There are too many factors in the suspension of a car to base "how it feels when I push it down" solely on springs, especially with adjustable suspension.
I dare say a 14k spring will feel different in a BuddyClub Racing Spec Damper, than if that same spring were installed in a Tein Super Street. They are for two totally different applications, and springs should be carefully selected to suit the application they are being used for.
Take this example:
My setup is 16k F/14K R, and on a dry track will totally waste my friends EF9 Honda Works rally car (that's setup for Targa type touring rallying). However in the wet his 4K F/3K R will hand me my backside, even when I'm running wets. I have yet to find a spring/damper combo which works well under both conditions
without changing springs. Our cars have almost identical 0-100 times, and 1/4 mile within .1 sec, so I think its safe to assume that the performance (engine wise) is identical.
Most of the above posts make complete sense, especially those about slip angles! I researched lots with both data logging and G meters to try and find a really high performing setup, and found that
for my car the setup was about optimum with no sway bar (roll bar) and the above spring rates. Camber is 3deg front and 2deg rear. Bugger I just gave my whole setup away
Bear in mind that this is with aerodynamic ground effects and quite a wide tyre.
I have got the car handling as well (if not better) than a Porsche GT3 RS cup car, although he gets me on the straights
The key is to find a combination to suit your driving style. Many Jap track cars are set up for trail braking (which I personally don't like), and to be able to control the tail (oversteer) of the car with the go pedal mid corner. US Honda Cup cars are set up similarly, to have oversteer in order to control the nose of the car so the driver can see the apex and exit of a corner earlier and so corner faster. Then the diff in the car comes into play and so opens another discussion which we won't go into here, as you can corner much, much faster with an aftermarket LSD than you can with OEM if you choose the right one.