I posted last week recommending someone to keep their S and not get a CR...but that is before I knew how much I could get one for. I got a quote from a dealer that of $27,000. Yeah. That's a 2. (no a/c or radio which is what I want). So all week I've been struggling on a decision. This post is as much to get your opinions as much as it is to organize my thoughts. I'd be impressed and grateful if someone read through all of my ramblings.

Background:
I'm the second owner of my car. Bought it 4 years ago with 38K miles and it now has 76K. It had winter tires on when I bought it, and I drove it around for 1 winter during my ownership. I regularly autox my car and staying within SCCA A-Stock class is important to me. I also regularly track my car. At my second track event in the S - 6th track event overall - I got into an accident that damaged the rear end. After it was fixed, I don't think it effected the car negatively, but it has been in an accident.

Let's say I can get $10K for my car on trade in. This would avoid some costs that I was planning on as winter projects. This includes:
- new clutch
- new right rear axle (broke left rear earlier this year, preventative measure)
- new right rear knuckle (had left rear replaced with axle)
- new tires (ones I have on now are bald)
With the other various bits and pieces I'd want to solidify if I kept the car, I'm assuming $4K in repairs and tires to make it brand f-ing new condition. AFAIK, my engine is running strong (never had an issue).

From there, to get the suspension to exceed the CR's while keeping within A-Stock, I would need to get Moton shocks at $4K. SCCA rules allow for change of shocks but not springs. Moton's or Penske's are the only shocks that are considered a big improvement over stock.

I would also want to get a roll bar for track events - $700.

So rounding up, we're looking at $8K worth of mods and fixes. Add that to the $10K for trade in, we're looking at $18K. If I can magically get it at $26K (before TTL), that's $8K. For that $8K, I don't get a roll bar or the motons, but I get a hardtop, CR suspension, a really nice interior, functional aero bits (equivalent wing for track days will cost $500 to $1K), a brand new engine, and a warranty.

The problem is, a CR, from what I hear, isn't really that much faster than an AP1. It's not even lighter than an AP1. For me, it's having a car that is as fast as my A-Stock S2k, but with the benefits of a new car. I've never really been a fan of the AP2's since I didn't think they were raw enough. But the CR changed that. I get the benefits of the quick steering, stiffer suspension, and lighter weight of the AP1 and I get the benefits of the added torque and newness of the AP2. Of course I also get the negatives of 8K rpm, drive by wire, and bigger wheels.

Any insight would be much appreciated.

Thanks

 

Another thing. If and when I get more serious with tracking, I plan on going into NASA time trials. The CR seems it would benefit here if only for the hondata reflash.

 

"I posted last week recommending someone to keep their S and not get a CR...but that is before I knew how much I could get one for. I got a quote from a dealer that of $27,000." ROFLMAO

Not all the AP1's are light only the 00 from what we've seen. Only C&D had slower CR. Road and track clocked a 5.3 0-60 but the CR haters like to ignore that. The CR is extremely polarized in the S2K community much the the 04 was until people could get them used and cheap. It's faster than all other factory S2Ks on the track. Since you track your car ( I do as well ) it's a better place to start than the base S2K.

How is the DBW a negative???? I understand on the Civic Si it's terrible but you can't tell the difference on the S2K. S2K owners complain about the oddest things ..LOL

 

Seems like a no brainer, Pat. The CR was tuned just for guys like you (I don't say built because they went a little to ricey in appearance IMHO, regardless of functionality.) Pushing your car off on a dealer will save you the thankless headache of trying to prep it for sale, and a dealer isn't going to be nearly as picky about any imperfections.

They key, assuming you can keep from voiding it, is a warranty Go for it! (but try to score some AP2v1's - the current 08/09 wheels are fugly!)



Once you get it, mod the clutch delay valve and you're golden!

 

Spr2 - I had drive by wire on my RSX and I felt the difference once I got my S2k. Maybe it's not as bad on the S2k though. Apparently they weighed a CR and AP1 at SCCA Nationals this year and the AP1 was lighter. I still think it's a drivers race as far as performance. You say it's faster than any S2K on track. Do you think this would be true with the same tires, and an aftermarket wing on the AP1? What are your driving impressions?

IBMcpa - yeah, I think I am a good candidate for the CR...but for how long? As I get more involved in motorsports, new and nice become less important. If I eventually turn the S2k into a dedicated track car, the CR interior, lack of soft top, stiffer springs, and aero won't mean as much.

keep the opinions coming. I want to weigh all factors before I make a decision.

 

oh, and removing the clutch delay valve knocks me out of A-Stock I think.

 

And you get a brand new car vs. one that's 6 years old...

Easy decision IMO, get the CR.

 

Never driven an RSX but my NSX has DBW and MY02 didn't feel any different. I went from an 02 to an 04 and then 06 never felt any difference between them.

People keep debating this just add CR stuff to AP1 for same or faster but Honda actually track tested and tuned the the CR with those mods. I mean the ECU , steering braces everything. There's a couple of other threads by guys who've driven 00 and thought the CR was better. I only drove an 00 at the track several years back and the CR felt better to me. I'll get my buddy who had the 00 and tracked it heavily to chime in once he's driven my CR at VIR next week.

 

Wow that is dirt cheap for a CR....

Depends on if you want to spend the money on a new car, if you will be using it solely for the track.

For the money you'd save, you can definitely spring some money on your S to get it in tip top shape. But then again, springing for Motons does bring up the bar closer to the CR in terms of money spent.

There is also the thought that with the CR, you could hit a wall just like you would in your current S, and then have the spend the money fixing up a BRAND new car (since insurance normally wouldn't cover this).

Either way, you can't go wrong.

Looking back I wish I had kept my AP1 and my daily driver. That was the best combo. The AP2 was nice and all, but never felt quite as "raw." I never did get around to tracking it, so I can't say how it handled at the limit comparatively.

But I will agree that the CR was made for a guy like you.

 

Either way you can't go wrong. THe CR is an awesome car. From the dealer's standpoint, they are not selling as well because most of the consumer market isn't into the CR. If they are willing to drop their pants that bad on one, it might not be a bad option, considering that you track a lot and would benefit from the stiffer suspension, aero parts, and the exclusivity of the CR.

On the other hand, your AP1 may need some parts but I don't think the parts that you're looking at like clutch, axle, knuckle, or tires would run you $4k. You've already taken the depreciation on your AP1 why start that over again with a new CR. You could always hold on to your AP1, with an unsteady economy, you might be able to find a used CR in a year or two and have someone else eat the depreciation on the car. Could you upgrade your AP1 with CR suspension with the class that you run in? IF you were to do that, you could rock out your AP1 with CR goodies (keep your stock stuff), in a year or so if you can find a nice used CR, you could easily hock off the CR suspension components to hundreds of AP1 or AP2 owner without a doubt. Win Win.

Sorry for the long drawn out thought process. There is my two dollars pls two cents.