Review of the new Ceika Motorports coilovers for the Maserati 4200

420coupe

New Member
Messages
11
Ok, guys....This is a repost of my previous posting on maseratilife...I just had them installed a few days ago now. They feel incredible. I was planning on lowering my car but I decided to keep it at the stock ride height just so that I could make a better comparison. I will say that these coilovers can be raised and lowered quite easily after install with the tools provided. Where to begin......my honest impression is that this is how the car should have felt when it was released, had they set up the stock suspension to feel like this, I think they would have sold many more 4200s. I had a coilover suspension on my e36 M3 (my previous car) and it didn't feel nearly as "natural" as this kit from Ceika feels. What blows me away most about this kit is how much it feels like it was meant for this car. It somehow almost manages to feel like it's stock rather than feeling as though it's something foreign. Specifically, the ride feels MUCH less harsh than I was expecting (based on my prior experiences with coilover setups). I paid $1,090.00 USD for them. MASERATI Gran Turismo (07~up) CEIKA Custom 1M Coilovers - Ceika Performance (ceika-store.com)

The handling of the vehicle is significantly improved...and I mean SIGNIFICANTLY. It feels like there is literally no body roll. I went out for a long drive on some very twisty, uneven mountain roads and I gave it a good beating. I drifted some corners and it felt the way my e36 M3 felt in the sense that I could control the car with just a finger on the wheel while it was sideways. I've always dreamt of what this car could have been if Ferrari hadn't neutered it with the horrible suspension setup that we as 4200 owners have been forced to endure. My shop felt that the install went fine and that there were no hiccups or difficulties with fitment. I did need to buy 4, 2 ohm resistors from my local electronics shop at a cost of about fifteen dollars to defeat the remaining electronic wizardry associated with the stock suspension. I will confirm that as of writing this post, I have no associated error lights on the dash. Anyway, I came home from my drive last night white of knuckle with a grin on my face from ear to ear. I could barely fall asleep after. My 4200 finally feels the way I have always wanted it to; like a subdued M3 killer. I should probably mention that I have extensive experience driving e36 and e46 M3s (my father had an e46 m3 until very recently as well) and my 4200 now, somehow, feels better to me.

In conclusion, this suspension kit from Ceika motorsports is unreal and I'm extremely pleased with the results. I can't stress enough how much better this feels than my tired stock setup. I want to send a big thank you out to Ceika for putting this kit together for all of us. I've been pestering multiple suspension manufacturers to build something affordable for us and Ceika really delivered the goods when no one else would. Honestly guys, go buy this kit; it's awesome. Usually when you modify a car, it feels as though the car has gained "something" but at the cost of losing some indescribable part of it's charm. I don't feel like that's the case here. The almost stock (but better) feel of this suspension kit when you're just cruising around makes the car feel like it just massively levelled up.

I want to send a big thank you out to Lambertius for sending his stock suspension measurements over to Ceika and making this all possible. The slightly poorer members of the Maserati 4200 community owe you serious thanks. Now if someone could just make a more reasonably priced clutch kit........or control arms.....
 

420coupe

New Member
Messages
11
I'm sure that both KW and formula dynamics are legit and people who have them absolutely love their setups. I just like hard accelerations, doing the occasional drift and taking the corners slightly harder than most; nothing too crazy. This setup is awesome for all that and I'm sure I could **** with the vettes at the track if I wasn't such a puss. All this aside, you can't beat $1,090.00 USD. I worked to make this happen so that we would have options as 4200 owners. I just went for another late night drive on a different, much crazier mountain road and it's hard to believe that this is the same car. It just feels so planted. I'm not fighting it any more. It feels like a true sports car now.
 
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midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Either these are too cheap, or everything else is overpriced!
Looking at their product range, they sell the 1M type at $1090 and 2M at $1970 for any car. Which is competitive pricing when compared to others.

You have to remember that the OP is comparing new aftermarket suspension with old worn OEM suspension. I'm not doubting their quality and perfomance but changing your suspension often results in the need for changing suspension bushes (a wear point) and re-aligning the wheels (another improvement). You have to remember that 4200s are a 20 year old model now and suspension technology has improved since, in terms of metalurgy, damping fluid etc, so any 2020s suspension component should be better than 2000's suspension even with Skyhook.

The only question that remains is how long will they last? They are marketed from Hong Kong, so probably built in China and only come with a year's warranty.
 

TimR

Member
Messages
2,656
You have to remember that the OP is comparing new aftermarket suspension with old worn OEM suspension.

Actually, he's appears to be comparing it to an M3...( multiple iterations thereof..) and claiming it is now a 'Vette beater !
He is very, very enthusiastic though...!

