Hi Everyone,
I'm starting this thread because of having been asked my opinon and to give my two cents about whether or not to go with an OEM suspension upgrade or aftermarket coilover solution for those who are not happy with the stock ride characteristics or their cars. I know that there are many people who have been unhappy with the ride quality of their 2009 models and some have resorted to upgrading the components to those used on the late model 2009 and 2010 Genesis. I can't give anyone a definite direction to take but hopefully the information in this thread will make it a little easier for those who are comptemplating a change.
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DISCLAIMER: The following is just my opinion based on my own experience and car configuration and is not a recommendation for either setup.
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Just for background purposes, I happen to have ARK DT-P coilovers installed on my Genesis and I originally did so not because of the ride quatlity of my early build 2009 but mainly because I wanted to lower my car and I had already tried using just lowering springs but felt that they didn't play nice with the stock shocks. I did experience quite a bit of harshness, shutter and vibration from the stock setup and perhaps a little more when I added the lowering springs into the mix. I just don't think that the dampening on the stock shocks is capable of controlling the rebounding of the springs. I also happen to run on 20" wheels with 35 and 30 series profile tires so I expected to have a harsher ride than I would on OEM sized wheels and tires but I am used to that and prefer the larger diameter wheels and lowered aspect of the car.
I will say that when I had the ARK system installed, I noticed a huge difference over my previous ride quality even with the lowering and low profile, larger diameter tires. The shocks provide much better dampening (and are 16 position adjustable) and can control the springs much better than both my previous setups. There is much less vibration and harshness coming up through the steering column and even going over bumpy roads, the shocks and springs absorb the road much better. Body roll is also reduced allowing for a flatter turning radius which can also be attributed to lowering the car.
It is my opinion that the choice to go with either of the two suspension options is purely a matter of personal preference and driving style. A stock OEM setup is just that, it is meant to offer the ride that the manufacturer determined was best for the car whether that be comfort, performance or some of both. Even if it's considered a sport-luxury car, I would believe that the design of the Genesis was intended to provide more comfort than performance being a large and heavy, luxury sedan. Apparently, in the early build 2009 models, they got the setup wrong.
If you are someone who is looking for a soft, comfortable ride consistent with a typical luxury sedan with perhaps some modest performance, then assuming that the OEM suspension upgrade actually provides this, this option may be for you.
If, on the other hand, you like a more agressive handling car that still provides what I consider a very comfortable ride and can be lowered or raised and provides adjustable dampening, then the ARK setup or any other adjustable coilover system could be the choice for you. The ride is firm, yet comfortable and controllable.
I have used the word "firm" here and in previous threads which may throw people off. To me, firm means tight and controlled and doesn't equate with harsh. I felt that the stock ride of my car was "harsh", meaning that I would get quite a bit of shutter and vibration coming up through the suspension and eventually into my hands through the steering wheel. Going over bumps made the car feel out of control and just wasn't comfortable. With the ARK system, that harshness has disappeared and there is minimal shutter and vibration while providing more control. Going over bumps actually feels smoother than with the stock setup because of this extra control and elimination of harshness. I just recently lowered my car a bit more in the rear and bumped up the dampening on the shocks by 6 clicks. I feel that the ride is actually smoother and the absorbtion of the road is even better than when it was on the lowest dampening setting.
In terms of cost, in the thread http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=5400, hazelwood7 mentions that it cost him $1800 to purchase the components and have them installed. I paid approximately the same exact amount to get the ARK coilovers with shipping and installation. The difference being that I received what I consider a higher quality, performance set of components than the OEM equipment. The only missing piece in my setup is the newer rear stablizer bar which I had ordered but has yet to be shipped to me. Since these two systems are virtually identical in cost depending on how much you pay for shipping and how much it costs for installation, this shouldn't factor into the decision to go either way.
Anyway, that's all I have to report at the moment. I hope that this thread at least provides a little information to help make the choice easier for some of you. I am personally very happy with the ride of my car right now though I definitely am one to lean a bit more to the performance side than the comfort side when deciding between the two. I can only say that the ride for me is much better than the ride on my 2009 suspension components with the larger wheels. I changed my wheels right away when I got the car so I don't even remember how the ride was on the stock wheels. I would imagine that the ARK system on a normal ride height Genesis with OEM sized wheels and tires would produce quite a comfortable ride particularly when putting the shock dampening on a low setting. Since I don't and haven't used this setup with the OEM equipment, I can't provide actual feeback on it.
Good Luck!!
