Tanabe springs (NF210 vs GF210), is +30% spring rate worth better handling? Options

[malpaso]

I have been thinking about those springs for my celi. There are many articles about which springs are good or bad. That's not my point. I would like to have Tanabe NF210 or Tanabe GF210. Both has same drop, same price. Only difference is rate. One has +5% than stock and other +30% than stock.

NF210
almost like stock rate, only +5% (front: 2.9kg/mm, rear: 2.3kg/mm)
(rate, drop, use)


GF210
much harder spring rate, +30% than stock (front: 3.5kg/mm, rear: 3.0kg/mm)
(rate, drop, use)


now facts:
- higher rate means you feel every road ruggedness (holes, crossings, etc) but handling and grab are better...
- we have not good roads in my country (cobblestones are normal in cities, road patchiness is high, road holes everywhere, bad crossings... etc)
- I have 7AFTE engine (176hp/225Nm for normal drive)
- I have been using 205/50R16 tires
- I would use stock shocks with them (for a while)

now... which one would you recommend? Is +30% too hard for daily drive on bad roads? Is that worth that better grip and handling? Thanks for comments and votes...

This post has been edited by malpaso: Feb 21, 2007 - 10:45 AM

[Hanyo]

i would go with NF210 (+5% spring rate), the main reason is my celica (when i decide to start modifying) will only see the track once or twice in my its life. I will not need to use such stiff springs. Plus I think the extra stiff-ness of the suspension rattles loose the bolts through out the car.

But!!! there has been rumors and what not about soft springs destroying the shocks. The same theory applys to those people who cut their springs. The idea is :

"3.A reduction in ride height is normally coupled with a proportionate increase in rate to offset the reduced bump travel. We need to slow down the compression of the spring enough to make sure we don't punch through to the shock at high velocity. A properly designed lowered spring will have a rate increase sufficient to offset this bump travel reduction." -whiteline

So its up to you to decide. Do you trust tanable to design springs that will keep your shocks healthy?