Stiffer springs for a 2.0 DTI estate

[MrF]

So both front shocks were leaking, rear shocks look newish, so ordered a pair of monroe reflex shocks for the front, springs look ok for the moment however in the future (when funds allow) I'm considering swapping whats on it for something stiffer but not teeth shatteringly harsh and stock ride height (use it for work and a lot of speedbumps and winter snow around here so reasonable clearance is required.) as currently I find the suspension too soft and the handling therefore...vague.
Previous motor was a Corolla that was as bad, until I swapped the shocks and springs for new KYB kit and then it was pretty spot on, stiff but still enough give over potholes etc to not be bone jarring.
Thoughts?

[Z80]

3.0 V6 CDTi SRi springs. Will probably sit the car a bit higher than DTi SR ones and hopefully be stiffer (I've got problem with the car crouching in slopes and turns, and the front spoiler lip scraping on ramps). Going to try the 3.0 springs Sebastian just sent me.

[MrF]

I'd take a minor drop say 10 to 20mm, but nothing like 40 -60mm, Someone did that to the corolla before I got it (and changed it back to stock) and I'm sure I scraped the exhaust and the cat on several speed bumps....plus any potholes were spine shattering....

[MrF]

Mine currently looks low in the front, but high in the rear...so something isn't right somewhere...
New front shocks might improve that, but could well be someone dropped it in the past and someone then fitted standard springs to the rear again but didn't change the fronts.
I needed a bigger car for work and home life, but I miss decently stiff suspension.....vectra is like driving a couch.....to the point its disconcerting at times.

[Z80]

Mine currently looks low in the front, but high in the rear...so something isn't right somewhere...

Same here. DTi engines are heavy and SRi springs stiffness seems clearly underrated for my engine.

On the other hand, measuring the wheel arches weights contradict this feeling, but measuring under the chassis confirms it... Something to do with the car design, IMHO.

If you have an Estate, you also have musch stiffer springs to the rear to cope with heavier load... But the car is rarely fully loaded, giving it a bent towards the front stance !

I needed a bigger car for work and home life, but I miss decently stiff suspension.....vectra is like driving a couch.....to the point its disconcerting at times.

Standard suspension is known to be soft, but the SRi one is OK. Except that having fitted 8" wide rims ET35, The front suspension has to bear more torque than intended, making it softer. That's why I'm going to try stiffer, though not lowering, springs. SRi-like of course, not standard.