I interested in making the S2K handle better, I am thinking bout getting the Mugen Front Sway Bar. Also which do you experts think is better (Price also in consideration). Just a set of Eibach or H&R springs, or should I go for a set of Tein, Spoon, or Mugen(I think too expensive) Coilovers. Do you think the regular spring and Coilovers will handle similiar other than the ride harshness?

Thanks

 

First of all, you realize that the S2000 comes with "coil-overs" from the factory right? So I think what you mean to ask is "should I just replace the srpings, or should I also change to shocks with adjustable spring perches?". And the answer to that depends on wether you want to be able to fine tune the ride height... which if you plan to do, you aught to realize that this means re-aligning the car whenever you make such a ride height change... because if you dont, then you definitly will not be improving the handling as you suggested was your goal of all this... which brings me to my second point...

What exactly do you mean by "make it handle better"? What do you think is wrong with the handing? Are we talking about handling on the street, or on the track? On stock tires, some other street tire, or on race tires? While I'm not sure for certain, I'd have to guess that adding the Mugen big front swaybar to an otherwise stock S2000 on the stock tires is just going to make it push like a bulldozer... not handle better.

-jason

 

Jason-

Read Greg Stevens' review from a week ago of his testing my car- which happens to have stock springs, shocks, tires and wheels. Oh- and the 31.8mm hollow front Mugen swaybar...

-Nick

 

Nick-

I tried to go back and find the thread you were talking about... I think I did... but first I found this thread
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...hp?threadid=637

where he claimed that, completely stock, the car is perfectly balanced and any tailhappyness is the result of driver error.

then I found the thread I think you're talking about:
http://www.s2000online.com/forums/showthre...hp?threadid=918

where he says that with the Mugen bar that NOW the car is totally neutral and balanced.

I think you see where I'm going with this...


The point I was trying to make in my first post is that if you're going to say "I want to make the handling better"... you need to have something in mind that you think is wrong. If you really think the car is perfectly balanced, etc, etc... then why would you make any modifications to it?

Also just because "driver A" says the car is better with some mod, doesnt really mean that its going to be better for YOU. This could be because "driver A" is just plain wrong, but it could also be because he's at a different level of driver ability than you. A car that has been set up to allow Micheal Schumaker to achieve maximum lap times might be a _slower_ setup for you and I.

-jason

 

You can be SURE of that.

Amazing. This car bone stock exceeds the ability of 95% of the people who post here but their egos won't admit it. Let most people drive it to their maximum ability on a track until they think they have reached the cars limits in handling and then let a pro drive it and watch how many seconds get lopped of the time.

Spend the money on a good performance driving school before you make ANY modifications to the suspension.

 

Have to agree with you Bieg. I have a 93 Legend LS 6 spd coupe. At 80K miles I decided to modify the car. Had 17" TSW's with Dunlop SP 9000s, Eibach prokit springs and Koni adjustable shocks installed. The handling is more taut and still supple. But the car is lower, and there is noticeable "bouncing." After market suspension parts are usually generic and don't have the benefit of Honda R&D and testing. The factory definitely balances the compromises. Maybe Mugen does better, but most probably don't. If you start down the modification road, you may, by increments, degrade the total, balanced, factory designed performance of the car.

Just a thought.

2x6spds

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg:
[B] You can be SURE of that.

Amazing.

 

So you are in the 5% who know how to drive the car. Of course we only have your word on that so who knows, but if what you say is true good for you.

I suppose you feel that EVERYONE here has an equal level of skill?

This guy "Student Driver", based on the questions he has asked in the past, does not have that level of skill. For someone who does not have a clue about weight transfer and how it affects handling touching the stock suspension is foolish.

 

I suppose you assume that everyone is as bad of a driver as most NY cops?

 

My ears were burning. Here I am. First off, I stand by my claim that tailhappiness is caused by the driver. That's a no brainer. Of course I feel the tail want to step out on a turns that are too hot, etc...that's a no brainer, too. The car feels to me to be beautifully balanced...I've been more than clear about that on may occasions.

I have a good amount of track time this year and I believe I know the car pretty well. I know when and where I can push it and when to back off. When I drove Nick's S2000 with the thicker Mugen front sway bar, I found the limits to be even higher. I was struck by the car's increased tolerance for taking corners at greater speeds where my car would oversteer to some degree or other, Nick's car was exhibiting little to no oversteer. There was a noticable difference and I think we are talking small degrees when you are starting with a beautifully handling and well balanced car already. The Mugen bar made a great thing even better. I felt it with my very own hands!

And Bieg, if your insinuation about ego was directed at me, I'll say that I have done a number (4-5) driving schools this year. I am a complete sponge when it comes to me be able to learn how to drive my car better. And I've come a long way. Nick can attest to that! I'm completely humble and always willing learn and listen. And I would NEVER suggest that a someone takes my opinion and my opinion alone. I think it's important to have lots of input from lots of people...and then make a decision.

j2k, I've not contradicted myself, which is what I think you were implying. What I have said is that the car is an amazingly well handling car and the Mugen front sway bar made a terrfic thing even better. I have experience this personally. StudentDriver was asking about the sway bar and since I have direct experience in the application he was asking about I feel qualified to give an answer. Do I consider myself an expert? Nah, just a guy who loves his car and loves the limit...especially at the track.