive the purple '90 dodge dynasty when I could be driving the p5!

*edit*
I also want to stay the hell away from a loud, squeaky, clunking suspension...

They aren't expensive for no reason.

ghetto waggon · May 10, 2003

How could they handle better with the stock wheels?
Don't people get aftermarket rims for better handling?

Sorry Rishie if your comment was a joke, but I dont get it.

ARD MP5 · May 11, 2003

Bigger isn't always better. The ideal wheel and tire combo for the P5 in my opinion would be the Rota slipstream 16,7 with Falken Azenis 215/45/16. That's perfect.

You'd be amazed at how your stock tires and wheels will handle with this suspension. My point being that the ride quality is very good. But obviously once you start going to larger wheels, shorter sidewalls you will sacrifice a lot of ride quality.

Rishie

I run on 16's for race and 18's for show.

TwitchFoot · May 11, 2003

ALRIGHT GUYS. This morning I started wiggling the rear right damp. adj. knob and viola! It started to turn!

I have it 6f and 7r and the ride is much better! I thought the car handled like adream on the softest setting, now this! OMFG. And when I get new rims/tires, it will be so AWESOME! Seriouysly, I haven't been past 6/7, I can't imagine what 15 will turn like, lol.

night rider · May 12, 2003

i own a 03 es, anyone here with the mazdaspeed suspension on the same? are u happy with the ride quaility and handeling charicteristics?

ArkosP5 · May 12, 2003

milmoejoe:

One thing Rishie hasn't told you, is that he has already been through the MSP suspension, ... and where'd he end up?

ghetto waggon · May 13, 2003

HA, that I did not know, very good to know!

Now I'm just trying to twist mazda's arm and let them either keep my warranty intact, or void only the suspension part of it if necessary.

We'll see how that goes...though they are pretty cool about it if they get to do the install. You think they'd do it alright?

Mazdaspeed "susp kit" vs. JIC coilovers

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