[DavidK]

While using the Saturn SKY Red Line build-your-own site I noticed an option called "Performance Suspension Kit" for $1,584 described as follows: "The performance suspension kit allows the SKY to carve tighter corners with even more precision. Includes front and rear stabilizer bars, bushings and sport-tuned, coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks." Now since the Red Line is due to have an upgraded suspension including "four-wheel independent SLA suspension with coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks" just what does the Performance Suspension Kit option achieve? I placed my order last week but was not aware of that option and would like some information before spending $1,600! I plan on having fun with my R/L and will drive aggressively at times but don't intend on racing or competitive events. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[snaponbob]

It's a misprint. The Redline comes with the upgrade suspension.

 

[richmcc]

While using the Saturn SKY Red Line build-your-own site I noticed an option called "Performance Suspension Kit" for $1,584 described as follows: "The performance suspension kit allows the SKY to carve tighter corners with even more precision. Includes front and rear stabilizer bars, bushings and sport-tuned, coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks." Now since the Red Line is due to have an upgraded suspension including "four-wheel independent SLA suspension with coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks" just what does the Performance Suspension Kit option achieve? I placed my order last week but was not aware of that option and would like some information before spending $1,600! I plan on having fun with my R/L and will drive aggressively at times but don't intend on racing or competitive events. Any help would be appreciated.

My UNDERSTANDING was that the Redline performance suspension is not the same as the Dealer Installed Performance Suspension. The $1500.00 one is stiffer than the one that comes on the Redline.

 

[Ernest]

It does come with an upgraded suspension, not as heavy as the dealer add on. The R/L suspension is between the stock & heavy. I love the heavy suspension on Serenity.

 

[capa]

it's possible that it just has slightly more aggressive anti-roll bars and higher rated springs then the RL's suspension...

I could definitely see going for such an upgrade on the base sky since the stock suspension was engineered for the cruiser and not the enthusiast. However, it would seem like a waste of money to purchase this on a RL. I wouldn't make that decision unless you're able to test drive a base sky with sport supension and a RL back to back.

 

[Ernest]

it's possible that it just has slightly more aggressive anti-roll bars and higher rated springs then the RL's suspension...

I could definitely see going for such an upgrade on the base sky since the stock suspension was engineered for the cruiser and not the enthusiast. However, it would seem like a waste of money to purchase this on a RL. I wouldn't make that decision unless you're able to test drive a base sky with sport supension and a RL back to back.

I can and will do that, as I have the upgrade on Serenity, it will be part of Mark & myself's evaluation.:thumbs:

 

[KappaMan]

From solsticeforum.com, Q&A from an engineer that was at the Kansas City National Solstice Meet.

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=314860&postcount=25

According to this, the bars you can buy for the performance suspension are the same as the "FE3" suspension level.

The springs are stiffer than the Redline suspension, which is stiffer than the naturally aspirated SKY suspension.



Hope that helps :thumbs:

 

[BLUERIDGE SKY]

"According to this, the bars you can buy for the performance suspension are the same as the "FE3" suspension level.

The springs are stiffer than the Redline suspension, which is stiffer than the naturally aspirated SKY suspension."


So basically the $1584 gets you stiffer springs? If this is true... will R/L handle THAT much better with upgrade?? Curious as to what your testing will show. :thumbs:

 

[snaponbob]

"According to this, the bars you can buy for the performance suspension are the same as the "FE3" suspension level.

The springs are stiffer than the Redline suspension, which is stiffer than the naturally aspirated SKY suspension."


So basically the $1584 gets you stiffer springs? If this is true... will R/L handle THAT much better with upgrade?? Curious as to what your testing will show. :thumbs:

Okay, let's see if I can get this cleared up a bit.
1) Buy a standard Sky and you can opt for the FE2 sport suspension as a factory installed option. This is the BASE suspension on the Redline and GXP. I believe that the FE2 has firm shocks, springs, heavier sway bars, and firmer suspension bushings.
2) Buy a Redline and, as I said above, the FE2 suspension is standard equipment.
3) Buy a base Sky with the base suspension and you can spend the $1584 for the DEALER installed upgrade suspension. Copied from the Redline "built your car page;

Performance Suspension Kit
The performance suspension kit allows the SKY to carve tighter corners with even more precision. Includes front and rear stabilizer bars, bushings and sport-tuned, coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks.

This is available for the base or Redline, and it is the same package. It is NOT the FE2, it is the FE3, and the FE3 is ONLY available factory installed on the Z0K Solstice.

Confused yet? NO? Well, read on - the dealer installed suspension package (bars, shocks, springs, bushings) IS DEALER INSTALLED and there will be a labor charge for that. And it probably will NOT be a cheap install. I have done control arm bushings on two cars in the past and it is a real :smash: :banghead: experience. Others have commented on either this, or the Solstice, forum and said that the FE3 IS firmer than the FE2. It boils down to some decisions - what do you want out your car? The FE2 is the only way to stay in stock class in SCCA Solo ll, but the FE3 would throw you into tougher classes. If you want to bomb around and have fun, I would strongly suggest either the stock Redline setup or opt for the FE2 on the base Sky. Then, in a year or so, the aftermarket will have externally adjustable shocks that can easily be installed and you can dial in and out the firmness level you want.

