TopSpeed (MDU) Pro 1 Coilovers: LIFESPAN REVIEW

[TTkickedin]

Haven't posted much in a bit, but before I explain to you my intentions with this thread I will lay down some ground rules to prevent from having this thread go down the tubes like every other review you will find about little known coilovers on every forum there is.

I am asking for your respect of these rules for the sake of this review.

• Basic review etiquette for the reader:
  
  1. This is not your review. Not asking for your opinion on these coilovers. Please provide none of the [insert smartass comments here] statements. If you know you are going to say something to negatively effect this thread, please don't post.
  
  > 1a. If you want a known and respected coilover setup for the track and the street for your own build, go with Powertrix, BC, KW, HKS, TEIN, etc.
  
  --> there, I said exactly what's on your mind, so you don't have to. However, that is not the purpose of this review as I am not reviewing those coilovers. You can search for reviews on these coilovers quite simply by searching for it.
  
  > 1b. If you want to see what happens with these coilovers, this is that thread. Please provide any questions you would like to see answered, keeping in mind the rules listed in this section. I don't have access to expensive/professional suspension testing equipment or a shock dyno, please keep that in mind. I am testing the buying experience, feel, and features of these coilovers, as many of us would want to test, even if it was with any other suspension setup offered in the current market for z32 products. Don't ask unfair questions that the average person wouldn't be able to figure out by using them in the manner that they are suggested to be used under.
  
  > 1c. Please be courteous, and please resort from name calling or other related disrespect.
  
  > 1d. My build is not sub-par because the name of my coilovers is not well known. I am merely testing this product out because I have the financial means to do so. Yes, even in the unlikely event of total failure and the costs associated with said failure. No need to point out the risks of failing coilovers as I am full aware of the risks and costs associated with said failure.
  
  2. I am testing this product within the Z32 aftermarket for a multitude of reasons. We generally do not know if they are bad, or if they are good at this time. 'you get what you pay for' are statements used about any new product with little experiences to cite and fall under item 1. Negative comments about ebay parts are irrelevant to this discussion and fall under these rules.
  
  > 2a. If you have someone in mind that has these coilovers, you may call their attention to this thread so they can post their own experiences, please link to threads with any detail about these coilovers if you must, but remember, please keep in mind the previous section of the rules.
  
  3. I will be updating this thread for as long as I am a member, and as long as i have these coilovers, with information from a BUYERS perspective on the entire experience of buying these coilovers for a street/occasional spirited driving application within the streets of Boston.

Ok, with that out of the way, please continue below, where I will begin the review with the information I currently have for you...

[TTkickedin]

COMPANY/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

So I was looking for coilovers about two days ago. Initially, I was planning on buying these used HKS Hiper-D coilovers for a little bit more money than I spent on these Topspeed coilovers. I decided that the warranty was something I wanted to pursue, and given the fact that the HKS's were of uncertain condition, I opted to try something a little different and give these Topspeed coilovers a shot. Knowing they're a cheap coilover, I don't know what to expect.

So I looked up reviews on the company, and what I found wasn't particularly displeasing. This is their ebay store: http://stores.ebay.com/TOP-SPEED-PRO-1-PERFORMANCE

BUYING EXPERIENCE:

I read of good customer service from this company through google search, and good parts received in fast shipping times. With a 99.6% positive feedback rating with over 40743 transactions at the time of buying, I thought it was worth the shot.

So at 539.99 with free shipping, I handed over my paypal payment and initiated the sale. As of this moment, they have not sent the item for delivery. As noted in the ad description, they mention about 2-3 days to initiate the shipping of the item. I have waited under two days, should have them sent out as soon as today.

I have not heard from them personally at this time. This does not mean anything, just my experience so far.

Here is the image tied to the ebay listing. (my apologies if this link disconnects over time)

[TTkickedin]

AD DETAILS COPIED VERBATIM:

*** Brand New TOP SPEED PRO-1 Adjustable Coilover Kit (Front x 2 + Rear x 2 )
Nissan 300ZX Z32 90-96

*** Spring Rate Front 8 KG / Rear 6 KG
*** Actual Coilover kit show in picture *** Pearl Orange / Black Color Only *** 1 Year Warranty !!!

