Aside from a hardtop and maybe some minor cosmetics (OE lip/wing/spoiler), I tend to steer away from spending huge amounts of $$$ on JDM bling'n cosmetics that are all show and no go. Mugen makes some nice stuff, but I'm not about to take out a mortgage for a lip spoiler because it was windtunnel tested in Japan. Volks are nice, but $2000 on a set of 17's when the car comes with pretty nice 17's as it is IMO just to make it look "different" from everyone else's S, is a bit much. If I were spending $5,000 on my S, which I am actually about to do on a BR SC, I'd go with power adders. Staying NA, I'd go wth gears, T1R exhaust, Ricks header, an intake of some sort (probably one of the cheaper ones like K&N since they really don't do much). All that and you'd still be well under $5,000. You'd probably have enough for one of the cheaper set of adjustable coilovers too ($1200-1500).

 

I would go with coilovers, rims, and gears.

 

If you are Asian in California, you will always be associated with "rice" whenever you drive around with any modified sports car...

Seriously, for looks, I would dump it all into rims and CF hood, maybe put some performance mods (gears, intake, xbrace). Don't lower it or add huge exhausts; it'll make you look more like a ricer, if that's your concern.

 

Listen to this guy!

 

Hmmm... lips and tops make it ricier ... different strokes for different folks I guess. I'm not sure how you want to make your car look all that different if you only use Honda parts.

 

I understand the points you are making, but you're a little off with your logic. Reducing rotational mass is the biggest thing you can do to add performance to a car besides better tires. So....... the first and best mod that can be done is lighter wheels (CE28N's are amoung the lightest and strongest that I know of) and a good set of tires (Advan AD07's, BFG KD's, Michelin PS2's). Right there you are adding more grip and lightening up the working load. Forget being worried about JDM Fan Boi's telling you that you have a 4x4 because 80% of the people on this board can't understand how good the OEM suspension is, and that you can hand them their a$$'s with your stock suspension against buddy club or tein $1300 coilovers. So after you get your wheels/tires, gears is probably the best bang for the buck. 4.57's will probably get you what you want. The next step can be anything you desire, a Mugen exhaust will make your car look and sound tons nicer, you won't gain massive HP, but the Gears have given you all the ummmph you'll be seeking for a while. Good luck.

 

Leave the effin car alone and go on a cross country cruise meeting up with as many S2000 owners as vacation time permits

 

Get the wheels.

 

Hey luisimo, thought I recognized your name from the DML. I wonder if you and I are the only two Ducati Monster/S2000 owners? I have modded my S2R about the same as you did, suspension, brakes, exhaust, though my only carbon fiber so far is the front fender.

I took it easier on om '04 S2000 though I really like the mods I did. I first added the AEM intake which gives a nice intake sound, plus the fujisubo dual exhaust. The missing link was a test pipe which really opened up the sound and IMHO added some hp. The other mods are cheap but significant--convex drivers side mirror, Voodoo shift knob, muz glove box organizer and front X brace.

That leaves you over $3 to spend. You could go body kit, there are some nice ones out there but i like the stock lines. I uess I would go lowered suspension and wheels, man. There are some sweet 18" wheels out there (Volks and others) that look great. Lots of good posts and pictures of wheels on the forum.

Nice to see your reat taste in motorcycles carries over to cars. I love my S2000.

 

[QUOTE=jshimer23,Mar 7 2006, 09:39 AM] A hard top makes the car "rice"???