From an E92 M3 to my first S2K.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 523
Likes: 39
From: Cedar Park, TX
From an E92 M3 to my first S2K.
I was writing a long post about how I've wanted an S2000 so bad ever since I saw my first one in 1999-2000, my history of cars, and etc., but I just deleted it all because it's not really important. So here are the cliff notes:
I've done about 37 track days in my E92 M3. I spent tons of money on parts related to safety, reducing weight, better handling, and slightly more power. My best time at Laguna Seca is 1:40 (r-comps). Sonoma is 1:42 (r-comps), and I ran a 2:03 over the top at thunder hill on street tires. Yea it's probably not impressive and I'm sure a bunch of S2000's are running faster times. My point is that my very first track day was also in this very same M3 about 4-5 years ago. I love cars, but I love driving more. While friends are looking at what faster car to get next, I'm looking at what cars will be good for my driving level and be the most beneficial to improving my skill. BMW's are easy to drive. The M3 is especially easy. It's a good thing in a way because it's a blast to drive and very confidence inspiring. After my 4th track day ever and an advanced skip barber car control class, I decided to stop using nannies/traction control and drive the car myself. I have never spun out or lost control a single time on track in the M3. You could say because of car control skills, but I'm going to say the M3 is just communicative at the limits and easy to catch. I love my M3, but I wanted to get something that would challenge me as a driver more and that maybe had slightly lower limits so I could learn to be faster in the corners. Between talking to Andrie Hartanto and attending local SpeedSF track events (and driving alongside many very fast S2000's), wanting to get into an S2000 myself was getting stronger. Then I participated in a time trial event with probably a recognizable S2000:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CCxBqkvP_0[/media]
I was running Hankook TD Hard compound and the S2000 was running AD08R's. I ended up beating him by a few tenths of a second in the time trial, but that moment really sold me on the getting this car. So about a month ago I started parting out all the aftermarket stuff I had on my M3 (an on-going process at the moment) and using all those funds to buy an S2000. Here's my M3 in all its glory before the part out:
And I picked up a 2007 AP2 with 66k miles on it:
I plan on driving it stock for awhile and do a few track days (as long as I can resist) getting to know the car in it's stock form. Since I'm not that slow at the track I'll probably need to do some basic brake upgrades like lines, fluid and pads just so I don't get frustrated with excessive fade or worse, but that's about it until I break down and buy suspension and a brake kit.
Anyways, just thought I'd introduce myself. Some of you might know me from M3Post or have seen my M3 at various Bay Area track days. It's nice to finally be a part of the S2k community and finally an owner of a car I've always wanted.
I've done about 37 track days in my E92 M3. I spent tons of money on parts related to safety, reducing weight, better handling, and slightly more power. My best time at Laguna Seca is 1:40 (r-comps). Sonoma is 1:42 (r-comps), and I ran a 2:03 over the top at thunder hill on street tires. Yea it's probably not impressive and I'm sure a bunch of S2000's are running faster times. My point is that my very first track day was also in this very same M3 about 4-5 years ago. I love cars, but I love driving more. While friends are looking at what faster car to get next, I'm looking at what cars will be good for my driving level and be the most beneficial to improving my skill. BMW's are easy to drive. The M3 is especially easy. It's a good thing in a way because it's a blast to drive and very confidence inspiring. After my 4th track day ever and an advanced skip barber car control class, I decided to stop using nannies/traction control and drive the car myself. I have never spun out or lost control a single time on track in the M3. You could say because of car control skills, but I'm going to say the M3 is just communicative at the limits and easy to catch. I love my M3, but I wanted to get something that would challenge me as a driver more and that maybe had slightly lower limits so I could learn to be faster in the corners. Between talking to Andrie Hartanto and attending local SpeedSF track events (and driving alongside many very fast S2000's), wanting to get into an S2000 myself was getting stronger. Then I participated in a time trial event with probably a recognizable S2000:
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CCxBqkvP_0[/media]
I was running Hankook TD Hard compound and the S2000 was running AD08R's. I ended up beating him by a few tenths of a second in the time trial, but that moment really sold me on the getting this car. So about a month ago I started parting out all the aftermarket stuff I had on my M3 (an on-going process at the moment) and using all those funds to buy an S2000. Here's my M3 in all its glory before the part out:
And I picked up a 2007 AP2 with 66k miles on it:
I plan on driving it stock for awhile and do a few track days (as long as I can resist) getting to know the car in it's stock form. Since I'm not that slow at the track I'll probably need to do some basic brake upgrades like lines, fluid and pads just so I don't get frustrated with excessive fade or worse, but that's about it until I break down and buy suspension and a brake kit.
Anyways, just thought I'd introduce myself. Some of you might know me from M3Post or have seen my M3 at various Bay Area track days. It's nice to finally be a part of the S2k community and finally an owner of a car I've always wanted.
