Forget the mods and go to driving school!!!

 

For more aggressive street performance, here is my list of best low(ish) cost mods that will not toast your warranty... Feel free to substitute your preferred manufacturer on some of these items:

1. Voodoo Shift knob. Pick your finish.

2. Mugen front sway bar.

3. Spoon X-Brace

4. Porterfield R4S pads w/ ATE Super Blue or Motul 600 fluid, thorw in some braided brake lines

5. Possibly an Injen ore AEM cold air intake, but I haven't installed one yet so I can't personally vouch for it. As an alternative, the J&R air filter in the stock box.

6. A spare set of OEM rubber, because you should go drive the hell out of your car and wear the first set out.

7. A open track lapping day with an instructor (see above).

Things I would not recommend to a new owner looking for lower cost mods:

1. Screwing with aftermarket air-fuel computers unless you have a local dyno, a trusted tuner, and a super-strong relationship with your service department

2. Changing the wheels unless you are sure you are getting the correct offset, adjusted for the size difference, that are lighter than stock with tires as good or better as the OEM S02's and balanced in tread width front to rear.

3. Coil-overs, springs or other ride hight or suspension components unless you really know what you are trying to achieve and can do some trial and error with different components to achieve it

4. Most aftermarket exhausts unless you have a big budget, don't really care about power gains, and can tolerate alot of extra noise.

 

indeed, since most aftermarket wheels we see on magazines are cast wheels, laden with dead weight.

now if you go with nice forged wheels...

 

Learn how to adapt and drive the car, then tune accordingly to what you feel is in-adequent. That's my best advice, it ain't a point to just jump into the aftermarket pool because there is quite a bit of selection to choose from but certainly everything is costly.

 

That makes sense. Although I did get myself a new shift knob!

 

If you live in a hot climate then the cheapest performance mod will be something to keep your intake air cool. Here are some excellent ideas IMHO and kudos goes to people like xviper, shingles and wesmaster (to name a few):

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...?threadid=20335

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...?threadid=24315

Another cool idea:

http://www.s2000.org/mods/insulator/

These are cheap & functional mods and thats a combination which is hard to beat.

--Matt

 

J'S exhaust....amazing difference,....then get the JR filter.....

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cybercfp
[B]Criminy, floor mats and shift knobs, eh?

 

My biggest concern w/ the exhaust is that I want to HEAR it before I buy it and install it. So I hear about Spoon, J's, MG, whatever, but what the heck is the freakin' difference? Isn't it basically an "ear" thing?

I've also heard a good point, I want a "throaty" sound, but if I'm driving to the Cape this summer w/ the top down, I don't want to go deaf.

btw - DOES anyone know where to get a "Honk if your Horny" bumper sticker?

 

My apologies to those that suggested a new shift knob and I turned my nose at that. I got the new Muz knob, and it's really great!