What's up with the modifications?!?
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,263
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From: On the lakefront...
I agree, SilverFog, with much of what you say, actually. I do, however, think that there must be some clarification of terms as it relates to what "modding" really is. One of the first things I did was remove the windshield frame tape. No regrets, love that. Then I put the HKS exhaust on...totally love that. Sounds great, didn't expect a huge performance gain, didn't get it, either. Then I put the front braces on...etc.
Now my car is sponsored and we are doing a lot of things to the car. Mostly Spoon stuff, a company that has been involved in aftermarket performance parts in Japan for many years. But I won't go into the MG Racing stuff, so Bieg won't accuse me of 'hawking products' ...
The point is that I loved the car RIGHT out of the box...totally awesome. I love my car even more now that I have put my stamp on it. And no one can begrudge me that. Some may not agree with the changes that we are making to the car...but the car can be quite easily brought back to stock, with the exception of the frame tape. That, however, is fine, as the black S2000's don't have the tape anyway.
Even with the performance (brake, suspension and bolt on motor) enhancements, the car DOES perform better. And my car isn't my daily driver. So I'm not pushing it around trying to make all these changes for street performance. I can leave the car parked for weekly trips to the race track and be fine. That's where the car shines and that's what Soichiro would have wanted given his vast racing heritage. The S2000 is a race car...and making it MY race car is what I love doing. But again, the car can revert back to stock in a matter of a weekend...
I do, however, find it fascinating that I think one can draw geographical lines here. If you look at who does the craziest modifications to their S2000s, look no further than Japan itself! They are the ones doing the wings and stickers and all kinds of crazy body kits and things like that. You see FAR FAR less of that in the US on the S2000. I would also go out on a limb and say that a very small percentage of S2000 owners EVER get beyond 7/10th's of the car...but that's another thread altogether.
But looking at Japan's apparent attitude towards modding is interesting. Just look at Elnetti's latest post about the Amuse carbon fiber trunk and you will see what I mean. I think Japan is far less uptight about making changes to the S2000 than American's (and certain Canadians) are...
Also, Scott from King Motor Sports, in his letter that goes into the Event Program for S2KDays, says that the car was modified their very morning it was at King. Scott travels to Mugen at least once annually and he has the Japanese sensibility as it relates to eeking out every drop of performance from the car, be it in brakes, suspension, motor, whatever. That is a factor that has to be considered when talking about WHO modifies their S2000s.
Interesting...
Now my car is sponsored and we are doing a lot of things to the car. Mostly Spoon stuff, a company that has been involved in aftermarket performance parts in Japan for many years. But I won't go into the MG Racing stuff, so Bieg won't accuse me of 'hawking products' ...
The point is that I loved the car RIGHT out of the box...totally awesome. I love my car even more now that I have put my stamp on it. And no one can begrudge me that. Some may not agree with the changes that we are making to the car...but the car can be quite easily brought back to stock, with the exception of the frame tape. That, however, is fine, as the black S2000's don't have the tape anyway.
Even with the performance (brake, suspension and bolt on motor) enhancements, the car DOES perform better. And my car isn't my daily driver. So I'm not pushing it around trying to make all these changes for street performance. I can leave the car parked for weekly trips to the race track and be fine. That's where the car shines and that's what Soichiro would have wanted given his vast racing heritage. The S2000 is a race car...and making it MY race car is what I love doing. But again, the car can revert back to stock in a matter of a weekend...
I do, however, find it fascinating that I think one can draw geographical lines here. If you look at who does the craziest modifications to their S2000s, look no further than Japan itself! They are the ones doing the wings and stickers and all kinds of crazy body kits and things like that. You see FAR FAR less of that in the US on the S2000. I would also go out on a limb and say that a very small percentage of S2000 owners EVER get beyond 7/10th's of the car...but that's another thread altogether.
But looking at Japan's apparent attitude towards modding is interesting. Just look at Elnetti's latest post about the Amuse carbon fiber trunk and you will see what I mean. I think Japan is far less uptight about making changes to the S2000 than American's (and certain Canadians) are...
Also, Scott from King Motor Sports, in his letter that goes into the Event Program for S2KDays, says that the car was modified their very morning it was at King. Scott travels to Mugen at least once annually and he has the Japanese sensibility as it relates to eeking out every drop of performance from the car, be it in brakes, suspension, motor, whatever. That is a factor that has to be considered when talking about WHO modifies their S2000s.
Interesting...
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,023
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From: Phoenix
I am amazed by the condescending (excuse my spelling) and arrogant attitudes of these so called "purists". If you don't like modifying your cars, then don't. Please don't judge me because I did.
Sorry, I don't possess the gift of composing long-winded self-aggrandizing diatribes that some board members seem to have. I like to make my point quickly.
Sorry, I don't possess the gift of composing long-winded self-aggrandizing diatribes that some board members seem to have. I like to make my point quickly.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
From: newport beach
I wouldn't do anything to the exterior of the car. In my opinion, body kits = no class. That having been said, I have the chin spoiler, side strakes, trunk spoiler, and black enamel emblems.
