VW Bora suspension, how soft should it be?

[CamYoung]

OK, so I had my car checked out at pedders (only place that was open) and my shocks definitely need replacing.

So at this point I am considering the following:

Bilstein shocks (with stock springs)
Stock shocks.
R32 shocks.

Would R32 shock be OK on a bora given that the rear is lighter on an R32?
When I was at Pedders, they told me that there was two versions of the stock shocks, a normal one and a sports one. Whats the difference? Which ones would my car have come with?

Any recommendations/advice much appreciated!
Cheers

I just recently bought a 2003 v6 4motion bora. It had already had the rear shocks replaced with the bilstein sports (yellow ones)
i could feel a big difference to the front, particularly on freeway. Rear was was far more planted then the front.
i then replaced the fronts and it balanced the car up again.
it was still softish with standard springs, but definetly would not bottom out with normal driving.
i have just last week replaced springs with 30 mm lowered spam springs, and I think it has made a huge difference.
the car feel a lot more planted on the road without too much sacrificed in ride quality.
the only downside to the bilsteins is the price, fronts cost $700 to supply only as I fitted them myself.

[logic0n3]

I just recently bought a 2003 v6 4motion bora. It had already had the rear shocks replaced with the bilstein sports (yellow ones)
i could feel a big difference to the front, particularly on freeway. Rear was was far more planted then the front.
i then replaced the fronts and it balanced the car up again.
it was still softish with standard springs, but definetly would not bottom out with normal driving.
i have just last week replaced springs with 30 mm lowered spam springs, and I think it has made a huge difference.
the car feel a lot more planted on the road without too much sacrificed in ride quality.
the only downside to the bilsteins is the price, fronts cost $700 to supply only as I fitted them myself.

How hard was it to fit them yourself? I've been considering doing it myself, but ust a little nervous.
Also something is making horrible noises at the front right (tie rod end according to VW dealer, strut mounting plate according to pedders), so thought I'd get it all done at once.

[CamYoung]

How hard was it to fit them yourself? I've been considering doing it myself, but ust a little nervous.
Also something is making horrible noises at the front right (tie rod end according to VW dealer, strut mounting plate according to pedders), so thought I'd get it all done at once.

I wouldn't tackle unles you had a reasonable amount of mechanical aptitude. It's not a hard job, but you want to be careful with spring compressor. I watched a couple of utube videos to see exact sequence as well.
My car has done 200ks so I would be a bit surprised if yours needed replacing after 100k. Maybe just some stiffer lowered springs might firm up the ride for you.

I took mine for a blast through winding country roads this afternoon and I love it. Handles quite well now.