Like Them or Not? Infamous AGX

[my dreamt dsm]

Man Im sorry. I know it's been talked to death. I've found some searched threads with okay answers but no warming answers with mix reviews!

Now please... I'm about to ditch some serious money into suspension stuff. I'm about to buy ground controls but I don't want to dish out another 600 for koni's vs kyb agx's @400 or Tokico Illuminas. That's because ground control are set up for different shocks and if I buy one I can not replace it with another.
Tein Basic's you say. They aren't adjustable and I hear about wear and replacing the tube for bout $300 every time! Tein Flex, aight but way to much! I just need some good non bouncy one to drive around town! If I was into autocross of course koni's is the definite answer!
When I had my civic I rushed my suspension and it was shit. Some neuspeed with stock shocks and man it was a p.i.t.a. and rhode like crap.
WHO HAS THEM... STILL LIKE EM... OR WHO DITCH THEM!

 

[1stGenTSi]

I've got AGX/Pro-kit and I hate it. The ride sucks, have to slow way down for RR tracks and any road imperfection. I'd put my stock shocks/springs back on if I still had them.

 

[joe sobo]

i cannot speak for the others' but my ride has the tokico illumina's, and they have been on the car for 8 years now. they ride awesome. well, one just blew out on the back on me, and i found out that they have a lifetime warranty, so i talked to the guys at machV, and i am sending in both of my rear ones for new replacements

 

[BigSorn]

I have tokico illumina's with newspeed springs, and it rides really good, and still holds good in the corners

forgot to add, those are on my civic.

 

[TSIfreek]

They are crap

 

[Rob10_99]

Those KYB's are sold at napa, in which if you have a shop discount you can pick up a set for about $200. I've had them for about 3 years, and they are crap. Sure they are stiffer than stock, but not that great at any setting.
I've got the eibach proline springs as well.

 

[ByrdClaw]

I had the AGX/EIBACH combo, and i had mixed feelings about them. It was stiff compared to stock but every bump i hit felt horrible. If your going to daily drive your car I suggest you choose otherwise.

 

[fwdmaster]

I had kyb agx's with eibach sportline springs and they were crap,agx shocks in general are to stiff, IMO you should just get a full coilover kit

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Wow! A very hard decision I'm going to have to make. Looks like I might have to risk some things. Illumina anyone?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Illuminas and AGX's are crap. Anyone who tells you they love them, they're awesome, it handles like its on rails, etc etc doesn't know what they're missing.

From reviews and reports of excessive blowouts (to be fair I think that problem was resolved) I'd get Illuminas over AGX's. And I did. But now I'm in the same boat anyways. Crappy gear for any kind of serious performance. If you can afford the koni/gc setup - do it. If not, Illuminas and Prokits/H&R OE make for a reasonable DD.

Don't get me started on spring rates..

EDIT: just re-read your original post, you're set on getting gc's already? Be careful as you might be stuck with them because they mount differently between konis/tokico/agx etc. Not a one size fits all.
I still suggest you continue to save and purchase koni's. But if you do go Illuminas/AGX's paired with gc's get custom rates as those shocks will likely not take well to 450lbs spring rates.

 

[CrashGNX]

Had blown struts about all the way around and bought some cheap Monroes, DONT BOTHER! havent ever seen a worse shock or strut. so I forked out the cash $350 for all 4 off ebay. KYB AGX then bought the bumper kits, sleaves, and the tops from napa. I set them on 4 up front to start out with and it handled awesome but yeah it will beat you to death if you drive it everyday. I toned it down to 3 and 2 and eventually I was happy with 1 for everyday vehicular homicide traffic on memphis roads. I'll turn em up to 2 or 3 if I decide to race or play. 4 if I go to a track. all in all ive had em 3 years and abused the crap out of them. still goin great and I wouldnt trade em for anything but Konis. Stock ride heigh on stock 16 rims.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I've got AGX's with Eibach Pros and its a rough ride. Not sure if the struts are to blame or the lowering springs though.

