Yes dont Cut springs. I have been there many times. You will find very little travel with 200b struts in your 1200. I had stanza and cut springs and it wasnt a fun experience even with travel becaause there wasnt much of it!... Then i went to far and started breaking shocks This was with a lighter Aseries motor too! So A CA is going to be even worse. Lets not forget how bad brissse roads are too... With little travel its like "Bottom Out City".

Now I have gone Coilovers I am so happy with the result. I got all my hieghts and so much travel with top qaulity stuf. This wasnt the cheapest option. But if you want travel without going to coil overs I would suggest just cutting the strut down and re-welding the sping seat on. Because you will go thorugh alot of hassle when you could spend few hundred bucks just cutting the strut down. I have a number of a guy that did my struts on the side took a week and he worked for fulcrum for 17years ... And can do all the welding and measuring you require at nice cheap rate

Just a pic to get you thinking