I know I am traveling down a well documented path, but after days of searching and reading, I am still at a loss. I figured I would bite the bullet and create a new thread.

The Car: 2004 S2000 with right around 78k on the clock. Stock except for a slightly more aggressive alignment and Bridgestone S007a tires.

Usage: the car is not a daily driver and sees about 4000 miles a year. I occasionally take it to work and run errands. It does not go on highway journeys much longer than an hour or so. It does see about 1000-1500 miles per year on the dragon. No current plans for tracking or autocross, but I want the car to perform better than oem on the dragon.

The issue: as the car approaches 80k I’m feeling that the factory shocks are on their way out. I’ve not noted any leaking from the shocks, but the ride is a touch bouncy over the bumps. I’d like to also have the car feel a bit more settled during corner transitions on the back roads. I do want to retain the sharpness on initial turn-in the oem shocks provide. My budget is around $2000.

My choices-

OEM Shocks:

+simplicity - I like the way the car drives for the most part, so why not keep it simple?

-cost - at roughly $1200 shipped for new oem shocks I feel like I should explore something that is in the realm of OEM+. Essentially something civilized, but provides better handling when you push it

Koni Yellows with factory springs:

+ Low cost and dependable brand

- Not certain if it is a real upgrade in handling compared to OEM
-may require modifications to be installed

Bilstein PSS:

+ Low Cost
+ longevity

- Not certain if it provides an improvement in performance compared to OEM. I hear a lot of people say that it is far too soft for track usage. Would that mean that it is far too soft for dragon usage? Is it an improvement on the back roads compared to OEM?


Ohlins DFV:

+ Considered the top of the line
+ great choice for my application

​​​- longevity. I don’t like the idea of spending $2000 on the setup and then having to spend $1000 every 20,000 miles to have them serviced.

In my perfect world I would go for the Ohlins and call it a day, but I really don’t like the prospect of having to send for a rebuild every 4 years or so. Is the frequency of rebuilding overstated? If the factory shocks cost roughly $1200 and lasted 80k that might be a lot more financially prudent option.

I appreciate you all reading and look forward to your responses.

 

PSS and FA500s are the best budget option, IMO, but regarding your Ohlins question - Ohlins can go longer than 20k miles. The 20k thing is just a service interval when you should inspect them and see if they need to be rebuilt. It doesn't mean they have to be rebuilt every 20k miles or 4 years. So every couple years, get under the car and inspect the damper for leaks, wear, worn rubber, and such. If you find any of these signs, that's when you should rebuild them. The same can be said for any rebuildable damper.

 

Bilstein are definitely an upgrade over oem. They are the very definition of oem+. They are stiffer in spring and damping than even CR suspension. Yes, not stiff enough for serious track duty, but ideal for attacking back roads.

They are tank like in durability (with the exception of their zinc plating on the shock bodies, which starts to look tarnished quickly. But its just cosmetic). They last longer before needing rebuild than virtually any coilover option.

Koni yellow, imo, are not a real upgrade from stock. They are great if you want to have them custom built, but then total cost exceeds much better options. For classes that require using stock springs, they are pretty much the only option.

The yellow paint flakes off immediately and then they rust. Mostly cosmetic, but ugly.

The ohlins are fantastic. The 20k thing is really more of a heavy duty/track usage service life. Those dragon miles you do, etc.

Of your selected options, Bilstein is the budget, oem+ option. Ohlins is the gold standard, high end option.

If your budget allows, I wouldn't hesitate on the Ohlins.

 

The Bilstein uses roughly CR spring rates. And a better damper than stock. Buy the PSS9. You want the adjuster. Even if you only set it once and then forget it exists.

The stock suspension is also too soft for the track. And just soft asf in general. They pair them (in Honda fashion) with very linear shocks. Which then make the ride feel sporty. As designed, this car is about feel. Not track performance. Its abysmally bad on the track, compared to something modern. Too many compromises due to its intended target buyer.

The Ohlins are not only more comfortable than stock, but they perform lightyears better. They also make the car more enjoyable. The setup requires some cunning. But most of this has been documented. So now it just involves reading. Yes...they're worth the money. You're gonna love them.

FA is another big winner. Not as refined as the Ohlins. But excellent overall.

Ditch the stock suspension and never look back. Keep it around if you ever decide to put the car back to stock.

 

I really appreciate the feedback you all are providing! I’m glad to hear the Bilstein options are more aggressive than OEM. I figured as much, but most people talk about how they are not up to track usage, but never talk about that relative to stock.

I would probably do the PSS instead of the PSS9 just because if I’m going to be within $500 of the Ohlins I’ll just opt for the Ohlins.

I’ll do more reading and gladly take more feedback. I’ll have to see how important holding onto an extra $1000 is versus having the most well regarded suspension setup.

Glad to hear the 20k regarding the Ohlins is a bit conservative.

 

I don't think you're going to miss the extra $400 between the PSS and PSS9.

Also, there's advantages to the Bilstein vs the Ohlins and vise versa. All depending on intended use. So it wouldn't really be fair to say that "might as well spend $500 more for the Ohlins". The Ohlins aren't automatically better at everything.