I like the way the 17" Work Meister wheels look on the RM web page, but unless they were lighter and stronger than stock and had the perfect offset, I wouldn't get them. I like the idea of a supercharger, but am afraid that it would detonate sending the #4 piston through my aluminum hood. I might get one anyway, after giving those brave souls who've already installed SCs one year to check back with us as to how it all worked out.
I put in the MG Racing brushed aluminum interior trim pieces, they're nice, Honda would have done it better, I have the Voodoo elemental Titanium spherical shift knob, I like it, Rick Hessel's console cover and 7/8 windscreen (they're great), a slab of velcro on the radio door for my cell phone, nasty looking but functional, Spoon lower x brace (love it!) RM Racing STB (looks great, no benefit), Spoon rear cross brace (can't feel any improvement, but performance increased from lightened wallet), RM Racing dead pedal (it's cool) 2x6spds Head Rests Inserts (a gotta have boys and girls), Polk Audio DX 6500 speakers with adjustable separate tweeters and MTX 325 watt amp in tool bin (it's a beautiful thing), JR air filter element (it's blue).
As to exhaust systems, if they do not improve performance, I don't want any more sound. Headers, maybe, but I understand that it softens the VTEC surge, and it is that hilarious ferocity which makes me smile at least once a day.
My alpaca seat belt covers and neck warmers have been retired for the season. I'm waiting for the Honda underseat subwoofer to entertain the ladies with thumping underseat base. I have a Snell helmet which occupies a place of honor in my garage. I hope to use it someday.
Mods are nice. They seem to fall into three general categories:
1. Mods which improve or increase performance ( the standard for these mods should be that they actually improve the performance)
2. Mods which improve liveability. I have a Brookstone clock velcroed to my radio door, stereo upgrades fall into this category, head rest inserts which improve comfort, seat warmers, etc.
3. Style mods - Console cover, aluminum trim kit ... Now this is an area of taste. Some may think that the aluminum interior trim pieces for example, are gaudy. I wouldn't argue with such a comment. I'd say, yeah, but I kinda like them. Another may love his Veilside body kit, but I might snicker behind his back and say to myself it's ugly, while he's snickering about my aluminum trim pieces.
We can all snicker at Greg Stevens who paid $1000 because he likes the way the HKS exhaust sounds and acknowledges no performance improvement.
I suppose all this to say is we all have more money than we know what to do with or wouldn't have bought this toy. Now we discuss whether we should get toys for our toy.
Does it really need to be said .... to each his own.
2x6spds
[Edited by 2x6spds on 04-12-2001 at 06:43 PM]
I like the way the 17" Work Meister wheels look on the RM web page, but unless they were lighter and stronger than stock and had the perfect offset, I wouldn't get them. I like the idea of a supercharger, but am afraid that it would detonate sending the #4 piston through my aluminum hood. I might get one anyway, after giving those brave souls who've already installed SCs one year to check back with us as to how it all worked out.
I put in the MG Racing brushed aluminum interior trim pieces, they're nice, Honda would have done it better, I have the Voodoo elemental Titanium spherical shift knob, I like it, Rick Hessel's console cover and 7/8 windscreen (they're great), a slab of velcro on the radio door for my cell phone, nasty looking but functional, Spoon lower x brace (love it!) RM Racing STB (looks great, no benefit), Spoon rear cross brace (can't feel any improvement, but performance increased from lightened wallet), RM Racing dead pedal (it's cool) 2x6spds Head Rests Inserts (a gotta have boys and girls), Polk Audio DX 6500 speakers with adjustable separate tweeters and MTX 325 watt amp in tool bin (it's a beautiful thing), JR air filter element (it's blue).
As to exhaust systems, if they do not improve performance, I don't want any more sound. Headers, maybe, but I understand that it softens the VTEC surge, and it is that hilarious ferocity which makes me smile at least once a day.
My alpaca seat belt covers and neck warmers have been retired for the season. I'm waiting for the Honda underseat subwoofer to entertain the ladies with thumping underseat base. I have a Snell helmet which occupies a place of honor in my garage. I hope to use it someday.
Mods are nice. They seem to fall into three general categories:
1. Mods which improve or increase performance ( the standard for these mods should be that they actually improve the performance)
2. Mods which improve liveability. I have a Brookstone clock velcroed to my radio door, stereo upgrades fall into this category, head rest inserts which improve comfort, seat warmers, etc.
3. Style mods - Console cover, aluminum trim kit ... Now this is an area of taste. Some may think that the aluminum interior trim pieces for example, are gaudy. I wouldn't argue with such a comment. I'd say, yeah, but I kinda like them. Another may love his Veilside body kit, but I might snicker behind his back and say to myself it's ugly, while he's snickering about my aluminum trim pieces.
We can all snicker at Greg Stevens who paid $1000 because he likes the way the HKS exhaust sounds and acknowledges no performance improvement.
I suppose all this to say is we all have more money than we know what to do with or wouldn't have bought this toy. Now we discuss whether we should get toys for our toy.
Does it really need to be said .... to each his own.
2x6spds
[Edited by 2x6spds on 04-12-2001 at 06:43 PM]
