The background: I originally bought a BB/red 2002 GT almost four years ago and didn't do much to it at first.


After a couple of years I upgraded the alloys to lightweight JDM BBS 16s" which made it feel lighter on its feet. Combined with RE002s and a fresh alignment it feels soo much better than before. The turn in on the RE002s is amazing and the dead spot in the centre has gone. As a result, I'm happy with the set up for now and don't plan to change the wheels or suspension any time soon.


It is a UK road legal, MOT happy DD and I plan to keep it that way, so test pipes are out of the question. Having said that, I'm up for a HFC and with the I/H/E done that should probably be next. I do one track day a year in it, at best.


Anyway, about ten years ago I drove a Mugen S2k at Bushey Honda and have wanted one ever since.

So, I've now installed a Mugen exhaust and CF intake and a Tracy Sports TS-02 manifold, which has transformed the car. Incidentally, I know some 70mm singles are lighter and make more power, but I didn't want anything too shouty and I love how it now sounds.

A Cusco Type II front lower brace has improved the ride and handling at the front, as well as increasing the weight of steering slightly and adding a touch of understeer.

I've just ordered a lower rear Cusco brace and will then decide whether to add floor bars as well. I was considering the bigger Beatrush/White line braces, but thought I should start off with the simpler (cheaper) Cusco and see how I go. I also have a larger wind deflector ready to install.

Once the HFC is in place, the main power upgrades appears to be an AEM EMS, Cams and ITBs, all of which are expensive and the latter two are a bit OTT IMHO. I'm not after much more power than I have already, but a touch more midrange torque would be nice, as opposed to top end I'll rarely use.

Of course, a piggy back ship is the cheapest way to lower VTEC a bit, but I'm concerned that I might need to add fuel if adding the BHC make it run lean and I don't think they can drop the VTEC point much anyway. Every tuner I speak to recommends 'spend as much as you can afford' on a standalone, ideally an AEM VII, but they're serious money, esp given that I've bought almost everything second hand so far and so have spent less than £2k all in (excluding the wheels, but including shipping and labour).


Finally, there are a few other items on my wishlist include a Veilside spoiler, AP1/2 OEM splitter and, perhaps upgrading from the Mugen intake to the awesome PWJDM. I'd also like a second cup holder, rear speakers and a few other minor mods, but the point is that may of you have had your cars way longer than me, so I'd like to know what you'd do next in my position and whether there's anything I've missed (excluding FI, which isn't the point of this thread).

 

What floor bars are you talking about?? The Cusco ladder bars are a step past what I would have done. At some point you are just adding weight as the chassis won't get stiffer by just bolting more stuff to it.

If you already have the intake, header and exhaust you really should just do the hfc and tune. The Emanage ultimate or apexi neo allows you to tune everything without needing additional fuel mods and you can set vtec to throttle position so you can set it low but it will only kick over if you are on it. If you want a stand alone a AEM will allow the same thing. If your engine is OEM meaning no cams or other internal changes you don't need more fuel to lower vtec and tune. I saw a 20hp bump in the midrange just from doing this and I can tell you it makes a big difference.

You won't see a huge difference switching to the PWJDM intake from the Mugen. Again the tune will make the actual difference there not whatever intake happens to be there. Cams, ITB's etc all are more work than it sounds like you want to do.

As for other ideas. How about some track time? Front lip is always nice for looks. How about some better brake pads, Stainless lines, and racing brake fluid? How about wider wheels and tires?