Finally! My very first S2000!
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 137
From: Cali
Finally! My very first S2000!
After a year of lusting and countless searching, emails and VIN searches....I finally have my first S2000!!!
MY03
GPW on Tan
Clean title
No accidents
95k miles
Bone-stock
Initial driving impressions. Well, I haven't had a "sporty car" since the 90s (EG LS/Vtec and RPS13 SR). I've been driving around an automatic Tacoma for the past 13 years. SO obviously, this is quite a change. Impressions so far? From what I remember from my old modified car, Completely different. My old cars were set-up very well too - coilovers sway bars, suspension bit here and there. But boy oh boy - this S2k is on another planet - tight as a friggin drum, smooth as silk, raw and stiff, heavy steering feel, heavy clutch (I'm coming from a Tacoma lol), so low to the ground, soaks up bumps with ease, turns and handling feel precise like a razor blade, etc., etc.
I've also noticed it gets a lot of attention I am totally not used to. Especially from other Hondas (vans, CRVs, Civics, FITs, Accords) stalking, chasing and tailgating me..and also of course other sports car owners that check out the car too.
All in all so far...I am overwhelmed with excitement. I've loved Hondas since the 90s and drooled over the SSM concept car when it was first announced in the late '90s (when the concept car had the big "H" badge on the grill). It was a car I thought I wouldn't have ever owned (given it's price); but, of course, lusted about it as any Honda fan would, being their first Rwd car (well, besides the even more unattainable and expensive NSX super car).
Whew ....I need a breather.
Here's the very first pics right after payment at the bank, then back at home on the driveway after purchase (need a car cover asap!)
Better pics (with a real camera and after a good wash, claybar, wax, interior clean and detail) soon to come!
MY03
GPW on Tan
Clean title
No accidents
95k miles
Bone-stock
Initial driving impressions. Well, I haven't had a "sporty car" since the 90s (EG LS/Vtec and RPS13 SR). I've been driving around an automatic Tacoma for the past 13 years. SO obviously, this is quite a change. Impressions so far? From what I remember from my old modified car, Completely different. My old cars were set-up very well too - coilovers sway bars, suspension bit here and there. But boy oh boy - this S2k is on another planet - tight as a friggin drum, smooth as silk, raw and stiff, heavy steering feel, heavy clutch (I'm coming from a Tacoma lol), so low to the ground, soaks up bumps with ease, turns and handling feel precise like a razor blade, etc., etc.
I've also noticed it gets a lot of attention I am totally not used to. Especially from other Hondas (vans, CRVs, Civics, FITs, Accords) stalking, chasing and tailgating me..and also of course other sports car owners that check out the car too.
All in all so far...I am overwhelmed with excitement. I've loved Hondas since the 90s and drooled over the SSM concept car when it was first announced in the late '90s (when the concept car had the big "H" badge on the grill). It was a car I thought I wouldn't have ever owned (given it's price); but, of course, lusted about it as any Honda fan would, being their first Rwd car (well, besides the even more unattainable and expensive NSX super car).
Whew ....I need a breather.
Here's the very first pics right after payment at the bank, then back at home on the driveway after purchase (need a car cover asap!)
Better pics (with a real camera and after a good wash, claybar, wax, interior clean and detail) soon to come!
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 137
From: Cali
Thx
Plans:
It's my DD and only car (but I work at home currently for now; so low usage). Plans are to mainly restore it to as good of condition and to as new-running as possible. Just OEM mods and basic maintenance stuff. Mechanical refreshing with new OEM parts. Maybe Ap2 wheels. Nicer tires for sure. OEM CR shocks and springs (or Swift Spec R springs) eventually. Maybe a CR front sway bar. A front bumper respray with Ap1 lip; or maybe just go for an Ap2 front bumper (since paint is so expensive). Rear OEM spoiler. Perhaps an OEM style hard top. Etc., etc...
Plans:
It's my DD and only car (but I work at home currently for now; so low usage). Plans are to mainly restore it to as good of condition and to as new-running as possible. Just OEM mods and basic maintenance stuff. Mechanical refreshing with new OEM parts. Maybe Ap2 wheels. Nicer tires for sure. OEM CR shocks and springs (or Swift Spec R springs) eventually. Maybe a CR front sway bar. A front bumper respray with Ap1 lip; or maybe just go for an Ap2 front bumper (since paint is so expensive). Rear OEM spoiler. Perhaps an OEM style hard top. Etc., etc...
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 787
Likes: 4
From: the slums of south carolina...
Congrats enjoy the car! I think AP2v1's look great on AP1's. Also if you're interested in cr shocks/springs I would start looking for them now as they can be somewhat difficult to find especially if you want brand new ones. I had to wait almost 2 months for my shocks as they were on back order from American Honda.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 137
From: Cali
Thx man.
Didn't know that about CR shocks/springs. Are they backordered at hardtopguy too?
I made a "Build-Thread" (don't expect much nor anything exciting though...since it'll be mainly maintenance related)
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/113...-build-thread/
Didn't know that about CR shocks/springs. Are they backordered at hardtopguy too?
I made a "Build-Thread" (don't expect much nor anything exciting though...since it'll be mainly maintenance related)
https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/113...-build-thread/
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 13,806
Likes: 1,541
From: Chesterfield VA
The easiest route for handling is probably 17" OEM wheels and what Tire Rack calls "extreme performance summer tires."
