$2000 and worth every penny

by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 08/13/2017 at 14:20

Tags: Miatafications ; Mazda miata ; Xida ; Coilovers ; Drift
STARS: 14

The best damn Miata coilovers out there, and that’s a fact. Xidas—Pronounced “zee-duh”—are developed by 949 Racing, using Hyperco springs and built by Tractive Suspension in the Netherlands. They are made to do one thing. Win races. They also happen to be one of the plushest coilovers for street driving you’ll ever try.

Long, long ago, before AestheticsInMotion was even a lurker on the Jalopnik off-topic discussion board know as Oppositelock, I happened upon an article. This article was penned by a very well-written man, detailing the installation of coilovers in his pretty little soapbar of a car. The man was Adam of “Revlimiter” fame. The car—Sharka—was a gorgeous blue Mazda Miata modded to perfection. I didn’t realize it at first, but that article planted the seed for me to grow into the Miata loving individual I am today.

About two years later I was counting bills into a man’s outstretched hand, unable to contain the smile that continued to grow. I’d bought a Miata.

Adam’s article had been a gateway drug. From there I scoured his website, reading every blog post he’d written over the past ten years detailing his work with the lovable roadsters. I re-read them. Twice. Three times. As the high started to fade, I moved on to something stronger.

Forums.

Miata forums, big and small. They were scary places. Going from the relative safety of Adam’s blog to the vast open space of “the forums” was what I imagine a child raised by a single parent in complete isolation would feel if they were to awaken in New York City, alone.

The first time I made my own thread, was to ask what n00b meant and why people kept calling me that. That went as well as you can imagine. Dumb questions were the norm. Slowly I got to know a few frequent posters, and the immense sea of knowledge available on “the forums” started opening up to me.

I was ready for something new. Turning in my “certified lurker” badge I’d had for the past year, I gained authorship on Oppo, due to constant pestering—er, I mean, the INCREDIBLY COMPASSIONATE AND WONDERFUL mods.

(mod edit *sigh*)

And that’s the story of how I joined Oppo!

Wait. What were we talking about? Miata-who..? Suspension you say..? Why would I suspend him, I don’t even know him!

*crickets*

My fingers hurt, so I’m going to have to split this up into two parts! I promise, we’ll get to the suspension! BE PATIENT.

I’m outta here!

Replies (35)

"sony1492" (sony1492)
08/13/2017 at 14:45, STARS: 2

Coilovers cost more than the car?

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/13/2017 at 14:49, STARS: 0

Close! Car was 2800. So far there hasn’t been a single component to hit that price. New engine is the only thing that has can think of that might...

"sony1492" (sony1492)
08/13/2017 at 14:52, STARS: 0

Is it a low mile example?

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/13/2017 at 15:00, STARS: 1

Yeah.... Low 300,000's haha

For all that not a single thing has broken other than the radiator and blown shock that were bad when I bought it

"sony1492" (sony1492)
08/13/2017 at 15:06, STARS: 0

2800 just seems high, but then again I once paid $2400 for a 95 Civic with 250k and no smog so I can’t really say much.

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/13/2017 at 15:16, STARS: 3

Oh it was. Although for better or worse, 3k seems to be the normal going rate of a similar Miata nowadays.

If it was teal, totally worth it

"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/13/2017 at 16:10, STARS: 0

Still bugs me that you’ll spend that much on coilovers but you’ve got fake seats.

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/13/2017 at 16:20, STARS: 1

What can I say, the fakes fit me comfortably. I’ve yet to find any other similar seats that are as comfortable and supportive, that fit in the tiny cockpit.

Stock Lotus Elise seats are on my list, but they’re hard to find...

"atfsgeoff" (atfsgeoff)
08/13/2017 at 19:52, STARS: 5

Alright I’ll be that guy.

Is that you suspending your whole body horizontally with just one hand? If so, props because I know that’s ridiculously difficult!

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/13/2017 at 22:58, STARS: 0

You just HAD to be that guy!