*** Free S/H in 48 States USA

*** List $699.99 / Buy Now $599.99 Limited Stock Qty's

* * * PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU PLACE A BID * * *
* Payment must receive within 7 days after auction end.
* Order will be ship out within 48 hours after payment received. (except weekend and holidays)
* You will received a feedback once the item has ship out from me. ( usually within 24 hours)
* Please contact us if you don't get any feedback after 5 days when you paid through online payment. (PAY-PAL)
* Please contact us if you don't get any feedback after 10 days.
* Please allow 5-7 business days to arrived at your shipping address from the date you received the feedback.
* For sales, please contact Aaron or George at 972-233-0888.
* For warranty items, please contact John at 972-233-0888.
* Please leave me a feedback once you have received the item. Thank You !!!
Payment Instructions
Shipping & Handing
I accept credit card with online payment PAYPAL

Top Speed Auto
4109 Billy Mitchell Dr
AddisonTX 75001
U.S.A.
972-233-0888

Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm Central Time
Local Pick Up Welcome

Top Speed Auto
4109 Billy Mitchell Dr
AddisonTX 75001
U.S.A.
972-233-0888

Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm Central Time
Local Pick Up Welcome

Shipping:
Shipments usually leave our warehouse between 2-3 days from payment receipt. Processing payments and packaging take time, so please allow the time.
Multiple small items can be sent together. One small and one large item may be sent together. Two big items will ship separately. Please email us with the items you intend to buy to see how we will ship. Items will not ship together if payments are not received together.
Upon request we will provide delivery confirmation number (USPS) or tracking number (UPS) for shipments.
Refused or undeliverable shipments will not be granted a refund. Returned shipments will be held until a $10 handling fee and funds to cover re-shipping are paid. If during a UPS shipment, an address change occurs through no fault of our own, we expect you will honor a $10 charge (charged to us by UPS).
International Shipping:
The buyer is responsible for all customs and duties. Shipments to Canada are shipped UPS or USPS. We prefer to ship UPS because it is traceable and more economical than USPS Express mail.
Shipments outside the US (except Canada) are usually shipped US Express mail with insurance and signature requirement. We are unable to supply a tracking number with a USPS surface or airmail shipment since USPS does not provide such service. If item is lost or damage through this route it might take up to 30 days to file claim and all buyers agree to settle such claim with USPS.
*
Shipping Problems:
Circumstances can exist to delay a shipment which are covered in the following section:
The customer is responsible for arrival of shipment once shipment leaves our warehouse. If the carrier leaves the package at the door and it is lost or stolen, we cannot do anything about it. If you would like your package sent as "restricted delivery", where a signature is required, please inform us so we can do that when we ship it. The carrier imposes an additional cost (usually $2-$3).
UPS does not need a signature to deliver packages. At their option, they can leave a package at a door and it is considered delivered. We consider it delivered as well. The occurrence of lost or stolen packages has been so low, that it usually is not a problem, but we feel we should inform you to disclaim our liability in case your neighborhood or building has a problem with this.
If an order is lost in transit, we will file the forms to get a refund. Once we know we will be paid, we will ship another product. We will not ship before this since sometimes the package arrives to you and we end up sending you two shipments and the carrier won't reimburse us. Previous problems have required us to create this policy.You agree NOT to leave us negative feedback if such a condition exists.
We make every effort to have in stock what you order, but if and item is back ordered, we will let you know as soon as possible.
*
Exchanges / Replacements:
ALL returns shipping fees must be prepaid. We will not accept COD returns. (This is part of the risk buyer must encounter with most mail order type business) Shipping Fees are not Reimbursed.
For exchanges or replacements, it is necessary that we must first receive the merchandise. We must examine the defective merchandise.
ALL items returned to us must have Return Authorization issued by us. The Authorization is valid for 7 days from issue date. Please contact us by phone or email to request Authorization number and return instructions.
Exchanges are allowed within 30 days of purchase and only for defective items. It is offered after professional installation help has been sought. Defective items can be returned for replacement subject to the all of below. . .
*
Returns and Warranties restrictions and the following:
Merchandise must be return with original packaging, documentation, etc.
Special Order items will NOT be cancelled, exchanged or returned.
Merchandise cannot be damaged during installation.
Returns that are found to be not defective will be subject to a $10 handling charge. All non-product charges such as shipping, transaction cost, and insurance are not refundable. If you want the item returned, you must pay all return shipping and handling charges.
Some products may vary slightly due to lighting, picture angles, or alternate manufacturers. Most products would not be affected except for gauges, which may have variations in font, mph or tachometer settings.
You agree to these terms by conducting the transaction. If you have questions, please contact us.
Returning products that are not ours is an act of fraud. Some products contain hidden security devices that do not affect merchandise performance or appearance.
If a suitable replacement cannot be made within 3 weeks, your money will be refunded less shipping costs.
If we make an error and ship you the wrong item we will replace the item after it has been shipped back to us. It does not happen too often. We will only ship back once we receive the item and can inspect it to make sure everything is in order. Since we have encountered people taking advantage this situation we decided to use stricter methods. We have found in the past that the customer damaged items that were not ours.
*
Limited Warranty:
All Items sold are on an as is basis. Warranties that apply may be limited manufacturer warranties. TOP SPEED PRO-1 disclaims all warranties expressed or implied. We also do not authorize any one to assume liability in connection with these items. The buyer shall not be entitled to recover any damages arising from use of merchandise. All merchandise is aftermarket and intended for OFF-ROAD use only. Buyer assumes responsibility for violations of local laws and rules that may result from use of merchandise. Please check your local laws and research the item to make sure you are purchasing the correct items.
Physical damage will void warranty automatically. Please keep the invoice within the warranty period, without proof of invoice, automatically void warranty. Before any return, please contact our customer service by email first for RMA #, we will NOT accept returns without any approval. Buyers can have refund (after 20% restocking fee and shipping charge is not refundable) within 7 days after item is received, buyers will have free part (s) exchange or replace if find damaged by the shipping carrier, but must file damage report first, buyers shall be responsible for shipping charge from buyer to us. If you have any concern or question, please feel free to contact us by email.
*
RESTOCKING FEE OF 20% WILL BE CHARGED FOR ALL RETURNS, AND RETURNING PRODUCTS MUST BE IN BRAND NEW NEVER USED CONDITION, OTHERWISE THE RETURN (s) WILL BE REFUSED.

