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sam_spider's 2005 Berlina Thread
Long overdue as I'm coming up on 10 years of ownership.
Bought the car July 2005 after almost buying a Mazdaspeed Miata. Berlina was not my first choice, but as it was all they had at the local dealer (and my wife didn't want to wait) I said yes and drove it home. Signed up here within a day or so of buying it and started looking through all the aftermarket stuff available and all the other S's in the gallery, said to myself "one day". First mod was the OEM front spoiler. Soon after, I picked up a BYS spoiler in CF. I didn't like the way the CF didn't flow well being unfinshed in CF, so I had it partially painted to flow better. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...1145883547.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...1145883465.jpg Underside was painted as well https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...1145883378.jpg 2006 Fast forward to the Spring of 2006, I saw threads about the Wake the Dragon meet in NC/TN and decided I needed to go. I met up with another owner from Kalamazoo (Derf) to drive down together. This was the first time I'd met another S owner, he was in his 50's and had his wife with him, he asked if I'm comfortable driving at 'speed' and I said 'sure' thinking he's old, no way his idea of speed and mine were the same, let alone different. Boy was I wrong. I will never forget the drive down to Cincinnati, this was the first time I'd ever pushed the car this hard, it was fun, but I was a little out of my comfort zone as I'd only put 2000 miles on the car by this point. I met up with a ton of really great people at the dragon event, and saw a lot of aftermarket stuff, most of which I decided I needed :D I didn't want to go too far though as my S was a 3 year lease and due to my previous cars knew the S2000 wasn't going to be a keeper beyond the lease term. Pics from my first dragon event in 2006. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...baede9558b.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...baf59da8e5.jpg Necessary rain shot since it always rains during the dragon event https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9c538d1112.jpg After a great long weekend and meeting a ton of really great people, I decided I needed to buy some stuff. Ordered a set of Muz mats in black with grey trim. Found a set of used Volk Evolution IV wheels on the forum and bought those, along with Eibach springs, HKS exhaust, new tires for the new wheels, a Comptech intake, and the crossmember cover thingy. :thud: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...50eacacca7.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...15ff1d2e6c.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...1604c8916f.jpg 2007 Went to the dragon event again in the Spring of 2007 and saw even more stuff I needed to buy, and meet even more great people, who also persuaded me it was okay to mod lease car... I fell in love with the RE30's on Greg's (GTMotoring) S2000. He suggested them in mercury silver to match what I'd done to the interior, so they were ordered. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...e22d364c1a.jpg I went to a Tech day in Wisconsin and had the CDV removed. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...b7b750b0b0.jpg After seeing Vadster's car at the dragon, the interior was next, so I got in touch with Cyclon36 (Joe) and sent him lots of money... Custom door panels https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4bd47aaddb.jpg Custom shift boot, that may or not say 'S2000' on it :) https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4bd4dd5893.jpg Custom center console cover and elbow pad https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4bd5bad1fd.jpg All done in black leather and grey and black alcantara. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4bd6cd667a.jpg Fall of 2007 I decided the stock stereo simply wasn't going to cut it anymore. I went a bit overkill... A friend of mine owned a shop, so we tore it apart. Stereo Alpine DVA-9861 Diamond Audio D971 components for the front Diamond Audio Hex subwoofer Alpine PDX 4.150 (components speakers were bi-amped, 150 watts to each speaker) Alpine PDX 1.600 for the Sub https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b3f1cc5bb.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...a58fc7dd86.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b3f6ed19a.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b3fbb8b4c.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b3ffa41ef.jpg Went old school and installed my Fosgate Symmetry unit for EQ duties https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b404bb4b9.jpg All done https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b4084e987.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...2b40cbdcc2.jpg I was really happy with the stereo, I could now drive 70+ top down and hear music! October 2007 I was playing soccer and broke my leg... https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...57dc37abbf.jpg New shiny titanium rod inserted into leg :D https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...57de23b471.jpg I then spent the next few months recovering and after a few more surgeries and looked forward to the next dragon event, hoping I would be able to drive the car. |
2008
Picked up a set of NRG CF hood dampers https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...28_1774986.jpg Started to hang out with the Ohio crew more and participated in the parade lap for the IndyCar race at Mid Ohio. Got to put stickers all over the car. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60ca214743.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60cc09fe54.jpg It then pissed down on us waiting on pit lane for the drivers, and since we had our tonneau covers on, we were stuck https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4a4a5822af.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...4a4b6ef26b.jpg Still completely worth it, I'll never forgot that day. So, summer of 2008 my lease was up. I'd had a great 3 years in the S, met a bunch of really great people, and made some lifelong friends, so I realized I didn't want it to end, so I bought the S. After going to a few more meets in Chicago, I decided I needed a Mugen hardtop. I called Greg @ GTMotoring and bought one, drove out to him a week later and had him install it. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...7783_18993.jpg Greg, is not the Asian guy in the pic (that's Jae) :D Here she was in all her glory https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...3d174c94a7.