Hi SC,
To answer your question, mainly because many folks here are early adapters and there were no coilover suspension parts out in the marketplace until very recently. There are also the problems of cost, the fact that a TRUE coilover suspension including a coilover for the rear axle would be even more expensive and create severe structural problems for the S197 chassis unless the chassis was heavily re-enforced in the areas of the upper shock mount AND the axle side mount. This would make for a very expensive change in suspension configuration with NO practical performance advantage over the existing conventional MacP' style strut, rear spring and damper configuration. There is also the problem of competition classes for SCCA sanctioned driving events most of which require you to run a same as stock suspension configuration or get bumped up to a prepared class where you would have NO chance to be competetive.
The BEST suspension setup is one that suits your driving uses. For a DD (daily driver), the most bang for the buck is a conventional Tokico D-Spec strut/damper setup with the sport springs of your choice and as needed an adjustable Panhard bar and the matching Panhard bar support brace. You can get the whole basic set up delivered to your door about $950USD. There is a huge difference in this setup when comparing it to a "coilover suspension" which will likely cost a bit more. First there are virtually no coilover suspension kits available with adjustable dampening and the few that are available are two to two and a half times the cost of the basic suspension parts I mentioned and will not include an adjustable Panhard Bar and highly recomended Panhard bar support brace. In terms of cornering performance unless you spend 2.5-3 times as much for a double adjustable "coilover" setup (not a true coilover suspension, the rear dampers and springs are in the stock location), and adjustable Panhard bar and H.D. Panhard support brace you cannot even match the cornering performance of the most basic MacP' and sport spring setup above. That means you have an additional $1,000-$1,500 to spend on other cool and important stuff, like beer or wheels.
But if performance is not your thing and you like the bling buy an inexpensive "coilover" suspension and have at it. Just realize that when your car's handling is scary and your car's ride is killing you and making your Skipper 1000 have a heart attack that there is a good reason most people stick with a "conventional" suspension setup.
Cheers
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ORIGINAL: christangSC
hey guys, ive read just about all the posts in this thread and none you seem to be running any coilovers. why is that? the reason i ask is b/c i was planning on getting the HandR coilovers to improve my handaling (spelling?) but i wanted to get some opinions before i spend a good $1000 or so on them. i like the idea of coilovers b/c i could ajust them to my likeing, plus im planning on changeing my wheels in the near future so i figured i could ajust them to look flush with the coilovers as oposed to having just springs. Any and all help would be appericated. thanks in advance.
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