Haha kidding, yeah I’m a handbalance instructor so this is the type of thing I help people learn to do. It’s a good amount of work, but very doable for anyone who’s in decent health

"MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s" (mastermario)
08/14/2017 at 08:02, STARS: 1

That’s awesome, I’m super envious, but dude you need to take your shirt off more often, that’s a hell of a tan line haha.

"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
08/14/2017 at 08:17, STARS: 1

unless it’s an automatic. Then you can’t give it away...

"itranthelasttimeiparkedit" (itranthelasttimeiparkedit)
08/14/2017 at 09:24, STARS: 1

I keep telling myself I am going to get fit enough to do that...

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
08/14/2017 at 10:03, STARS: 2

Yo dawg, I herd you like wife beaters, so we put a wife beater on your skin so you can wear a wife beater even when you’re not wearing a wife beater.

"CKeffer" (KefferCameron)
08/14/2017 at 10:28, STARS: 1

I’d love a set of Xidas for my NB1, but damn that price points hurts since it’s nearly as much as I paid for the car, plus the car is honestly just a toy for me. For now I’m happy with my FM VMaxx COs since they are way better than the extremely dead stock suspension that was in there before.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 10:44, STARS: 0

Nothing wrong with fake seats at all. Only difference is the upholstery quality. The actual design is 100% the same thing. If you dont care for the things to look perfect or feel the best, then might as well save the money. As long as they arent being used for a spec racing of some sort, then they work just fine!

But suspension, that certainly matters. Shitty coilovers are shitty all the time and are just useful for stancenation activities. For even street driving and casual motorsports, the real stuff is well worth the money.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 10:47, STARS: 1

Haha I just realized you have the same seats that I do! I absolutely love my Bride Low max (replica). Its so comfortable, even on long drives.

So what got you to choose the Xidas versus other expensive options out there like the FM Fox? I currently just have the FM vmaxx which were the best by far in that price range. One day I plan to upgrade to a really good set.

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:00, STARS: 0

Ain’t that the truth. I saw a guy trying to unload a custom auto transmission on the forums. Seemed pretty trick, built for racing.... Guy got zero interest

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 1

I’ve given up at this point.... Maybe next year

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:01, STARS: 0

No time like the present!

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:10, STARS: 1

I’m considering cutting memory foam to size and stuffing it into the pad upholstery... I’ll let you know how that goes!

As for the Foxx specifically, they’re pretty new and relatively untested. Didn’t want to be an early adaptor, plus they’re actually a bit more expensive than xidas if spec’d similarly. And to be honest... After working with both companies I trust 949racing more than flyinmiata.

I’ve driven xidas back to back with afcos, ohlins and fatcat coilovers. For me xidas were the clear winner. If I had to do it over again I might have saved up for the electronically adjustable version..... But that would have taken awhile! Still, being able to adjust high speed/low speed dampening, compression and rebound from inside the cabin is something that gets me drooling...

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:11, STARS: 1

Oh and one more thing I noticed. The Foxx coilovers have a one year limited warranty. The Xidas have a lifetime warranty

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/14/2017 at 12:24, STARS: 0

I don’t want to be “that guy” doing work at people’s homes without a shirt. I also don’t want to wear t-shirts and sweat to death in 90+ degree weather.

This is the unfortunate middle ground....

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 12:38, STARS: 0

Ooo lifetime warranty, that sounds nice. Aren’t shocks technically wear parts though, how can those have a warranty forever?

Also, I have motorcycle gel pads in my seat pad. I just drove like 9 hours round trip this weekend, along with autocross all 3 days, and camping overnight. My back feels pretty good and everything was comfy the whole time. So they definitely pass the comfort test! The way the seat bolsters clamp my legs together is the only slight annoyance vs stock seats. Otherwise they are just as comfortable.

"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
08/14/2017 at 12:55, STARS: 0

I have seen some custom built autos wipe the floor with manuals, and they were even stronger/didn’t grenade on front wheel drive mazda stuff. I have everything I need to manual swap the car, but not the time.

