KW V3 vs Air ride. more comfortable?
 

I know, there are many threads on air-ride, but I'm a little conflicted. Does anyone have experience from coils to air-ride? bonus if its KW V3's to air. Mainly if the ride was more comfortable? I like driving low but with coils it obviously means stiffer ride. My V3's so far ride great considering the roads... not bouncy and the ride isn't to rough but at times it can be a little harsh on those brutal roads.

My issue is the few friends i talk to that own air-ride tell me the ride got worse...(they drive VW's) but yet when i research air-ride and read up on it... its supposed to be some "plush luxury -airliftperformance" ride but also can change it to stiff race-car like feel when you want it. :confused:

I don't track my car, i daily it in the summer if that helps.

Here's my 2 cents from someone that went from springs to coils to air-ride on multiple different cars.

Most higher end coilovers and airride shocks will offer dampening adjustments (the Kw v3s do). This, along with ride height adjustments, will allow you to adjust the stiffness of the ride. However, most coilovers will be naturally stiffer than air shocks but will also have less shock travel than if you were on air. This means that you will have to sacrifice some ride height (you will be higher up) if you go over to air. Obviously, you can control your ride height with air but expect the ride to be softer and closer to the spring feel. The softness would look like this (soft to stiff):

OEM Springs > Aftermarket Springs > Air > Coils

Overall, the comfort level will boil down to your personal preference depending if you like a stiff or soft ride. Personally, I feel like being on air (I have airlift) is more comfortable for daily driving and you do not sacrifice too much stability. If you go to the track, I would stick with coils.

Not sure i follow. Do you mean like, if i go air, i'd have to drive higher because risk of bottoming out on potholes/bumps? since i assume in order for air to be softer, its going to travel alot more on dips where as coils driving low would normally be stiff.

Yes, you will drive a little higher than if you were on coils. The bags need a certain amount of pressure in them to maintain ride comfort/stability. I went from coilovers to bags just recently and I need to run slightly higher than when I was static when driving around town. Otherwise the ride is too soft and the car will bottom out easier. I mostly noticed my front wheels hitting the fender on turns when hitting little dips in the road. Never had that with my coilovers at the same ride height.

Pretty much what mlsully said above me. With air, the shocks will be softer than with coilovers so you will have more shock travel distance. This means the car will have more "bounce" which means you will need to have a higher ride height to not scrape than if you were on coils.