;)
 
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midlifecrisis

Member
Messages
16,102
Actually, he's appears to be comparing it to an M3...( multiple iterations thereof..) and claiming it is now Vette beater !
He is very, very enthusiastic though...!

;)
Almost as though he was sponsored! ;) .Although I don't think so as he was posting about doing this work in another thread, yet someone warned him of cheap Chinese and the difference in quality.

But like I said anything is an improvement on 20 year old suspension. There's plenty of rebuilders out there, which might have been just as cost effective..certainly a more sustainable solution :thumb3:
 

420coupe

New Member
Messages
11
haha sorry guys, I can assure you that I paid full price. I'm by no means an expert on any of this but I know how my *** feels in the corners. It is very unlikely that I will ever take this car faster than 170kmph. My last car was an e36 m3 that I put coilovers on and I've also spent a lot of time driving my father's e46 m3. My vette comment was more to poke fun at my embarassingly poor lap times every time I've gone to the track. I know that for most of you spending 6k on your suspension isn't quite the same concern that it is for me as a young professional. I just can't live without this ******* car; it's incredible. It feels almost like it has kept me sane during this pandemic.
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
haha sorry guys, I can assure you that I paid full price. I'm by no means an expert on any of this but I know how my * feels in the corners. It is very unlikely that I will ever take this car faster than 170kmph. My last car was an e36 m3 that I put coilovers on and I've also spent a lot of time driving my father's e46 m3. My vette comment was more to poke fun at my embarassingly poor lap times every time I've gone to the track. I know that for most of you spending 6k on your suspension isn't quite the same concern that it is for me as a young professional. I just can't live without this * car; it's incredible. It feels almost like it has kept me sane during this pandemic.

I am a young(ish) professional too...

I had coil overs on my to-do list but due to the massive cost I have decided to stick with skyhook, my next project is to find a UK company to rebuild a failed rear skyhook strut they a forumer kind gave to me and use my car as the test mule.

I spend most of my time in the car using it as a grand tourer, taking on holiday to Europe and have surpassed 160mph plenty of times... On the unrestricted German autobahn of course. I am not poking fun as some may be thinking; my question is legit... I really don't care about Hayden and all that drama.

High speed stability is an important factor if you are selling aftermarket suspension components for a car that is capable of those sorts of speeds
 

420coupe

New Member
Messages
11
Honestly, I recommend searching around the internet for reviews regarding ceika coilovers. Most of what I saw was overly positive. It’s early days but I’m impressed. I think they’re made in Taiwan, not China. I’m planning on embarrassing myself at the track at some point this year.
 
Messages
207
Interesting stuff!

A couple of questions if I may:
  • Is the rest of your suspension stock (springs, sway bars)?
  • Did you choose the 'sport' variant? And if so, how comfortable or boneshaking hard is the car when you're not giving it 100%?
Thanks!
 

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
@Church of Noise I was just reading this review from a 996 owner who says that you can discuss in-depth your requirements and local road conditions with the supplier prior to making a decision


Good to see the shocks are rebuildable as well. I would like to see a long term review from an owner who has installed them and done some considerable miles over a few years.

They seem decent enough... I probably would not consider buying them until a get a failed skyhook strut because I am currently very happy with the steering on my 4200GT, it's dialed in nicely with the FD sway bars and the final version of the skyhook software
 

420coupe

New Member
Messages
11
They're pretty hard but I did specifically ask for them to be that way. It feels fine unless I'm going over big potholes. I told them that I wanted something which felt close to a track car. I have always wanted this car's suspension to feel more hardcore. I'm sure they'd throw on the comfort focused springs instead if you asked. I'm pretty sure that they make them to order so you can have it your way. I'm still loving the setup. The handling is superb.
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
Thanks @420coupe for sharing. I asked some time ago about this in the forum and 6k seemed to be only option, so if this really works is great info!
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
You weren’t paying attention the mate, ‘cos I bought KW’s for my car for £2K...
True. Some time not visiting this. Where did you get it at that price, Tim? Still double than these ones, though, but at 2k I suppose KWs are a guarantee...
 

Twinspark

Member
Messages
460
True. Some time not visiting this. Where did you get it at that price, Tim? Still double than these ones, though, but at 2k I suppose KWs are a guarantee...
I got mine last year from here


Nice guy, but I'd wait until the end of the month for the inevitable black friday sales
 

Evo Cymru

Member
Messages
688
This is tempting! Tim/Twinspark - is this worth the upgrade? Big difference?? Where are you guys based - would it be possible to have a passenger ride to feel the difference please??

Oh hold on I’m supposed to be selling mine……!!