I'll be joining the ranks of S2000 owners shortly, and I was wondering what are considered to be the best suspension components/setup to make the cars handling really shine? I intend to buy some aftermarket wheels and also lower the car a bit. I'm coming from an Exige so I really want the car to handle the best it can and give as much feedback through the steering wheel as poss.

Thanks,
Dave.

 

You need to consider your personal requirements.

Firstly, go and get the geometry done. Look at Wheels In Motion in Chesham or Centre Gravity up in the midlands.

After that, work out what you need to improve.

Personally I have Tein Springs, OEM Dampers, Cusco uprated anti roll bars, polybushes all round, mugen caster bushes, cusco lower braces, cusco upper front strut bar... that makes the car handle how I like it, you might think its a bit sharp and snappy.

If you want coilovers KWv3's are highly thought of in the race world on here

 

Buy a set of decent German coilovers and get your geo done then your half way there.

If your going to lower the car more than 20mm, other components are recommended. Lowering the car more than this can put the suspension out of its optimum range, so the following is to be considered

Rear toe arms - T1R + Megan are the most popular
Steering rack spacer
Half shaft spacer

None of the above are mandatory but most of us who have modified suspension have the above.

Seized adjuster bolts can be a problem so have a search on here.

Good luck

P:s Wider rubber, sticky rubber, ARB's, weight loss and brake mods are all food for thought aswell

 

See Sig

 

Nitron also produce some nice shocks for the S2000 (who I know also have a good rep within Lotus circles).

 

What they said! /\

Wheels can be very expensive and it pays to get the correct stagger and size and off set.

Rota do offer cheaper altenatives. The OEM wheels are very good.

I like these.

http://www.mackinindustries.com/md/rays/ce28n.html

 

Please explain why correct stagger is important?

I have zero and the grip and handling far exceeds the oem setup.

 

If / when I have another S2000, it will be having Ohlins like I had on the Lotus. I've been in a car with Bilsteins too and they were a big improvement.

 

If setup right, non-stagger is the way to go.

 

There is a trade-off with both setups. Non-stagger is slower in the straights and also needs a wing. In general more rubber is more grip. J's racing president said that they abandoned the 244/255 all around setup since they had issues with trail braking and stability. I would be very interested to drive a car with non-staggered setup. Many things are related to each one's driving style and taste. Nevertheless the fact remains. More rubber equals more grip. I think that people who are talking about "correct offsets" and setups do not understand much about vehicle dynamics and how everything is part of the equation and in what way each change affects things.