See, NOTHING is easy. It's like :deadhorse :deadhorse. So, DavidK, based on what you want to do, the standard Redline setup, or an FE2 option on the base Sky will "get 'r done". So ignore my first response on 8-11.

 

[BLUERIDGE SKY]

I think for the kind of driving I'll be doing (some aggressive - mostly cruising) the standard R/L setup will do just fine. This is basically the same kind of driving I do with Harley. Don't have to be "all out" to get a rush.. especially at age 62..... Sometimes just feeling the wind blow gets me off...:lol: :lol:

 

[hersheytx]

Its like buying all my SUVs in the last 10 years. Some were 4x4s, some were all wheel drive. Some had mudder tires, others were built for speed. The only time they went off road was if I was forced off the road by some misbegotten soul who lost control of their car.
I think my SKy REDLINE will be great for the driving I plan to do. No raceway in my future. I would rather cruise up the Northeast coast and see the changing of the leaves, then race around a track. But that is just me.

 

[Ernest]

Its like buying all my SUVs in the last 10 years. Some were 4x4s, some were all wheel drive. Some had mudder tires, others were built for speed. The only time they went off road was if I was forced off the road by some misbegotten soul who lost control of their car.
I think my SKy REDLINE will be great for the driving I plan to do. No raceway in my future. I would rather cruise up the Northeast coast and see the changing of the leaves, then race around a track. But that is just me.

I might just tag along with you:thumbs:

 

[KappaMan]

Okay, let's see if I can get this cleared up a bit.
1) Buy a standard Sky and you can opt for the FE2 sport suspension as a factory installed option. This is the BASE suspension on the Redline and GXP. I believe that the FE2 has firm shocks, springs, heavier sway bars, and firmer suspension bushings.
2) Buy a Redline and, as I said above, the FE2 suspension is standard equipment.
3) Buy a base Sky with the base suspension and you can spend the $1584 for the DEALER installed upgrade suspension. Copied from the Redline "built your car page;

Performance Suspension Kit
The performance suspension kit allows the SKY to carve tighter corners with even more precision. Includes front and rear stabilizer bars, bushings and sport-tuned, coil-over Bilstein monotube shocks.

This is available for the base or Redline, and it is the same package. It is NOT the FE2, it is the FE3, and the FE3 is ONLY available factory installed on the Z0K Solstice.

Confused yet? NO? Well, read on - the dealer installed suspension package (bars, shocks, springs, bushings) IS DEALER INSTALLED and there will be a labor charge for that. And it probably will NOT be a cheap install. I have done control arm bushings on two cars in the past and it is a real :smash: :banghead: experience. Others have commented on either this, or the Solstice, forum and said that the FE3 IS firmer than the FE2. It boils down to some decisions - what do you want out your car? The FE2 is the only way to stay in stock class in SCCA Solo ll, but the FE3 would throw you into tougher classes. If you want to bomb around and have fun, I would strongly suggest either the stock Redline setup or opt for the FE2 on the base Sky. Then, in a year or so, the aftermarket will have externally adjustable shocks that can easily be installed and you can dial in and out the firmness level you want.

See, NOTHING is easy. It's like :deadhorse :deadhorse. So, DavidK, based on what you want to do, the standard Redline setup, or an FE2 option on the base Sky will "get 'r done". So ignore my first response on 8-11.

bob, I think if I read the engineer's answer I think it's simpler than that.

1) FE2 suspension standard on the base Solstice and SKY. The SKY has a slight difference in shocks but same springs and bars.

2) FE3 suspension is standard on the Redline and GXP, and available as a stripped-down car on Solstice only as the Z0K. Stiffer springs, different shock tuning, and a larger set of stabilizer bars.

For what you can buy from the factory, that's your choices. You can't buy a naturally-aspirated SKY with the FE3 suspension.

Now the performance suspension available "dealer installed" consists (if I'm reading it right) of the FE3 stabilizer bars and stiffer-than-FE3 springs and retuned shocks. So, for GM-available aftermarket upgrades, you can start with a naturally aspirated FE2 and put stiffer springs/shocks/bars on.

OR

you can start with a redline, and just install the springs/shocks and save the few hundred because the stabilzer bars are already on the car.

The thing not mentioned is the bushings - I think the FE3 packages have stiffer lower control arm bushings (trying to confirm, but looking at P/N's it appears so). So, at some point, if you have a naturally-aspirated SKY, and you upgrade, you SHOULD be able to buy the lower control arms or even the bushings only, and retrofit them for some improvement without having to go to polyurethane (which can be noisy and squeaky).

 

[snaponbob]

:crazy: :willy: :banghead: :drool: ________ And with that I am ____________ :leaving: for work!!

 

[TurkRL]

What we need is the exact specifications and difference between the base suspension, FE2, and FE3.

 

[KappaMan]

What we need is the exact specifications and difference between the base suspension, FE2, and FE3.

Read through the link I supplied. It's quite clear - FE2, FE3 = FE2+20%, Performance = FE3+18% in terms of stiffness.