....and I'm almost positive it's due to the fact that my shocks/struts are well overdue for replacement! That would make the most sense right? Anyway, that's not really the point, the point is that I'm looking to find out what to upgrade to. I would love to have better handling and cornering, but I've always heard that the trade-off for higher-performing shocks is a rougher ride. So what I'm here to ask about is, what shocks/struts would you guys recommend if I'm looking for a smooth ride (I don't need it to ride like a Cadillac, but the whole car shakes when I go 75-80 on the highway) but I still want good (better than stock) handling. A good medium, if you will. I don't need Bilsteins...unless that's the only way to get a smooth ride and good handling. I also would prefer not to spend too much on this, but if spending money is the only way I'll achieve my goal, I can do it. Thanks!!

if its bumpy, that just the way these cars are. if you go over a bump, and it continues to go up and down, you need new struts and shocks, but if the car is shaking at 75-80, you prolly need to get your driveshaft balanced. kyb makes decent shocks/struts, im running them and couldnt be happier for the price

If you have loose steering and then a vibration at 60+, I'd check out the idler arm. These cars are hard on idler arms.

Thanks, can most mechanics do this fairly cheaply or is it an expensive process? I'm not guessing it's something I can do myself, from the sound of it...

It doesn't seem to be shaky as I accelerate but once I keep a constant speed, the whole car seems very rough...the steering wheel vibrates, etc. I don't have a problem steering, but it's just a rough ride. If this is the properties of the car, I'm just wondering if there's anything that'll fix it without killing my handling.

from your last post it sounds like you might have to start replacing some of your steering components. as stated above it could be your idler arm. but any worn out steering stuff could cause the vibe in the front end. you might just need to have you front end aligned. when was the last time you had that done?

yeah I agree with Zero, check out the alignment. I would also inspect the tires for odd treadwear. As for the shock/strut upgrade, well guess it depends on what you need. Not everyone needs the high dollar strut/shock setup. Pretty much any setup between $200-350 will probably do the trick for a daily driven street car. Your springs are also important as far as the ride, so consider that too. Since you want both good comfort and good handling I would recommend a progressive rate springs like the Eibachs. If you want good handling, also make sure all the bushings are good, and probably most importantly, get some good tires.

My tires are fairly new...so I'd suspect the alignment in that case.

Nevertheless, I do need to change shocks/struts anyway...so I'll wait until that is done to get the alignment.

Does anyone have a take on the KYB GR-2 Gas front and Gas-A-Just rear shocks? I found the whole set for $175 at Shox.com, pretty good deal to me and I've heard KYB is one of the better brands.

Thanks, and all other suggestions welcome too.

thats what im running. good enough for a daily driver. some people say they go south about 20k miles, so who knows. i think theyre cheaper through summit.

Summit has the struts alone for $79 each..so I dunno...but thanks for the input. Any others?