My s2000 is coming in on Friday, and I am already planning mods. From what I have researched this engine is breathing well from the factory, people dont seem to get any gains at all from even cams. What about handling? Can that be improved upon? Reccomend some parts please. Also, I wanted to add some small little appearance touches here and there to make it unique. Maybe the clear JDM side markers, or I found some CF headrest inserts that were kinda cool, I dunno, anything to make it mine. Any opions welcome.
gmoore

 

Handling can always be improved upon although that depends on how you look at it. If you're looking for a street setup or a track setup either way you are going to have to dial the car in for maximum perforance. Throwing a set of coilovers, strut bars, sway bars, etc on an s2000 won't give you near the gains in handling as it would if you put them on a civic solely due to the fact that the s2000 is built to handle from the factory.

 

how about..

don't do a damn thing to it until you learn how to drive it? and you learn what might suit your driving needs a little better? i.e. - don't blow $2K on a coilover system when you've never been to the track before, nor know what to expect after you installed them. learn out of the box first, then see what can improve your driving (mod wise or lessons wise).

 

I believe in a recent mag comptech tested their intake and exhaust on a dyno and saw relatively 2hp gain. +4 after intake and -2 after exhaust. You are going to get results like this at the car is well engineered. FI is about the only way to make more power but then you run the risk of changing the charateristics of the car or other problems associated with FI. If you want to just personalize the car there are a host of vendors that can puchase inexspenive items. If you don't track the car I wouldn't recommend coilovers.
Try http://www.ricks2k.com or http://www.muzacessories.com check on s2ki.com for more things to personalize your car with.
Enjoy the car first though try autocrossing it after you break in the motor well just stock, you'll be suprised what you will learn in just a couple of autocross sessions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr. Bagel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how about..

don't do a damn thing to it until you learn how to drive it? and you learn what might suit your driving needs a little better? i.e. - don't blow $2K on a coilover system when you've never been to the track before, nor know what to expect after you installed them. learn out of the box first, then see what can improve your driving (mod wise or lessons wise).</TD></TR></TABLE>

i agree about learning the car first...if this is your first rwd car,u need to learn the limits handling wise...the car is great out of the factory. after you get used to it's power delivery, then check out some mod's. like kys2000 u can personalize your s2 in the meantime(from ricks2k).good luck and congrats on getting an s2000

 

don't mod an s2000.

 

go to s2ki.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VolpeOwnsU &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Handling can always be improved upon although that depends on how you look at it. If you're looking for a street setup or a track setup either way you are going to have to dial the car in for maximum perforance. Throwing a set of coilovers, strut bars, sway bars, etc on an s2000 won't give you near the gains in handling as it would if you put them on a civic solely due to the fact that the s2000 is built to handle from the factory.</TD></TR></TABLE>

isnt the handling on the car good as is already ? when i got the chance to ride in an s2 in the mountains, it handled like a dream. took turns like nothing. but if suspension should be upgraded then go for it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GDPzS2000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i agree about learning the car first...if this is your first rwd car,u need to learn the limits handling wise...the car is great out of the factory. after you get used to it's power delivery, then check out some mod's. like kys2000 u can personalize your s2 in the meantime(from ricks2k).good luck and congrats on getting an s2000 </TD></TR></TABLE>

I agree 100%. If this is your first rwd car, you will notice a dramatic difference in handling as compared to fwd cars. Oversteer/pitching the *** end out can happen relatively easily and OWN you. This car handles very well from the factory. Learn the car a little at a time.

 

This will be my first RWD car, and I am worried about fishtailing and all that kinda stuff. How do you all reccomend I learn the limits without passing them? I dont want to spend the money on coilovers, and definatly not an exhaust that will make me lose power. Maybe Ill just stick to some small aesthetic stuff and strut bars. Can anyone reccomend some nice ones, that arent outrageous?
gmoore

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tegunderpressure &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This will be my first RWD car, and I am worried about fishtailing and all that kinda stuff. How do you all reccomend I learn the limits without passing them? I dont want to spend the money on coilovers, and definatly not an exhaust that will make me lose power. Maybe Ill just stick to some small aesthetic stuff and strut bars. Can anyone reccomend some nice ones, that arent outrageous?
gmoore</TD></TR></TABLE>

take it to an autox track or open track days if you can. relatively cheap, safe and fun.

 

seriously don't mod the car yet. wait a while until you learn how to drive it. if you are talking about strut bars, this is the WRONG car. 1) the S doesn't have struts, it does have a shock tower, but that brace does little if nothing at all. so.. there goes 100-350 down the drain when that could have been spent on two days at the track and several hours with an instructor learning how to drive the car.

 

There arent any tracks around here, Sarasota Florida, atleast that I know of. I guess Ill just have to take it easy. If it does start to fish tail, I let off the gas, do not hit the brakes, and steer out of the turn correct?
gmoore

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tegunderpressure &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This will be my first RWD car, and I am worried about fishtailing and all that kinda stuff. How do you all reccomend I learn the limits without passing them? I dont want to spend the money on coilovers, and definatly not an exhaust that will make me lose power. Maybe Ill just stick to some small aesthetic stuff and strut bars. Can anyone reccomend some nice ones, that arent outrageous?
gmoore</TD></TR></TABLE>


My S is my first RWD, I'll tell you right now, I have NO plans to mod my car till I mod my driving abilities and go take some driving course.

 

3 mods that would give you good handling improvements:
X-Brace
Stiffer stabilizer bar
And a brace for the lower rearend (I can't remeber exactly what this is called).

Once you learn your car and are confident in your skills...I would look to these mods first. Then if you want better acceleration you might try Ricks 4.44 gears.

 

as far as fishtailing i learned the hard way.. but as far as launch my friend revved to 6500 and released and it fishtailed. Ive had my car for a while and im still kinda scared to push the limit bc i dont wanna fishtail into another ditch mang!

 

there are plenty of autox groups in your neck of the woods and also sebring has the occassional driver education event.

 

i believe they have open track days at Sebring and Daytona every once in a while.