I'm starting this thread because of having been asked my opinon and to give my two cents about whether or not to go with an OEM suspension upgrade or aftermarket coilover solution for those who are not happy with the stock ride characteristics or their cars. I know that there are many people who have been unhappy with the ride quality of their 2009 models and some have resorted to upgrading the components to those used on the late model 2009 and 2010 Genesis. I can't give anyone a definite direction to take but hopefully the information in this thread will make it a little easier for those who are comptemplating a change.
*********************************************************
DISCLAIMER: The following is just my opinion based on my own experience and car configuration and is not a recommendation for either setup.
**********************************************************
Just for background purposes, I happen to have ARK DT-P coilovers installed on my Genesis and I originally did so not because of the ride quatlity of my early build 2009 but mainly because I wanted to lower my car and I had already tried using just lowering springs but felt that they didn't play nice with the stock shocks. I did experience quite a bit of harshness, shutter and vibration from the stock setup and perhaps a little more when I added the lowering springs into the mix. I just don't think that the dampening on the stock shocks is capable of controlling the rebounding of the springs. I also happen to run on 20" wheels with 35 and 30 series profile tires so I expected to have a harsher ride than I would on OEM sized wheels and tires but I am used to that and prefer the larger diameter wheels and lowered aspect of the car.
I will say that when I had the ARK system installed, I noticed a huge difference over my previous ride quality even with the lowering and low profile, larger diameter tires. The shocks provide much better dampening (and are 16 position adjustable) and can control the springs much better than both my previous setups. There is much less vibration and harshness coming up through the steering column and even going over bumpy roads, the shocks and springs absorb the road much better. Body roll is also reduced allowing for a flatter turning radius which can also be attributed to lowering the car.
It is my opinion that the choice to go with either of the two suspension options is purely a matter of personal preference and driving style. A stock OEM setup is just that, it is meant to offer the ride that the manufacturer determined was best for the car whether that be comfort, performance or some of both. Even if it's considered a sport-luxury car, I would believe that the design of the Genesis was intended to provide more comfort than performance being a large and heavy, luxury sedan. Apparently, in the early build 2009 models, they got the setup wrong.
If you are someone who is looking for a soft, comfortable ride consistent with a typical luxury sedan with perhaps some modest performance, then assuming that the OEM suspension upgrade actually provides this, this option may be for you.
If, on the other hand, you like a more agressive handling car that still provides what I consider a very comfortable ride and can be lowered or raised and provides adjustable dampening, then the ARK setup or any other adjustable coilover system could be the choice for you. The ride is firm, yet comfortable and controllable.
I have used the word "firm" here and in previous threads which may throw people off. To me, firm means tight and controlled and doesn't equate with harsh. I felt that the stock ride of my car was "harsh", meaning that I would get quite a bit of shutter and vibration coming up through the suspension and eventually into my hands through the steering wheel. Going over bumps made the car feel out of control and just wasn't comfortable. With the ARK system, that harshness has disappeared and there is minimal shutter and vibration while providing more control. Going over bumps actually feels smoother than with the stock setup because of this extra control and elimination of harshness. I just recently lowered my car a bit more in the rear and bumped up the dampening on the shocks by 6 clicks. I feel that the ride is actually smoother and the absorbtion of the road is even better than when it was on the lowest dampening setting.
In terms of cost, in the thread http://www.genesisowners.com/hyundai-genesis-forum/showthread.php?t=5400, hazelwood7 mentions that it cost him $1800 to purchase the components and have them installed. I paid approximately the same exact amount to get the ARK coilovers with shipping and installation. The difference being that I received what I consider a higher quality, performance set of components than the OEM equipment. The only missing piece in my setup is the newer rear stablizer bar which I had ordered but has yet to be shipped to me. Since these two systems are virtually identical in cost depending on how much you pay for shipping and how much it costs for installation, this shouldn't factor into the decision to go either way.
Anyway, that's all I have to report at the moment. I hope that this thread at least provides a little information to help make the choice easier for some of you. I am personally very happy with the ride of my car right now though I definitely am one to lean a bit more to the performance side than the comfort side when deciding between the two. I can only say that the ride for me is much better than the ride on my 2009 suspension components with the larger wheels. I changed my wheels right away when I got the car so I don't even remember how the ride was on the stock wheels. I would imagine that the ARK system on a normal ride height Genesis with OEM sized wheels and tires would produce quite a comfortable ride particularly when putting the shock dampening on a low setting. Since I don't and haven't used this setup with the OEM equipment, I can't provide actual feeback on it.
Good Luck!!
