Another war thread about this and again ill put in my experience. ive cut my springs in my car and it worked out fine. The ride quality wasn't punishment, the struts didn't explode, and it isn't bouncy.
Im not saying its the right way to lower the car and im not saying springs are too expensive. I did it because its what i felt like doing.
The reason the ride becomes shit isnt because of the cut spring, its because people that cut springs are doing it on cars with struts that have god knows how many miles on them.
The shaft is worn where the seal has been riding for god knows how many miles. when you cut the spring the seal is now riding on a different part of the shaft, most likely pitted to hell from being old and worn and destroys the seal on the strut.
After that seal is destroyed the strut looses the dampening ability to keep the car stable because the fluid leaked out and the ride quality becomes shit.
Cutting the spring increases its spring rate so the ride will be stiffer, and if the strut cant dampen the spring oscillations the car will be bouncy over bumps.
I cut about 1/2 to 3/4 of one coil off and it rides fine in my personal experience. Im not saying my struts aren't on the way out from cutting and all those things will eventually happen to my car, as they prolly will.
Though im buying coilovers for my car soon and i only did it because i was bored and wanted to lower my car and didnt have a grand to drop on suspension at the time, future plans are set in place.
Cut your springs if you want but be warned at what could come of it and why. Flame if you like, im only voicing my opinion on the subject.