Originally posted by Adrian Thompson:
There are lot's of threads on different set up's with plenty of opinions on pro's and cons. But has anyone got quantifiable data as to performance advantages/disadvantages, specifically stock SVT V's the BAT kit? Something like;

With the stock SVT suspension my average was third in class and mid 30's on PAX, but after installing the BAT kit I was usually 1st or 2nd in class and in the low 20's for PAX

Or

While my best times didn't tend to improve much with the BAT kit, I was still 3rd or 4th in class I found I was more consistent. My best to worst runs are now only a couple of 10th's different where before they were 1.5sec's different. I attribute this to better consistency in transitions

The reason I ask is I've got a (new to me) 00 SVTC with 110K miles on it. I'm about to spring for new SVT strut's all round, new LCA's, probably new sta bar end links and I'm on the fence about upper strut mounts. The BAT kit looks mighty tempting though. But past experience says that after market (performance) shocks tend to ride very poorly on SE Michigan roads. Also they tend to add relatively little in ultimate Autocross performance. Case in point Fox/SN95 Mustangs. Despite being saddled (pun intended) with terrible stock suspension Top level FS to ESP times are not that far off, despite being able to re-engineer the suspension thoroughly. OT/DE's is a different matter in lap times, but no one has ever won a DE event.

Thanks




I doubt anyone has what you are looking for, because I don't know anyone who can compare new SVT struts with new aftermarket struts of any kind.

Everybody replaces their worn-out suspension (including me) and then they notice a huge difference, regardless of what they put on there.

I will say, though, that the SVT suspension is very good out of the box. My local autocross hero drives an SVT in STS. He consistently was in the top 2, and won often, on stock suspension. Biggest problem is nose dive under hard braking. Now he has, I think, some kind of Koni kit and an Aussie bar. I'm not sure if he got faster, because some of the guys he used to spar with aren't showing up these days. (I think they may have moved--not that they "gave up" or anything.) I'm sure he enjoys the car more, now, though.

Function before fashion. '96 Contour SE "Toss the Contour into a corner, and it's as easy to catch as a softball thrown by a preschooler." -Edmunds, 1998