Hi everyone (i hope this is the right place for this post, couldnt find a better place)
So I have a 2003 New Formula Red s2000 that I bought last weekend and I have a suspended license till nov 2 =(. Anyway, I have been modding it before I hop into it and so far I have installed these mods:
Red Eyelids
Muse Style Front Lip painted NFR
K&N FIPK Intake with AUT Cooling plate

Now my next mods is going to be a hardtop but I dont know which one to go with.
I can pick up a spoon hardtop with the side windows for about 2800$ and then have spend about 500$ to paint and dont know what I am getting myself into with this top. (read a lot about fitting issues, leaks, looks bad, this that trunk mrunk) Comes with all hardware and supposidely its in the box brand new all thats needed to be done is paint and install. I dont know anything about this top really and would like more info bout it like its practicallity and daily driver friendly of it and how it will look with my lip and all... I also cant find ANY pics of it, its almost like no one has it

I can save myself the headache and get a OEM already painted NFR from dealer ht for about 2200$ brand new in the box (friend works at midas gets 10% off dealer parts)

So please let me know what you guys think.
Also another ?... for the AUT cooling plate, I noticed on the bottom of where I installed it there is a plastic piece with 3 little holes... Am I supposed to take that entire plastic piece off? the black one..
And I also want to drop the car and want to know if the swift springs is best...
I am looking for a daily drive, occaisonal hard driving on the road better than stock suspension upgrade with a .75 - 1" drop.
Thanks!!
(couldnt figure out how to ad a poll) so please let me know what you think of the choices or input ur own choice, anything would be appreciated)
I really dont know much about s2000s, Im actually pretty young and just bought the car very recently and want the best mods for it before I can hop in and drive it

 

I'm kinda parcel to Mugen myself.

 

those are pretty good deals all around. the spoon will have more heading turning and i dont know if you want that as you have a suspended lisence as it is. id go with oem if your not going to mod crazy in the future.

daily driver? id go with tein s techs, cheap and gets the 1" done. wow 28000 for a spoon? thats pretty good connection for a guy who is young, suspended lisence and doesnt know much of the s2000

 

I'd say go with a Spoon but it does leak.. Trunk isn't really hard to get into. Two quick release's and lift. You also have to insulate the top from the car with weather stipping.

Sprint springs!?.... I'd say go with Eibach pro kit or Tein s techs. I'm using the s-techs. They're a little stiffer than the Eibachs and should have a little less oversteer.

 

thanks, some more info on the spoon would be nice. When you say leak... do you mean water when it rains or like wind leaks or what? Also how hard is it to insulate the top + how much $ would it be, and a link to the tein s techs with the best price would be great... Is it better to use koni yellow struts with them?

 

yeah please explain about the leaking problem.. i'm looking to buy that hardtop

 

to the mugen ht

 

The wind isn't as loud as it was with the soft top.. I mean rain. The window runners tht spoon gives you doesn't lock into place with windshield weather stripping. So you get water coming in between the window and windshield. I'm sure if you can find window runners from the factory hardtop or the mugen that problem would be solved, but my car doesn't see to many miles anymore and sleeps in the garage. So i'm not to worried about it. Weather stripping's available at home de-pot. 10$ worth should be anough. I replace it whenever I take the top off so it doesn't get to flat. You also eed to silicone the rear lexan window.

Stick with stock shocks untill they blow. It'll take a nice long time to blow them and whn they do it won't take you long to replace them. I lowered my car with 72k miles and now it has 112k and still rides great. Check ebay for the springs.

 

Spoon top needs the rest of the car to be done right to look right. Mugen or even more so OEM look much better with a stock looking car.

 

Spoon top looks better IMO. I guess i'm biased since I have one. But I fell in love with that look way before I bought the s2.