Hotchkis or QA1 all inclusive kits

Hotchkis or QA1 all inclusive kits - which one?

I’m N

junkyardhero said
you take the factory torsion bar suspension a LONG way for about 1/2 the cost of anything aftermarket and get damn near the same results.

carefully selected rebuild pieces and judicious acquisition of aftermarket components can make a really nice handling and driving car.

it really comes down to what type of driving you plan on doing and how much bling you want.

what are you starting with? do you have stock disc brakes and a sway bar already? do you want rear disc brakes?

72bluNblu said
Contact @BergmanAutoCraft

Neither the QA1 or Hotchkis kit is truly a “complete” kit. Both are missing stuff you need, and both have some stuff included that you really don’t need. I have a complete list of parts, everything included, that I’ve posted and updated occasionally, but it would be a “mix and match” set up as you call it. That’s not really an accurate description, the parts are from different manufacturers but were all chosen to work together. Just getting everything in one box does not mean you have the best system, some are better engineered than others to work together.

It also really depends on what you want to do with the car. If it will spend most of its time on the street your set up should be different than if it will spend most of its time on the track, be that AutoX or long track.

Warning - got a little trigger happy with the typing… @junkyardhero - I’d like to be on the same page as you - I like the sound of 1/2 cost for the same results - if you share your perfect list would love to hear it. Everything to my limited knowledge, from visual checks under the car and speaking with the previous owner, it’s all stock. I’m taking her to a trustworthy mechanic next week for a full inspection and will make a ‘shopping list’ from there but really eager to hear what real world users think. I’m honestly very green when it comes to this but intend to modify her over time but want to get her safer and more engaging to drive from the get go - I’m no mechanical expert but have driven a few cars, old and new and can instantly tell, with some tightening up underneath, new bushes, torsion rods and parts, she be vastly improved and answering previous comments, and my own sense, I think I’m better off keeping the the torsion bar set-up, as I’d rather keep the integrity of the car - Driving wise, I’m not going to chuck her around a track but I want to feel I can brake hard into a corner and accelerate around it without seeing my life fleet in-front of my eyes - I would say I’m a spirited driver but I didn’t buy her for donuts or track racing. @junkyardhero - yes, possibly like rear discs, currently drums and front are stock discs (to my knowledge). No sway bar installed - maybe you or others then have a list of parts I need to make her drive nicely without taking the soul away? Already, this short line of chat has confirmed in my mind QA1 and a non torsion bar conversion is ‘not the way to go’. @72bluNblu - am ruling out QA1 and am surprised for how many supplies selling Hotchkis that there is limited feedback on here - am presuming it’s possibly not the way to go for a wholesale change. My promise to you is I will call you next week (if that is ok?) and discuss the package you can put together - being brutally honest, the reason I came to this group is because I wondered as I was initially changing all in one go, maybe a kit like that offered me better value - am expecting this to be the biggest investment in me owning the Scamp and if I can save money that is always useful but that is not the be all end all, having a car I can drive a little harder and trust to hold a line is the most important thing (and a smile on my face - a given!!). @72bluNblu I’ll be driving her on the street but if she could fair well in AutoX I’d be grinning from ear to ear, if that makes sense! To all users - open to thoughts on the Hotchkis full set or a shopping list and reasoning on other options - the perfect nirvana for me is good value meets the ability for spirited street driving/cornering!