 

[Calan]

AGX/Eibach Prokit here. I think the car handles really well (with good wheels/tires and prothane bushings throughout), but they are definitely not a comfortable ride for a DD.

I've had them for over two years, and I also have mixed feelings. For me personally, it's been a good-handling combo for the money, but I would prefer something with more adjustability and a softer ride (when desired) for a DD.

 

[1997_GSX]

I have the Tokico HP Blue Strut / Spring Combo, I love it, soft enough to be streetable yet firm enough it handles excellent with little to no body roll and they are not bouncy by any means and for $400 shipped it was well worth it.

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[YOOOO]

I've got AGX/Pro-kit and I hate it. The ride sucks, have to slow way down for RR tracks and any road imperfection. I'd put my stock shocks/springs back on if I still had them.

This. Though I wouldn't go back to stock.

Go with Koni's if you can, though with as much as they cost you might want to look into a true coilover set up. Tokico's are a reputable manufacterer as well, I don't have any experience with them but I do know they provide OEM shocks and struts for many companies.

 

[Pirrofab]

My friends 1g uses the agx/ prokit and its a very rough ride for daily driving however for track duty wether it be drag racing or hard cornering they work well and give great response. My fiances 96 has tokico illuminas with 1.75 lowering springs f/r and also gives a somewhat harsher ride on the lower settings however turned all the way up its like driving with blocks for a suspension. Your teeth will fall out if your mouth isn't clamped shut. I turned them down to 1 front and rear and the ride got ALOT better but you notice the stifness. When I wanted to launch it or put it through a corner it took it and did it well though. My Awd will be getting agx's with either stock springs or a prokit just due to cost and the fact that its been tested, tried and true for our cars. Noise and vibration don't bother me to much. If it did I wouldn't own a dsm.

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Oops forgot to add. It is a dsm and I'm sure it'll take it's beating dying on the road and finding tow trucks that won't want to pick up your car because it's lower to prevent any liability issues! When my civic died on the freeway, man it took forever to find a flat bed. Then years later when it died again. Coilovers saved me. Thats the other reason I want to avoid the spring route to purchase coilovers. I guess that's what really traumatized me bout springs.
You've guys gave some good inputs. I haven't heard much negatives about koni e.g. like blow up or crappy ride. My question is it a good dd? If not, I probably will have to look towards tein!
THANKS EVERYONE FOR SHARING. I APPRECIATE IT!

 

[eclipsh]

Koni's are great for a DD car. I went from stock shocks/springs to a Koni/GC combo this summer. On their softest setting the ride is a bit stiffer but of course part of that is the stiffer springs too. It is by no means too harsh though and even set soft the car corners very well. If I firm up the struts it handles incredibly well. I had a set of AGX struts on my 1g, first with pro kit springs and then with GC's. They were never as nice as the Koni's are now.

 

[byebyev8]

I have the illumina/prokit setup and on the street the ride is excellent, honestly the cars feels like a cadillac or something set on the lower settings. I normally have them on the firmest setting and its not as stiff as i'd like it to be but its 10 times better than my old stock/prokit setup. If your looking not looking to spend alotta money illumina's are the way to go.

 

[TheCykotik1]

Im rollin on the Eibach/AGX setup on a DD car and every little bump i hit feels like im bending a rim. For the track.... eh, itd probably be nice. On these crap Indiana pothole filled roads.... FAIL.

 

[Rob10_99]

Im rollin on the Eibach/AGX setup on a DD car and every little bump i hit feels like im bending a rim. For the track.... eh, itd probably be nice. On these crap Indiana pothole filled roads.... FAIL.

I agree with this 100%, their stiff, its a rough ride, but it corners decently and I think that makes up for it.
Still shitty for DD.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

So what is a better combo for a 1g dd while still maintaining the lower stance?