I have owned a 2004 s2000 for about 2 years now. i am very happy with the car both on and off the track.

I am interested in building an s2000 for strictly track use only and was hoping someone could school me on the exact year i should consider buying for this use because alot of small changes have been over the years of production.

Should i consider a cr?
06-08 with vsa? does this work good on the track or would it be off the whole time?
an 04-05?
or an ap1?

Thankyou for any imput!

 

Imo if you are going to have a track car, start with the oldest and cheapest S you can find since you'll be modifying everything anyway. I'd suggest you start with the Racing and Comp FAQs in that forum.

 

 

I'd pick the newest S2000 you could afford to destroy!

Some reasons that an AP1 can be a PITA compared to an AP2 when building a track car.

1. Worn bushings including alignment bolts.
2. Oil banjo bolts depending on the MY.
3. Spot welded A-Arms.
4. Rear bumpsteer.
5. Weaker valve retainers.
6. No ability to tune ECU (pre-06).
7. Brass synchros

If you had a lot of money, I'd start with a CR (faster steering rack, but still flashable ECU).

 

Cheapest car you can find with lowest miles, find one with some minor body damage to save cost...put the savings into the build.

 

building my car would be possiable with no worries or even buying a CR. im just interested in the benifits between model years reguardless of cost. would stiffining the steering rack and removing the interior and a/c in an 04 be comparable to a cr with no interior? i will be using AEM so reflashing is not an issue. im concerned with VSA and if it is a benifit on the track or if i will have it turned off the whole time, or if there is a big benifit in one area if i picked up an AP1 over an AP2 besides price.

 

The AP2 chassis is stiffer, if that matters to you, that is probably the hardest part of the car to fundamentally change.

http://www.honda.com/newsandviews/article....d=2003100141482

 

1. The CR has a quicker (same ratio as an AP1) steering rack than a standard AP2.
2. There's a rear brace in the CR where the soft top would be. But putting in a roll bar (or cage) would probably make more of a difference than the brace ever would.
3. I hate my AEM EMS. It's a PITA. I'd rather FlashPro a DBW.

My opinion on VSA for the track. Too intrusive for a good driver in the dry. Probably a good thing for a ham-fisted new driver learning the limits.

In the wet for a mediocre driver... probably a good thing.

Just for Saki: RACELOGIC TRACTION CONTROL!!!!! You can adjust at what amounts of slip it kicks in. You can also adjust how much it kicks in and at what rpms. If you didn't have a budget and you were looking to have an additional level of safety, I'd go that route.

 

Spot welded A-arms? Can you elaborate?

 

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=172595

Near the end of the opening post with link.