"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/14/2017 at 13:40, STARS: 0

It’s not the upholstery quality ... it’s that there’s no incentive for the replica seat maker to ensure the seats provide any sort of safety benefit, and no accountability anywhere for them to do so.

It’s your money and your life to do as you wish but I’d be leery of using a replica as anything but an office chair.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 14:44, STARS: 0

But if the original was not FIA certified to begin with, then what value is it? Seats do not need safety benefits aside from not breaking in half when colliding with something. I definitely agree for something used in wheel to wheel racing in some sort of professional capacity. But point-by passing track days, autocross, and street driving, there is little risk.

"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/14/2017 at 15:11, STARS: 1

Which original are you referring to?

For better or worse there are baselines (US FMVSS 208 and ECE 17) for road car seats. Regardless of your opinion of government mandated standards at least this means there was a bare minimum of testing done to ensure the seat won’t maim you in a minor accident. There’s something from the German TÜV too.

ECE 17:
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/main/wp29/wp29regs/2015/R017r5e.pdf

FMVSS 208:
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2011-title49-vol6/CFR-2011-title49-vol6-sec571-208

And to go over how dry this stuff is:

S4.3.2.1 Static force. (a) Once engaged, the restraining device for a forward-facing seat shall not release or fail when a forward longitudinal force, in newtons, equal to 20 times the mass of the hinged or folding portion of the seat in kilograms multiplied by 9.8 is applied through the center of gravity of that portion of the seat.

...

S4.3.2.2 Acceleration. Once engaged, the restraining device shall not release or fail when the device is subjected to an acceleration of 20 g., in the longitudinal direction opposite to that in which the seat folds. 

And it goes on and on about testing procedures and so on. This costs money and time to do.

Again, it’s your money and life. Don’t crash, I guess. ¯\_()_/¯

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 15:33, STARS: 0

I meant the non-replica Bride Vios III (low max) is not FIA certified. But what you are talking about federal standards are not stamped on the original either. So its the same gamble with those as well. Do I think the real Brides were tested? Probably, but I dont know for sure that they were required to do so. My point being that there is enough uncertainty with either version and that the replicas arent just fake knockoffs pretending to be the real thing.

"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/14/2017 at 16:10, STARS: 0

Bride claims to FIA certify their seats but I don’t have the language/Google skills to dig out actual documentation (if it exists): http://bride-jp.com/en/about/

There are budget FIA certified options too: http://www.apexperformance.net/Monaco-Pro_p_447.html

My understanding is that FIA certification is pretty strict and is meant for racing equipment. I really just want some assurance that the seats will behave as expected — if Fisher-Price made a cheap plastic Chinese made seat that met some 1st world government safety standard somewhere, I’d be all for it.

"RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire" (ricerocketeer2)
08/14/2017 at 16:14, STARS: 1

While we’re on the subject, someone really needs to do a authoritative “So you want aftermarket seats” article with reputable sources because decent info is hard to find.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 16:16, STARS: 1

Makes sense. And I agree, if I was actually shopping for a new seat I would go and find a legitimate one. Especailly if it were for a racing series. But a fixed back bucket seat should not really have any failure points approachable in an accident that wouldnt kill me for other reasons. I’d be more concerned about the mounts and hardware, which is why I have quality stuff for that part. And I sold the second one I had because the bolt holes were sketchy at best. I didnt feel safe having that in my car.

But just for peace of mind, I definitely understand and agree with you next time I’m buying a seat for something.

"Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)" (rduncan5678)
08/14/2017 at 16:28, STARS: 0

Agreed, its not very clear why anyone would want to avoid a replica. I mean I think its worth the risk depending on the seat but I would think most people dont even know there is a risk.

"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
08/14/2017 at 20:18, STARS: 1

One arm balanced Hitler heil, impressive. But actually, I wonder when ill cave and pick up a miata as an autocross beater.

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
08/15/2017 at 22:31, STARS: 0

Better sooner than later! I’d grab a second gen...