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...bb12340627.jpg 2009 Decided this was the year I'd start tracking the S, since I really loved my RE30's I decided I needed a different set of wheels for track duty. I reached out to Greg yet again for a new set of wheels. He offered me a set of Volk LE28 Formula edition for a great price, so I said yes. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...a9cded4abe.jpg I also got in touch with Cyclon36 (JPM Coachworks) again to get my steering wheel redone to match my interior Out with the old https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60be1720f7.jpg In with the new https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60beb3d6b1.jpg Joe's idea to add a center stripe to the wheel, I said yes, but it had to be orange https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60bf497d8f.jpg GoTuning was offering their line of custom inerior pieces, so I had the door sills and visors done to match. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60c068031a.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...60c136f37b.jpg Also ordered a set of Clazzio seat covers in black leather with black suede centers to finish it off. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...6263570325.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...6262ddb451.jpg Went to Ohio to for the annual Arthritis foundation car show and to hand out with the Ohio guys. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9ea8571c0a.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9ea6de3876.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9eaa1a3844.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9eaaf521ae.jpg The judges seemed to like it and I won Best of Show for the S2000/NSX Class :D https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...9eac189e09.jpg I think I won due to being friends with Mocky, but that's okay, I'll take it :p |
So, I'd bought all this stuff, but had never taken the S to the track. In the summer of 2009 after quite a bit of persuading from other members, I decided to do it.
It was also the time for the next Indy race at Mid Ohio, so I had the decals on again. The event is West Michigan Honda Meet, supposed to be an all Honda event https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...dc67a70232.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...dccabefb2b.jpg I had a blast. We lined up for the all Honda parade lap https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...dc5411b5b5.jpg |
2011
Decided I didn't really like the color on the LE28's so I had them refinished in silver https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...78_1443572.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...78_3241281.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...93_1318698.jpg Up to this point I was running my original pads & rotors, although I'd changed to ATE super blue fluid a couple years back. Time for new brakes with some help from UMW'ers at a Tech Day in Wisconsin. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...93_2763842.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...93_2892167.jpg Also picked up a Comptech rear tie bar somewhere along the way https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...893_708847.jpg Summer of 11 I again called up Greg as I wanted some coilovers, he obliged and sold me a set of his Challenge coils. Drove to Chicago and had them installed just in time for another track weekend. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...155_209020.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...7121_38793.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...121_111861.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...121_143119.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...37121_2951.jpg |
2012
Quiet year for mods. I changed the sides from the AJ Racing ones to the Downforce sides as the AJ ones were essentially just planks, the Downforce ones flow better with the car. I also had the front repainted due to years of rock chips, in the process the fender emblems were removed. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...155_188492.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...8155_65488.jpg WMHM https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_177740.jpg Gave Greg a call (again) and ordered some custom Recaro pole positions https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...528_145157.jpg I had to wait to install them :( 2013 Pole positions installed https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...528_517895.jpg Rest of the year I just enjoyed the car, and more track days. At Mid Ohio vintage race https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...783_421189.jpg Parade lap @ vintage race https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_149124.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...39410_6215.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_106289.jpg WMHM https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_192825.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_130903.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_134028.jpg Indy car race @ Mid Ohio parade lap with Scott Dixon https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...39410_7774.jpg 2014 Bought a Zoom rear view mirror. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...528_336646.jpg Got a set of orange front & rear tow hooks from Greg WMHM 14 https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_732265.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...10_2314645.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...10_4109160.jpg https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...410_651005.jpg |
2015
We shall see....it's been a fun journey and it's not over. https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...783_218168.jpg |
Awesome! It's cool to see the entire progression of your car all at once. :thumbup:
I think I like the color on the newly refinished CEs better than the original LE color scheme. A polished lip on one piece wheels looks out of place to me. |
Beautiful car! Your interior is absolutely gorgeous!
Also, pretty cool you got to meet Dan Wheldon. Heard he was a real stand up guy. Rip. |
FINALLY!!!
....and btw, my most favorite shot of all posted: https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/uploads/g...7121_38793.jpg |
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