So...

I have a Suzuka Blue AP1. Well before getting an S2K, I was of the opinion that SB was dog ass, especially with the blue interior. Now I have the said combo. The blue interior isn't as horrible in real life as it is in pictures.

I do like the way my car comes together due to the wheels, and almost want to keep it SB.



This is about as nice as you can make SB look, IMO. It's clean, and classy. It does seem though that the car DEPENDS on the SBC color of the RPF1's, and I will never be able to change them, as long as the car is Suzuka.

However, I'm in love with Top Secret Gold type of colors, and stole Ford's Sunburst Gold Metallic (2000 version) for my previous fun car, a Prelude.



I'm thinking about doing this S2K in the same color. Except unlike the Prelude, I worry that it could possibly "cheapen" the car. The car needs a front bumper, so I ordered an OEM AP2 at the dealership (didnt realize I needed the grille, and plug hole seperately SMH) And this could be the time to do it. This does also mean more added expense of sourcing black interior. Otherwise I could get that bumper installed, matched, lipped, and call it a day. After that Prelude, and expenses incurred on it, (RHD conversion, top line parts (Volks, Recaro, ect) I dont want to get into this S2K like that.


(marks on hood is bird dunk, right before I parked it last)

However on the other side...one of my things is this; if my Prelude was parked next to this S2000 at say Import Alliance... yeah more people might want to OWN or drive the S2000, but more people are going to check out or take pictures of the Prelude. S2K will just be number 383676339 stock look on RPF1's. Wat do?

 

Nice cars! Lol, at your predicament - that is how is always starts! Before you know it you will be doing the same to the S!

 

If it were me, I would keep the car the stock color. IMO, It is very difficult to do a non-oem color change and not cheapen the resulting vehicle. If you are going to do a completely different color you would need to do it right (paint door sills, engine bay, etc.) and also swap out interior... it can get real expensive real fast, and at the end of the day you are impacting resale (if that is even a consideration for you). Sure a gold S2000 might get more looks at a car show, but that doesn't mean that the car is better for it. At the end of the day, its your vehicle and only you can make a determination if it is worth the money and effort to make the change.

 

Sticking an AP2 bumper on an AP1 has already cheapened the car in terms of resale value (which only counts when or if you sell the car! ). Painting the car a hideous non-stock color cheapens it further. These cars are painted EVERYWHERE including places you can't see. Original/stock S2000s seem to be sought after and even those wheels don't help the "value" nor does the single exhaust.

But it's your car! Resale value doesn't make it any more or less valuable to you terms of how you enjoy it. And someone will eventually buy it or you'll wreck it anyway! Few of us here were original buyers. I changed the intake and exhaust systems on the '06 I bought last summer but have the OEM parts just in case I want to sell it in original condition. And I fit OEM wheels rather than the black ones some previous owner thought enhanced the look of the car.

BEFORE


AFTER (restored to OEM)


-- Chuck

 

Poor Suzuka the color is so rare these days. Honestly tho, paint is dead. Get it wrapped your color of choice. This way you get your color change with an easy reversal back to oem without having to respray the entire car again.

 

Keep the blue, save the money, keep the original lip, enjoy the heck out of the stock car. Use the money saved for a new head unit and speakers instead.

 

Great advice, wrap the car!

 

I personally fell in love with the suzuka blue after owning it, I hated it before I bought the car though. I would keep it blue and then just wrap the car if you want to color change it.

 

People say it hurts resale value, BUT if u have the paperwork saying u paid $5k plus and have pix during the process, and it's a high quality paint job, I think you can sell it for more then if your car is Suzuka Blue.

These guys selling their custom color S2ks rarely have the documentation showing they paid $5k+ for a color change.

I wanted to change my Silverstone to Lotus Elise "chrome orange", but bought a OEM hardtop and made it stand out.

I think white wheels look good on Suzuka Blue.

How many miles does it have?

 

It's your car and you should do whatever makes you happy. I personally don't agree that painting a blue on blue S2k is a good idea, but it's not my car so wtf with that?

If changing the exterior of your car to match the image of what you want makes you happy, then do it. It's all good and it's not like you're hurting anyone!

When the transformation is done (are you going to do the engine bay and all the other bits that go along with the current color too? or just the most obviously visible external stuff?), shine it up nice and take some pro grade quality photos and share them with the world. I think a lot of people would be excited to see it. Some will love it. Some will hate it. Some won't give a darn either way and won't understand what the fuss is about.

Some people name their cars. If you decide to do that, I think Caitlyn would be very appropriate.