In the next couple of weeks I'll be progressing in my modding disease and I've got a couple of things in mind that I'd like to buy... but I was wondering if I could get a wide variety of opinions/experiences on my potential purchases.

Setup 1. KW V3's: Blow my load and splurge on KW V3's. KW V3's for the money are the best setup you can go with suspension-wise unless you want Motons/JRZ/Penske etc, and out of the box they're (incredible) It'd be nice to not have to look back and think that if I had just spent a bit more that I'd have much better suspension, and know that I'll be 100% satisfied with them for almost every scenario I could imagine using them in for as long as I have my S2000. I've test-driven a friend's car that has KW V3's and it was heaven. I've been leaning towards this route strongly but I've also been thinking about...

Setup 2. Bilstein PSS/PSS9 + AEM EMS + Tune. Read a lot of great things about the PSS/PSS9 system (PSS9's have questionable damper adjustments according to research I've done so they're possibly not worth the extra $300 over PSS), and I won't be tracking hardcore (less than 10 times a year so they could be a suitable alternative to KW V3's for daily driving/track fun. And my car has everything it needs to really take advantage of a full AEM EMS tune... would be so nice to have a wider mid-range and more power everywhere, especially combined with my 4.44 gears. I'd probably pick up a good 15-20 whp at peak with tons of midrange.

Setup 3. Bilstein PSS/PSS9 + Enkei RPF1's/Wedsport TC105N's + 255mm all around tire setup on nice NT05's/RS3's/Federal 595RS-R's etc
This is another nice possibility because it'll go hand in hand with my sway bar, and give me better handling and grip. This is the least favorite of my potential setups because it seems the least necessary.


Note that going with KW V3's doesn't mean I'd never get an AEM EMS + tune or new rims/tires... I'd just wait a couple of months before doing so. I'll also be combining whatever I get with a 4.44 geared built diff.

Thanks for the advice to those who chime in.

 

I'd keep the stock suspension before I'd keep the stock tune. Forget about the KW3's until after you have your car tuned.

 

SETUP:3 since i think you should get that header b4 you tune...

 

@gernby: Keeping stock isn't an option, as one of my stock shocks is blown. This has happened before and I'm pretty tired of it. Stock suspension doesn't offer me the reliability, customization, or comfort + performance that coilovers will. I'd also like a lifetime warranty, which Bilstein and KW provide. In addition, their service centers are within driving distance of where I live, so getting warranty or revalving work done will be simple.

I do agree with you 100% about the tune though. With the bolt-ons I have (and the addition of a good header), the car will feel much improved over the stock tune. I just wish the EMS was a bit cheaper, as I'm going to dish out a least $1k for a tune + EMS.

@Luis: No doubt man... after seeing the performance of your car and how good your header is, I really want one. I'm thinking that maybe rims and tires shouldn't be #1 on my performance priorities since I can just buy spacers for the rims (aesthetics) and my stagger setup should work well until I run the tires down to nothing.

If anyone has had PSS/PSS9 AND KW V3's and can comment on the performance differential and whether the extra $500-800 is worth it, let me know. I already asked in the suspension subforum but I'm hoping others can chime in as well about the overall setup.

 

All these options are viable options even I can't decide what route to suggest you go with first... All the choices are good.

I had a dilemma several months ago when I had the option of going with either a Cusco 32mm front swaybar or a Flashpro. My friend made a comment that helped me make the decision...

"Do you want your car to handle better or have more power?"

 

Yeah, good point. I want both!!

I'm thinking money in suspension goes further in terms of performance/fun vs money towards straightline NA performance You can only get so much straightline speed out of the S2K with NA mods. And I do love the handling on it and would like to make it even better. It's a tough decision... and an expensive one.

 

After doing some more thinking I would go with suspension first. Depends on what suspension though.

Bilstein pss9...Street coilovers w/ minor(2-3 days a year) track duty

KW V3...Double duty coilover(street and track).

And it's not because I have KW's on mine already either

At the track, motor mods do very little for a performance benefit unless you go boost. It's all suspension and seat time.

 

Personally, I go with option #3 because I hate wheel gap and love nice aftermarket wheels/tires

 

Setup 2, never do early to do a tune if you got the money to drop.

 

Money in suspension does go a long way, but you already have so much money invested in bolt-ons that you haven't even gotten any benefit from yet! You will get so much bang for your buck by getting a way to tune. Having 150 ft-lbs of torque at 4K RPMs makes a big difference at the track!