Trail with KDSS or Trail Premium without??

I just posted this as a pm to a friend here but what the hell, what do the masses say?

Talk myself off the ledge here...

I bagged a deal on a used Trail 14' with KDSS after grinding on my local dealer and finally got them down to 35,600 for a 16' Trail with KDSS and the sliding cargo tray. Thing is with my price limits, I also have the option to get a Trail Premium without KDSS for 36,200.

Thing I'm getting at here is this: are you happier with the premium package stuff more than the KDSS? I can do one, not both. I greatly prefer the KDSS ride to the stock mushy/wallowing ride they normally have. I believe the KDSS also has thicker sway bars.
You feel the better ride is really more due to the thicker sway bars, the KDSS, or both?

I can firm up and lift a non-KDSS truck with less hassle perhaps and would gain some of the Premium benefits- moonroof, premium tunes, and leather....

But, that KDSS ride really impressed me when compared to the other...what say ye??

 

do you have to have it now, could you wait it out a bit. How many miles on the '14, that price seems high to me

 

No, I canned a possible deal on a 14' KDSS after seeing I could get a new 16' for a few grand more.

 

I really like the KDSS, I like the ride and firmness it gives in corners so for me it was a must have. The moonroof is nice but it wasn't on the must have list, are you likely to upgrade the HU or speakers? They are nice but I miss the low end tones and I really miss my sub but I'm not willing to commit that much floor space for a box. The softex is nice, but cold as hell in the winter when you first get in and my back get a bit sweaty in the summer with it, I really like the perforated leather in the limited so much more though.

 

I'm interested at this thread because I'm wanting to get the front-end more planted.

If I switch to bilstein 5100s, aside from preventing nose dive, is this mod also the cheapest route to get a more on-road compliant front-end suspension?

 

I recently purchased a 16 Trail Premium with KDSS. I think the ride is not so mushy when cornering at higher speeds. I believe this is directly related to the KDSS. Not sure that it makes much difference off road. I love the way that it feels when driving and cornering on streets or at a higher speed on a twisty road. I say go for it.

 

I also went for new rather than trying to deal on a '14. They were asking way too much for a used vehicle with low miles and would not deal much at all (due to demand for that particular model/trim) I had them locate a new one for me with KDSS, Moonroof, heated seats, cargo drawer, etc. Ended up being a few thousand more although I was getting a new vehicle.

 

I vote Non-KDSS TEP.
Wife has one, we special ordered it as such. The KDSS is just a hindrance IMO, costs extra and makes adding lift etc a bit more challenging.

 

For me, the kdss was an option I wanted. I knew I wasn't going to go crazy building this vehicle. I wanted as capable as possible in near all factory form. Kdss gives great on road handling with better off-road suspension travel. It was the best of oath worlds for satisfying my wants and needs.

 

Our '16 Trail came with KDSS and it does handle both twisty and rough roads very well indeed. Never drove a 4R without KDSS though, so I really cannot compare. - Ted

 

Does anyone know what happens to the KDSS when you add a lift to the car? Trying to figure out if it would be difficult on a off road premium to add a lift kit with that system.

 

@Dark Knight has KDSS and recently did a lift he might be able to offer advice

 

I've seen others with Icon stage 5 with KDSS. I would go with the KDSS. Seems valuable for those who use it on and off road.

 

KDSS is valuable to me. I like the stability on road and good suspension travel offroad. It can be a pain to install. For the driver side I was able to put the new coil-over in without disconnecting the swaybar, the passenger side was a different story due to the rigid swaybar mount on that side. I can give you pointers if you need them. It's not bad if you have good mechanical skills and the right tools to simplify getting the swaybar back in place on the passenger side.

For reference, I installed King front coliovers