Hey guys, The first auto x event is 3/11/12 so I want to start making moves ASAP. I got my 2000 s2k last summer and didn't get to auto x it (I was auto xing my STi at the time) I plan on only auto xing in the s2k this season. I am looking at 10-20 auto x and 1-2 HPDE. Right now the car has tein s tech springs, and 17x9 + 45 RPF1's with newish Kumho SPT tires in 225/45/17 and 255/40/17. I still have my stock ap1 rims. What do you guys recommend in terms of upgrades? seems like everyone recommends a stiffer front sway (whats a good brand). Should I run the RPF1's or get new tires for my AP1 rims? anything else I should look into?


thanks for the help in advance
Jon

 

What are your goals? Who do you want to beat? If the answer is that you just want to have fun and get better, don't spend a dime. If you want to beat people in STR, I suggest revamping your entire set up and reading the many STR threads on this forum.

If you want to go just a little faster than you are now, get some better street tires.

 

I want to have fun and get better until my skill level is worth me spending money. I just dont want to be non competitive.

 

Well, your car lands in STR based on your mods. I would do a couple of races and see who is in your class locally. If you have a strong region, then you might not be competitive for years. If it happens that there is not much talent in STR where you live, you might be competitive right now. Who knows. I would just avoid spending any money just yet but if you have cash burning a hole in your pocket, it would be hard to go wrong with a Gendron front bar. It'll run you in the 900 range. I wouldn't buy any intermediate bar as it would just be a waste of money. After that, some 17x9 wheels and 255 tires (square) would be the next step and really, the car could be pretty decent like that.

 

Instead of making reccomendations, I'll just tell you what I did.

about 6 months ago I made a decision to get a S2000 and I already knew that I wanted to modify it. Then I basically said I could live with the mods allowed in STR and that it would be a fun class to be in. If you want to gut interior, put a body kit on, put in a roll bar or cage and or do major motor mods, STR is NOT for you. I started with a stock 2006 S2000 coming from a slightly modded FWD car. Kinda like you are doing but with AWD. I've never really raced/autoX'd a rwd car before so I knew this was going to be a learning experience b/c all my HPDE track and AutoX experience has been FWD Hondas.

I started with a completely Stock S2000 for a couple events which had 215/245 Kuhmo XS tires (what the car came with). I asked my local competitors tons of questions and started looking on this forum
2- shocks - big dollar item that I knew I needed to find soon and decided I wasn't going to spend $3,500+ for double adjustables. I got a deal on a used set of KW clubsports. The car became immediately easier to drive. I've never driven an S with drop springs but I'd say they wont be very helpful over stock. Would require a front swaybar upgrade for sure to run them
3- Evolution driving school - I needed to learn some more car control and quickly. This was a big help.
4- I knew I needed to get a front swaybar to get me prepared for running a square tire setup so I got the Gendron bar - I based my decision off of some local friends who said drop the big dime on the bar early instead of buying something cheap to start and eventually going with a nice adjustable bar
5 - when the poor staggered kuhmos started running low on tread, I purchased S2000 friendly offset TRM 17x9 +63 wheels and some 255 hankooks to match
6 - also along with the tire change, move towards higher spring rates front and rear to better suit more grip.
7 - I'm now looking into some reliability mods since my suspension is basically there - Need some diff and motor mounts I think - I know what I need to buy there, going to pull the trigger after I complain to the dealer (car has CPO warranty) about a rattle I think has developed from a motor mount going bad.
8 - lasty I'm looking into some power mods - I'm trying to go cheap with them too.. . Cheap parts can often get you 98% the way there on Hondas I've found.. . intake, cat back, HF cat, Hondata Flashpro.. . .

With the right driver behind the wheel, my car has allways been competitive locally after my shocks mod, even with the staggered tires, but not top spot worthy for sure.

Welcome to the new Hotness of STR!!!

 

Thanks alot for the advice. I think I am just going to run a few events before I spend any more money, unless a deal comes up on the Gendron bar used.I have a test pipe and a hks catback is that okay for STR? also if I eventually get new tires on the RPF1 (17 x 9 +45) is that good or should I flip them and go for something else?

edit:
also you said something about body kits is a front lip allowed? I want to get a mugen front lip this summer.

thanks alot
Jon

 

test pipe is not STR legal but if you aren't going to any sort of divisional/national/regional championship it probably doesn't matter. the hks catback is legal.

 

I ended up ditching the +45 RPF1's. You will have to compromise too much just to run them with a 255 squared setup. Check out my AP1 STR thread for details on those.

 

No, I meant if you really want a body kit on your new car, STR is not for you. The only front lips you can use are OEM and or OEM replicas. The CR front lip is acceptable as well. You could also run the CR rear wing or any other OEM wing. I think you can put a AP2 front bumper on an AP1 to run the CR lip but I not 100% sure on that.

I would move away from the RPF1s as soon as your tires are gone but that's mainly b/c I wouldn't want to deal with making 255s fit on my car with that offset.

Basically if you want to make the car look exactly the way you want and you want to make more HP than basic bolt-ons get you, STR is not for you. BSP and SSM? are more up your alley

 

I am planning on getting an alignment. what specs do you guys recommend with my current set up?