Honda tweaked these cars every year or two during it's production run. Other than the 17" wheels and wider tires in 2004+ the suspension got the most attention. Best OEM handling is in the later cars. Best meaning elimination of snap oversteer the early models were infamous for and still the cause of many (most) S2000 deaths.
Just mixing suspension parts may not provide the best handling. A complete matched '06 or later, or, perhaps CR suspension will probably work best as a set. Note the words "may" and "probably."
I'm sticking with my '06 OEM suspension and will continue fitting the best tires I can find. I'm running last year's darling Bridgestone RE-11A until they wear out. Took a back roads drive with a dozen other S2000s recently. Follow the leader drive with enough hills, dips, and tight corners that some experienced passengers nearly got sick. Don't know about the other cars but the RE-11As never protested in the least. Not a noise out of them. Not a twitch at the rear end. This was public roads so we didn't know the corners like we could on a closed race track. Big difference!
-- Chuck
Honda tweaked these cars every year or two during it's production run. Other than the 17" wheels and wider tires in 2004+ the suspension got the most attention. Best OEM handling is in the later cars. Best meaning elimination of snap oversteer the early models were infamous for and still the cause of many (most) S2000 deaths.
Just mixing suspension parts may not provide the best handling. A complete matched '06 or later, or, perhaps CR suspension will probably work best as a set. Note the words "may" and "probably."
I'm sticking with my '06 OEM suspension and will continue fitting the best tires I can find. I'm running last year's darling Bridgestone RE-11A until they wear out. Took a back roads drive with a dozen other S2000s recently. Follow the leader drive with enough hills, dips, and tight corners that some experienced passengers nearly got sick. Don't know about the other cars but the RE-11As never protested in the least. Not a noise out of them. Not a twitch at the rear end. This was public roads so we didn't know the corners like we could on a closed race track. Big difference!-- Chuck
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,369
Likes: 137
From: Cali
Thanks guys.
Ya...I still have a LOT of maintenance to do and other stuff as well - all fluids, wear&tear and other common problem parts, etc.... and also an oem front plate holder, transponder keys, dome light and also repair/patch a rip in soft top. It's gonna be a while to complete and take a bit more money. But should be fun restoring her.
Wheels/tires:
Since I have so much "new owner" stuff to do, I may just stick with the 16" Ap1 for now. My tire choices:
Continental DW or RE760 - if AP1 tire size
PSS or S04 - if I end up getting AP2 wheels
As for suspension, I am aware of the snap-oversteer and front-grip/traction-bias from the AP1's heavy rear spring rate and thicker rear swaybar.
| Front Rear | Front Rear
Model Year | Spring Spring | Sway Bar Sway Bar
--------------+------------------+--------------------
2000-2001 | 219 291 | 393 427 = 1.09 ratio
2002-2003 | 246 309 | 300 396 = 1.32
2004-2005 | 262 278 | 300 311 = 1.04
2006-2007 | 262 269 | 300 311 = 1.04
2008-2009 | 280 294 | 354 311 = 0.88
2008-2009 CR | 384 343 | 392 362 = 0.92
I plan to combat the S2k's oversteer-prone characteristics with more mechanical traction in the Rear - either CR F&R swaybar setup (0.92 ratio), just a CR front sway bar (1.01 ratio) or just get a MY04-07 rear swaybar (which will give me the milder F:R swaybar ratio of 1.04 from the MY04-07...instead of the whopping 1.32 ratio of my MY03..the wildest setup lol). Then, a spring set with heavier front spring rates (CR or Spec R springs) and also 0.5-1º more rear camber than front.
Ya...I still have a LOT of maintenance to do and other stuff as well - all fluids, wear&tear and other common problem parts, etc.... and also an oem front plate holder, transponder keys, dome light and also repair/patch a rip in soft top. It's gonna be a while to complete and take a bit more money. But should be fun restoring her.
Wheels/tires:
Since I have so much "new owner" stuff to do, I may just stick with the 16" Ap1 for now. My tire choices:
Continental DW or RE760 - if AP1 tire size
PSS or S04 - if I end up getting AP2 wheels
As for suspension, I am aware of the snap-oversteer and front-grip/traction-bias from the AP1's heavy rear spring rate and thicker rear swaybar.
| Front Rear | Front Rear
Model Year | Spring Spring | Sway Bar Sway Bar
--------------+------------------+--------------------
2000-2001 | 219 291 | 393 427 = 1.09 ratio
2002-2003 | 246 309 | 300 396 = 1.32
2004-2005 | 262 278 | 300 311 = 1.04
2006-2007 | 262 269 | 300 311 = 1.04
2008-2009 | 280 294 | 354 311 = 0.88
2008-2009 CR | 384 343 | 392 362 = 0.92
I plan to combat the S2k's oversteer-prone characteristics with more mechanical traction in the Rear - either CR F&R swaybar setup (0.92 ratio), just a CR front sway bar (1.01 ratio) or just get a MY04-07 rear swaybar (which will give me the milder F:R swaybar ratio of 1.04 from the MY04-07...instead of the whopping 1.32 ratio of my MY03..the wildest setup lol). Then, a spring set with heavier front spring rates (CR or Spec R springs) and also 0.5-1º more rear camber than front.
