Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2005 08:45:16 -0500
Reply-To: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: The Bus Depot <vanagon@BUSDEPOT.COM>
Subject: Re: Koni or Bilsteins
In-Reply-To: <a06002000be2df55cb7cd@[203.167.171.102]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> Koni is a cost-cutter... these units should have adjusters.
> Having to remove them to adjust is asinine... and if they're
> coilovers, like their bike dampers...
First of all, no, they're not coil-overs. Secondly, while user-adjustability
without removal would sure be nice, this is not an alternative. The
alternative to Koni's version of adjustability is no adjustability at all.
Bilstein is not adjustable at all. Neither are KYB or Boge.
I spoke to Koni at great length at the SEMA automotive trade show in the
fall, and now carry the Koni Vanagon shocks as a result of that
conversation. The initial reason for their adjustabe design was to
compensate for wear. All shocks will have a tendancy to gradually become
more compliant over time. While with other shocks, you must either live with
this or replace them, the idea was that with the Koni's you could simply
remove them, adjust them a bit firmer, and reinstall. Beats buying new
shocks.
The ability to "dial in" ride firmness upon installation, while initially
conceived of as a secondary benefit, has turned out to be a very strong
advantage. While the Bilsteins are excellent shocks, they are what they are.
If you spend nearly $400 a set and don't care for the ride you get, well too
bad, you just paid $400 for a ride you don't care for. If you spend the same
(actually a bit less) on Koni's and find the ride a bit too hard or soft for
your liking (or subsequently replace your springs or make another change
that alters the way your van rides), you can adjust the shocks to match your
tastes. Given that the Koni's are every bit as good a shock as the
Bilsteins, plus add this feature, I don't really see a downside.
We now have the largest selection of 2-wheel-drive Vanagon shocks in the
U.S.. We have the obligatory KYB's, Bilsteins, and stock Boge OEM
replacement shocks, of course. But we also have a higher-end Boge/Sachs
shock otherwise sold only in Europe (an excellent shock, by the way, albeit
not adjustable). We have the Alko's from Europe, which will hold their own
to the OEM Boge's for a hardly more than the price of KYB's (and are, in my
opinion, the best value for dollar in Vanagon shocks). Then we have the
Koni's, which in my opinion are the best you can put on your Vanagon, for
less than the price of Bilsteins. You won't find this many Vanagon shocks
to choose from anywhere else. (And don't forget, your list membership
entitles you to an additional 5% discount - use referral code list1e on
checkout.)
See:
<http://busdepot.com/view.jsp?model=43&category=38&group=-1&prodgroup=-1>
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot, Inc.
www.busdepot.com
(215) 234-VWVW
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