[TTkickedin]

That's all I have so far. Stay tuned for updates,

[TTkickedin]

Quick update, they've now been sent out for delivery. Should have them shipped here by Monday, Sep 23, 2013!! Can't wait!

CUSTOMER SERVICE:
I did get a chance to speak to someone via email, answered the questions I had about shipping detail, kept it professional. Decent customer service, would've preferred a call back, but the email was alright. They were also quick to update my ebay feedback.

[z32loverboy]

Glad to see someone testing out other options for Z32 coilovers. I've wondered about going with other companies than the "name brand" but like most people haven't heard any reliable reviews on them so I tend to stay away. Keep it going broha

[Fearspect]

Will you be updating the original post, at least with key points in terms of your review, vice simply continually adding posts? I think readers would find that very helpful.

[Rager]

I didn't even know you had a running Z32 .

[300ZXttZMAN]

Me either? ^

Did you get the VH swap done Eli ??

[Z-owned]

Pointless review unless you have personal extensive experience with other coilovers. Otherwise this review has no choice but to be positive short of some failure at time of install. You seem excited about your eBay coilovers though so I wish you the best of luck.

[TTkickedin]

Z-owned, god forbid a person review their own products they buy as a topic to discuss on a car forum. Next thing you know we'll all be forced to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering if we want to even comment about how we feel about a product. Fyi, so you don't waste your time with such a 'pointless' review, you know you can just stay out of this thread? That might help you and I both from looking like a douche in any way.

I have experience with other coilovers, some i've bought, others i've installed and driven on...It would be best to not assume, going forward. Thanks for the productive post and I appreciate the kind words of good luck. ^
(and there are some negative things I have to say about how they've been delivered, so far. So, not everything is positive as you predict. )

Just waiting on my flywheel right now, pulled the engine out of the q. I give it two-three weeks depending how long it takes me to get the bellhousing back from the machine shop.

Got the coilovers in today, will make sure that I update the original post instead of adding new posts. (Thanks Fearspect)

[CoupeNative]

I have no intentions to thread jack in any way. I've purchased the same coilovers from the same company about a year ago. Shipping wasn't too bad from what i remember. Though mine weren't orange they were a red-purpleish color.

I've been driving on them for about a year now. At first it took me awhile to adjust everything to get it to my likings but i got it down. I live in seattle so some roads are pretty, some aren't.

The ride itself, depending on how you set the coilovers, isn't too bad. havent had any problems with them yet
not as bouncy as i thought it would be, just more/less in some areas of course 7 out of 10
they go really low. don't plan on dumping my Z but i'm sure they could do the job 9/10 for "lowness"
i've hit a few corners up near the mountains and some freeway entrances/exits (clear roads of course) and they seem to hold up pretty good.
overall i would give them a 7.5 out of 10. can't really get into depth with them because my wife uses the car for groceries, appointments, etc. we barely take it out unless the weather is nice.

Recommend? sure if you're on a budget and don't plan on drifting or tracking it or whatever. for a couple more hundreds i would have gotten a better set because it is unclear to what the life span on these are.

OP, I look forward to seeing what your experience is with them. Hopefully your review will be way better than mine. if you have any questions i can try to answer them.

[z32loverboy]

any progress on getting your car driving/throwing these on?