It seems the Ohlins would be the better option for you, based on what you've said thus far, however.

 

At the moment I am leaning towards the PSS. You feel the adjustability of the PSS9 is worth the extra money it seems. I’ve been reading mixed opinions on the adjustability of the PSS9 that was pushing me towards the PSS.

It is interesting you mention there are aspects that the Bilstein setup does better than the Ohlins. So much of what I’ve read seems to say that it’s a no brainer to go for the Ohlins if you can swing it. What aspects of the Bilstein’s do you like more? Also, is the corrosion of the Bilstein shocks a real issue for a garaged car that is stored in the winter?

My hesitation at the moment is how far the rabbit hole do I want to go. I like the way the car handles for the most part in oem form. That said with the cost of factory shocks being $1200 I would like to get some improvements for my money. So it’s not a scenario of where I am hunting for big performance gains. However I am an advocate of buy once; cry once, so if I am cheating myself or wasting money by not getting the Ohlins, I’ll bite the bullet and purchase those. My concern with the Ohlins is that it seems more involved than other options. I would have to figure out if I should go for the 12/10k sets or stay with the factory 10/8k. The PSS seems like the KISS solution.

Thanks so much for your input. I also see why my wife hates when I am shopping for this sort of stuff. I tend to overthink it.

 

I have 12/10k Ohlins with Urge rear cups that was installed by PO and it’s seriously impressive setup. Great handling and very comfortable at the same time; I was pretty hesitant about the spring rates when I heard about the setup but it has proven me wrong. This is my first S2000 but I’ve tinkered with suspensions in all my previous fun cars (mostly NA/NB Miatas and a lone 987) so do have an appreciation of good quality dampers.

To me these are handling cars first and foremost so I have no qualms of putting money into suspension. That is not so say spend unnecessarily but usually there is a good reason why good quality stuff costs money.

 

IMO, overthink is worth it for expensive purchases with high potential for regret if you get it wrong.

Another option is a twist on the Bilstein option. There is another choice that uses that exact same Bilstein PSS damper (the non adjustable one), with different springs and damping matched to those springs. H&R coilovers.

The difference is the spring rates, more specifically the balance.

The Bilstein Bilstein uses spring rates that are similar balance to the CR, but slightly softer (I think I said in earlier post Bilstein was stiffer than CR. Had it backwards). The H&R Bilstein uses progressive springs that are equal front and rear, and stiffer than Bilstein Bilstein.

F/R
CR 384/343 (fixed rate)
Bilstein 345/285 (fixed rate)
H&R 345/345 (progressive rate)

The bottom line:

For lap times, firmer front, softer rear

For more fun on street, the opposite

Also, if you are after lap times, you tend to go square tire, front size = rear. This requires stiffer front spring balance. This is why so many aftermarket coilovers come with stiffer front springs than rear, asthey are geared toward track users who tend to go with wider front tires.

The problem with wider front tires is you lose some steering feel and lose turn in response. On the street, where feel often trumps outright performance, staggered tire sizes (like stock) tend to work better.

So if you are going to stay staggered, and value feel over lap times, the understeer promoting CR and Bilstein PSS spring rate bias are not ideal, IMO.

If on the other hand you are coming front a fwd background, and terminal understeer has been imprinted on your muscle memory, then these options might be ideal (it'll still be way less understeer than fwd).

For everyone esle, that isn't fwd background, and isn't chasing track glory, these heavily front biased spring rates are less than ideal.

Which is a bit ironic, as the Bilstein PSS is otherwise the best stock replacement suspension available, yet its spring rate balance suggest its a track focused, yet its overall spring rates are far too low to be suitable for that environment.

Enter the H&R. Its spring rates are higher than PSS, and its balance is much more neutral.

The springs are progressive. This isn't good for track use, but IMO, can be ideal for street. Track you want consistently, fixed rates provide that. When you are constantly riding the razors edge of traction limits, any sudden change can push you over the edge.

Street, progressive are a hybrid of comfort and performance. The more you compress, the stiffer they get. The more you push, the more they push back.

This makes their spring rates difficult to compare to fixed. The quoted rate depends on how far the spring was compressed when it was measured. So their rates might even be higher than the quoted rate at full compression.

But to me, the best part about progressive springs is how they corner flat and dramatically increase steering response.

Fixed springs, when cornering hard, push up on the inside as much as the outside. For every inch of lean, they push equally. Progressives do the opposite. Any lean from cornering forces are pushed back harder than level on the outside, while the inside pushes much softer than level rate. The result is very level cornering without having to resort to super stiff springs and bars.

This also tranlates to very responsive steering in transitions. It feels like you increased the steering rate. You touch it turns.

IMO, the H&R makes for the better street setup (so long as you aren't coming from a fwd background, and aren't concerned about having a knob to adjust things).

 

The Bilsteins have travel. The Ohlins rear do not.

What the Ohlins will struggle with is dips or big movements. The Bilsteins will do better with that assuming you leave them at a fairly tall height. You sound like an adult...I'm assuming you'll lower it minimally.