Hey all,

DC-based new 2005 owner. This was a grand dad's car (garage kept), and totally stock. ~72k miles.

I need to start by thanking the forum. I came here when I was between a Boxster and an S2000. The strength of this community was a big factor in which way I decided to go for my first roadster. Thanks to this forum, I knew what too watch out for, and want to get checked out before pulling the trigger on my S.

I am changing up the audio system on the S: new head unit, components, amplifier, sub etc. Net, this will only add 25 pounds or so for track days (which I am eagerly awaiting the return of warm weather for), as my sub will be removable. The forum has already been incredibly helpful in detailing how others have done these upgrades, and what lessons have been learned. I know some of you will already be scoffing that I would take the S out of stock condition, but I have been building speakers and amps since high school, and being able to enjoy music top up or down is a pretty big deal for me.

I plan to document this process well, and begin making my contributions back to the forum.

I do have a starting question for you guys, and have not seen a lot of info on it in the forums. I hope to have my s2000 back in a garage setting soon, but for now it is street parked. Even when i get it to a garage, it will be driving in city and paralleled park. Anyone who lives on the east coast knows that people use bumpers as parking guides, which is outrageous, but the reality. Anyone have a good solution for installing some true rubber bumper pads on front and back? I don't want to get those ugly massive 3 ft by 1 ft pads that sit halfway in your trunk. But I do want something for people to, sigh, hit... that will screw up the paint. Ideas? If I have missed a post on this somewhere, by all means please just post a link.

Thrilled to have an S, and already love this community.

Brian

 

Unfortunately, I don't have any suggestions.

Welcome to the community though!

 

Spend your money on a good set of tires. Bridgestone RE-11A have an excellent following here. What's on the car now?

Skip the "sound system" 'cuz you can't hear the radio anyway over engine, exhaust, and wind noise. Really, the stock unit will do fine, just divert all the power to the rear speakers, there's a pair in both headrests close to yours ears.

Rubber parking bumpers on the car?! Not sure what those are but they'll bugger the car for sure.

-- Chuck

 

 

Welcome, Brian! Personally, I would get a separate daily, maybe something that already has some imperfections, that way it will hurt less when people hit it, and save the S for the track and nice weekends.

 

i gotta agree. if you really love the car that much and wanna keep it scratch and dent free, you don't wanna leave it to the masses to help you. buy a beater. i keep my s in a storage unit (no garage right now) and daily a diesel van. i've considered buying a beater s or diesel vw for better mileage. having a car you wanna keep perfect (as your only) is hard work. good luck and congrats on the new car!

 

I love my S. That said I can't bear to leave it parked. Even when I want to leave it parked and take the bus due to the weather I will hate myself and wish I was in my S. It's my transportation and I drive it back and forth to work daily. This is my second S. The first was also a daily driver. I live in NYC. Although I daily the car I have my own parking spot at work and it's in a garage when it goes home. My wife also has a Z and it's dailyed as well. The problem is when you park on the street you will ne3ed to find a spot that has clearnace in the front and the back. I won't park closely behind a van or Pickup truck or SUV because they can't see you and will almost always hit your car. I've seen some nice bumper protectors made out of a black material stuffed with quite a bit of padding that I'm looking into that seem promising. I have the black rubber one but the protection it provides is somewhat lacking.

 

I've ridden in a couple of s2000's with highly upgraded systems, and every time I've thought to myself; "what a waste of money"!

All that work, money, and damage to the car (speaker cut-outs) yielded little improvement (due to the engine and road noise of the car).


When I'm in my s, I rarely even turn the stereo on (and I'm a musician). The engine is all I want to hear!

 

Welcome.

Check out the link in my signature.