Way back up this thread we touched on possibly improving the S2000 steering 'by wire'. Any thoughts? Has anyone tackled this @lovegroova @Nottm_S2

Also is there a few more ponies possible in the induction side without going OTT (SC)? Plus possibly enhanced aural sound track?

 

I've got a custom long arm intake and ECU, plus exhaust manifold and decat, so I'm making a few ponies already,especially in the midrange (4k VTEC crossover). But it'd be nice to get to the upper 200s. It already sounds great, that's not an issue.

 

Mark Benson @MB race developed an S2000 raced a few years in the VTEC series a while back he would know a few tricks. He stuck in a long stroke US engine F22C1 at one point but it cost a few bob to import. The rules of the competition disallowed extreme measures i.e. forced induction. His tuner Andy Vey still Bournemouth way knows a fair bit. Dunno if Mark still comes here but is on FB along with a few others from the very early days.

Here is his for sale thread with lots of details and vids https://www.s2ki.com/forums/uk-irela...-sale-1179774/

 

OT but has been done, here is an example, I recall a v8 conversion doing it too.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-ra...1048598/page2/

You might need an ECU but the OP has that

Mine is just heavier on the modded car full stop, Nina describes that as 'a struggle to make it move' after she moved it off the drive for some workmen the other day

I suppose crude is where I'm at, I don't have the OPs finely tuned senses.. though I still know what I like and I would like a caterham.. maybe when I retire I'll build one


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Did half look into an original NSX engine conversion, but I'd need more fabrication skills than I have, sadly. And I think it would end up too compromised (the only one I can find is in a track/race car), not to mention expensive!

 

I chatted with Mark about my handling mods years ago. I'd forgotten he'd done so much on the engine side as well. Have dropped Andy at Veysport an email too. The more 1st hand experience I can leverage the better!

 

K24 swap?


Go throttle bodies and fill yer boots

I'm not helping am I?

 

Nah, I'm staying F20C if I keep the S2000. I know it's harder and more expensive, but as I'm discovering, it's a key part of the car's character.

I've already been looking at some of Urge Designs' mods (ITBs, scavenger mid pipe, cams etc).

 

Quick update... Been looking at a lot of S2 Elises and £25-28k should net me a decent 111R.

And I've got a 987 Boxster S test drive on Fri pm. Slightly leggy 08, but should give me a good enough idea.

 

So, I think this was my final test drive, unless anyone comes out with some really interesting alternatives. Not because I’m definitely going for the Boxster, but because I don’t think there’s anything else left to drive that tickles me. It was a pretty short test drive, and the dealer rep came with me, so I couldn’t really push it. But given that I’d already tried the Cayman S, it told me enough extra about the Boxster, and variation in Caymans/Boxsters in general.

This was a slightly leggy (67k miles) 2008, so a ‘Gen 1’ with no PASM (switchable suspension) and no switchable sports exhaust or throttle map. I drove it for about 15mins on some reasonable roads, with some lumps and bumps and a couple of bends, but no big sequence of taxing curves!

Sitting in the car with the roof down, you do feel a bit more ‘in’ the car compared to the S2000, but otherwise, the size and view out isn’t dissimilar to the S2000, apart from the shorter, higher bonnet and wheel arches in your view. The roof is similar in action to the S2000, although it has a single, central handle to unlatch it, then as you rock the switch, the windows drop a little automatically as the roof moves. Unlike the S2000, they also go up again automatically at the end. Little things...

Pulling away, the clutch felt heavy (far heavier than the one in the Cayman I drove)and also a bit lacking in feel. But the biting point was soft, so even my first pull away was without jerk (apart from the driver, obviously). Whilst I wasn’t giving it too many revs (up to about ¾ of maximum), there was plenty of power from fairly low down the revs (bearing in mind I’d just stepped out of my S2000, which has VTEC at 4k rpm, so has more mid range than a stock S2000). Theoretically it has slightly less power than the Cayman, but in reality, on the road, the figures are so close it makes no difference.

Immediate impressions of noise (with the roof down) was that was a nice enough, smooth 6 cylinder noise, but nothing particularly loud. So even with the soft roof, some noise mods would be required for my tastes. Although, most of the available mods seem to be exhaust-based, rather than intake-based (which I tend to prefer).

The brakes, much like the Cayman, require quite a lot of force and pedal travel to actuate, so that wasn’t abnormal on the Cayman. It’s a shock when you start driving, but I’ve always preferred less servo assistance, so I think I’d get used to it and like the modulation and ease of heel & toeing, due to the matched height of the pedals. Speaking of throttle, the response was, for some reason, far better than the Cayman I drove, despite having the same engine. Flicking between the gears was very easy, with the rev matching ‘blips’ almost as responsive as the S2000. What makes this even more interesting is that the Cayman had a switchable Sports mode, which improved the throttle sensitivity, therefore the perceived responsiveness should be better. But the increase in revs still felt a little lethargic on the Cayman compared to the S2000, but this Boxster was far more like I expected it to be. And crucially, with the sports mode engaged, the throttle on the Cayman was so sensitive, it actually became difficult to tickle along at a constant speed, especially in 30mpg zones.

The Cayman also had switchable suspension settings (firmer when engaged, softer when disengaged). As a reminder from the previous test drive report, I found the ride a little ‘head bobbing’ in sport mode, even on fairly smooth but ripply roads, like there was a little too much low speed compression damping. And when switched off, it was a little too soft for spirited driving. Well, on a car without the PASM, I reckon it’s a bit of a Goldilocks setup. Not firm enough to nod my head, but not soft enough that I thought it was too soft, although I didn’t have much time in the car being able to push it through bends, so maybe it would turn out to be a bit soggier than I’d like, eho knows.

What I did notice, as per the Cayman, is the quality of the ride compared to the S2000. Even braking over some fairly chunky potholes, it didn’t feel crashy at all, which the S2000 (even with decent coilovers) can be on bad bumps (especially with the rose jointed rear control arms I’ve got fitted). So, if I do go for a Cayman or Boxster, I won’t be looking for PASM! That said, if I find a good one that happens to have PASM, I wouldn’t turn it down. The steering feel was noticeably better than the S2000, as expected, and as experienced in the Cayman.

So, in summary, much like the Cayman, it feels like a grown up S2000, with a more refined sound and ride, bit more power and torque, but I wouldn’t say it was light years ahead of the S2000. If I lined up the cars I’ve driven in a row, from ‘most raw and fun’ to ‘most GT-like and soft/lethargic’, it would be… Elise, S2000, Boxster/Cayman, Evora. The T350 doesn’t fit in this list, as it’s just a bonkers thing!

I have a track day in the S2000 next Friday, so once I’ve done that, I’m going to have some thinking to do over the summer… I think the shortlist is an Elise (in addition to the S2000), or a Boxster (replacement for the S2000), or an engine build for the S2000. Part of me still hankers after a Caterham for ultimate track fun, but I think the compromises are too great. Boxster track days could be expensive though, tyres are big compared to the others, and the costs if it goes wrong are greater. Hmmm, I feel a spreadsheet of pros and cons coming on...!

It’s been a fun few weeks and has narrowed down my choice. But it has also made me appreciate what the S2000 can do.