1. Name a few places that stock makes like TEIN / NEX / BC where I can get a set for my S13?
Wynand for BC - Good Price, Good Quality and local support.
2. Roughly what can I expect to pay for each make in both dressup and coilover style?
Coilovers
BC - R8500
Tein and the like - R12k+
Dressup
KYB shocks + Tein springs - R8k
KYB shocks + Megan ect - R7-8k
Stock Nissan - R12k 0_0
3. If Coilovers are chosen, who can I go to to set them up nicely?
Well most wheel alignment places that know what they are doing will be able to set them, otherwise a tuning company that specializes in track cars?
3.1. What type of maintenance costs are involved with coilovers?
Donno... But shouldn't be that much... Wynand? anything here?
4. Cost wise what works out cheaper? Dressup's with new shocks, or coilovers?
Coilovers - R8.5k vs R8k - Dressup + shocks
Thats why I went for BC coilovers, much more adjustability and pretty much the same price
5. Where can I get things like Energy Suspention Bushes and how much do they cost roughly?
Few ppl has imported them goes for around R2k depending.
6. What else would I need to look at buying to improve the ride quality ?
Strut bars and the like to firm up the ride. You can go as far as full adjustable suspension goodies but that can get expensive and hard (on your kidneys) on the road. thus loosing quality.
I've had my coils for around 4months now... I think 😕 and I don't live on the best part of road. Its kak bouncy but not that bad. I think if I had a softer springrate it would sort that out. Plus with all the adjustability it handles insane around corners and its a breeze to adjust when say at a trackday and want to lower the car and set the suspension harder.
But it all depends... I would vote for coilovers hands down.
@wynand - Still need to chat to you about the springs 🙂