What's the difference between coilovers and lowering springs?

The main difference is that lowering springs just replace your factory springs and sit on your existing shocks, whereas coilovers are a complete suspension package that combines the spring and damper (shock) into one unit. With lowering springs, you're mostly just getting a stiffer spring that compresses less, which drops the ride height. Your original shocks stay, so they might not be tuned well for the stiffer springs and you could end up with a harsher ride or worse handling.

Coilovers give you way more control because the spring and shock work together as designed. You can usually adjust ride height by moving the spring perch up or down on the shock body, and many coilovers let you dial in damping too - how stiff or soft the suspension feels. That flexibility means you can fine-tune things for your specific setup, whether you want comfort or a track-focused feel.

Price-wise, lowering springs are cheaper upfront, which is why a lot of people go that route first. But coilovers cost more because you're replacing the whole suspension component. If you're just looking for a lower stance and don't care about adjustability, springs do the job. If you want better handling, ride quality, and the ability to tweak things, coilovers are worth the investment.