nooob question here i suppose...so im considering lowering the car but from what ive read so far, lowering the car will inevitably stiffen the suspension. i know stiffer suspension will make the ride quality a lil more "harsh" as you would feel more of the bumps/imperfections on the road..especially here in nyc. However, does the stiffer ride improve car handling? what benefit is there to a stiffer suspension as apposed to a softer one besides that it looks better.

 

If you have to ask a question like this, the chance of you ever reaping benefits from an aftermarket suspension is quite negligible.

 

I've found that stiffer suspensions make passenger bounce more.

 

Much depends and what you do to lower the car, spring rates resulting suspension geometry etc...

Just lowering does not necessarily mean stiffer. For example some of us on Tanabe springs have only a 5% stiffer suspension. Barely even noticeable.

 

lower is just lower, not stiffer.

A spring is a spring; the spring constant (k) remains static, unless you have a progressive rate spring.

Want better handling? Get better shocks. Not that cheap k-sport/bc/megan/(insert any "coilover" under 4000 here) junk, but a set of real shocks.

Or better yet, just upgrade your tires.

 

+1 on shocks. I have combined springs with koni yellows in the past (other cars) and handling was definitely improved.