Having read everyones comments I've decided lowering the car will have the desired effect (less bouncy ride).
so I need to decide what springs to buy.

What have you guys who have lowered their cars bought?

Hi Mark

You looking at just lowered/uprated springs or complete kit with springs and matched dampers?

RobW said:

Hi Mark

You looking at just lowered/uprated springs or complete kit with springs and matched dampers?

Click to expand...

Just a lowered/uprated spring kit to be honest.

I've seen these.... http://www.carperformanceuk.co.uk/5...sion-lowering-springs-c-681-p-1-pr-18895.html

Im going to do mine next year too, The ride is a little too bouncy.

I saw a great set somewhere where they lower the back a little more than the front so the car looks a little more balanced, as i feel the 500 is a little high at the back.

I think they might have been the Novitec ones ?

I'd be interested on haring reports from people that have done this too. Hopefully upgrading the springs will do the job, otherwise the whole set starts getting really expensive.

This one is mine, lowered with H&R springs (front 20mm, rear 35mm).

Maybe it will help you getting faster to that dealer and order a set.

APEX are pretty good in my experience for road use

SPAX are also available for similar money, perhaps more fast road than comfort/sport though

For a premium quality offering Eibach are hard to beat, you get what you pay for...

I will lower mine next spring and I will use the Eibach Pro-kit but there is another set the Sportline.

Pro-Kit:
- P/n: E10-30-013-01-22
- approx. Lowering front: 30 mm
- approx. Lowering rear: 30mm

Sportline:
- P/n: E20-30-013-01-22
- approx. Lowering front: 45-50 mm
- approx. Lowering rear: 30mm

For details check the performance-suspension.eibach.de site

If I remember well Chunter has the pro-kit already installed in his car.

csabaszalma said:

I will lower mine next spring and I will use the Eibach Pro-kit but there is another set the Sportline.

Pro-Kit:
- P/n: E10-30-013-01-22
- approx. Lowering front: 30 mm
- approx. Lowering rear: 30mm

Sportline:
- P/n: E20-30-013-01-22
- approx. Lowering front: 45-50 mm
- approx. Lowering rear: 30mm

For details check the performance-suspension.eibach.de site

If I remember well Chunter has the pro-kit already installed in his car.

Click to expand...

UK website is www.eibach.co.uk

Lowering will normally provide a harder more jiggerly ride.

Your problem with researching this, is sa a long term car forum member and moderator of various forums i notice you rarely see someone disliking the expensive mod they have done. Its almost like they have convinced themselves they like it.

IMHO

I belive the std springs are too soft, resulting in the "bouncy" ride.

a firmer spring will give a firmer ride, but will probably help the "bounce"

Mark Elvin said:

I belive the std springs are too soft, resulting in the "bouncy" ride.

a firmer spring will give a firmer ride, but will probably help the "bounce"

Click to expand...

Interestingly Ford have reduced spring stiffness by 25% for the Ka, and added a rear arb

eibachs are good because they are dual rate

pusko said:

This one is mine, lowered with H&R springs (front 20mm, rear 35mm).

Maybe it will help you getting faster to that dealer and order a set.

Click to expand...

That looks awesome on 16s, I think I'll be lowering mine and then fitting some black alloys with a polished lip once I can afford it.

I have the Eibachs on mine, and thoroughly recommend them.

Only went the 25mm each end springs, bounciness has gone, and transformed the car both visually and as a driving tool.

I went with the more extreme Eibach kit on my wife's last car and IMO it was a step too far which was why I went for the first stage springs in their range.

Have a look at these, lowered with 16's and the 17's from a Punto Abarth ?

https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/169417-my-1-4-sport-500-a.html

csabaszalma is correct i do have the Eibach pro kit installed,lowers it by 30 mil all round.
The standard bounciness is removed but if you drive on an uneven road your passengers tend not to appreciate it.
Great on a flat road,you become the springs on a bumpy road.
I am so glad i had them put on though,makes me feel like a boy racer
They really do improve the handling.
I believe the other kit would lower it by too much,i work in a military camp that has speed bumps and even with just a 30 mil drop i have "scraped" something underneath a couple of times,45 mil would be ott imho.
My pictures don't really do them justice as i have my winter steelies fitted,just waiting for summer to get my 16's on.
Try and have a go in 500 thats already been lowered,thats the only way you'll know if its for you or not.

For some reason I thought the Ka and abarth had softer shocks not springs. Happy to be told otherwise.

Anyway, all who have a go let us know how thing go and if you get the desired effect.
I just have this image of those modified cars which move the whole body as they touch the slightest pebble.

Thats exactly what I wanted to know Chunter, if they spoil the ride on bad roads. The roads round here are dreadful and Id rather have my bounciness than more harshness, thanks for being honest

glad to be of help mate,it is quite a big mod to the car and if you don't like it is a waste of money.
luckily for me the autobahns here are flatter than a flat thing and i don't notice it much,plus the average German road is better than an english road so i wouldn't notice it as much as you guys in blighty...apart from the cobbled roads which they have a lot of here....omg ...cobblestones and lowering kit....they don't mix well.
one good thing that came out of lowering it was while we were waiting for the car to arrive we used the missus' new sirion instead of our old laguna to keep the mileage down,she was saying "when your car is here we'll use it more and i'll take it to work a few times to even out the mileage on both new cars" .since being a passenger in my car she's in no rush to take it to work so i can hog the 500......

Its something Id like to do, but I dont want to lose any ride comfort, which I think is impossible. Im hoping maybe a kit from the KA might come out to reduce bounciness?

Not having driven a 500 yet, but hope to get round to it soon, how does the "bouncyness" differ from say a bog standard Panda or a 100Hp, bearing in mind that the 500 shares the same platform. Anyone owned both?