rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

So I finally decided I needed to lose a thousand pounds and go RWD...

I'd been toying with the idea of a weekend car for a while. Borrowing that Audi S5 really pushed me to it and with renting a new house and looming bills, no babies and being in my mid 30's on the horizon...Betty and I decided the time would be now. Some cars I considered strongly were other Audi's, and a Mustang 5.0. All of them would be much higher insurance, a big down payment plus substantial monthly payment and would make great daily drivers...which I don't need. The Mustang was my top pick but aside from sounding cool, it takes a lot to make it look different and it's mainly still only good at straight line acceleration and poor gas mileage. The decision to keep the TL came when I realized that my TL is worth a lot more to me than someone would likely be willing to pay for it.

So what car would be impractical enough to be the ying to my 4 door paid off family sedan yang?

Some I'd always wanted and considered were:
Miata, super cheap...but small and somewhat girly (no offense)
S2K, always loved them...never drove one, more expensive but more in line with my personal HONDA lineage
Lotus, recently the prices jumped back up to mid 30's to 40's...that's S5 territory again.

2 Thursdays ago, while watching the Dolphins game...I started scanning autotrader. A big thanks to Tyler M for the information and encouragement. He helped me decide and lean toward paying a little more for the more refined AP2. I had never really done the research on them...AP1 or AP2...oem lips, hard tops? I just knew that when I saw one that made me drool, it was the one I'd be willing to buy. Emailed seller, get to work on Friday and nothing...I got response from 2 others in decent condition. One black RFP1's which I didn't want, and fenders that needed work because it was rubbing. Red on red, which was a little too "blingy" for me. No thanks, I'm coming from over modifying...I wanted simple and clean and oem. Virgin, baby!
Found the listing again and this time texted the number and got an immediate response. Young guy, wrote and responded to me very straightforward...he reminded me of me with being anal and overly wordy. Espelir springs on 25K shocks, test pipe, intake, oem hard top, oem lip, front end repainted at some point for rock chips, all matching vin numbers on engine, and all panels, all fluids swapped, valves adjusted (timing chain, not belt). We did a little preemptive negotiating...came up with a number we were both happy with...send me the Carfax on it, Vin number and bam:

Drove 5 hours round trip that night to Melbourne, FL. Thanks to Betty for being a trooper. I'm sure that wasn't her first pick for a Friday night!

In one week of ownership, I've:

• Changed transmission fluid
• Swapped to magnetic transmission bolt
• Changed to weigthed shift knob
• Installed front spoiler lip protector
• Reinstalled wiper reservoir and tubing
• Reinstalled cruise control module/pedal/cables
• Installed X Brace for strut tower

Still up are reinstalling the oem soft top w/glass that I bought from a junk yard. I'm moving soon so I want to tackle that with more time and in a bigger garage. Can't wait! Hard top is gorgeous but really, with Florida weather turning to rain in an instant, I need the ability to have the soft top under it. The previous owner had deleted the wiper fluid, cruise control and soft top.

Hope you guys enjoy. It's crazy...I got up there to test drive and it was harsh, and loud, and creaky. I almost decided to NOT purchase it. But something told me to go through with it. First time I hit vtec, I was blown away...long time since I've felt true DOHC vtec. On the drive home, it was loud and cold and fast, but something about the way it handled and behaved switching lanes and steering...by the time I got home, I was in love. Weird bond but I now understand why there are no casual S2000 owners...they're almost all fanatics. The car is amazing and I couldn't be happier about adding another Honda to my garage. Drove it to work on Friday morning, huge quiet 4 way stop near home...light rain...did my first RWD doughnut since my 87 corolla in HS. Had a grin from ear to ear for the rest of the day.

Anyway, hope you guys enjoy.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you're an asshole.
i thought i was your best friend, how come you never told me?


and when I get up there, I'm driving it.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I am...I didn't tell anyone. My family doesn't even know...but if you'd check the groupme here and there you would have seen! I wanted it to be a surprise...actually, wanted to surprise you when you arrived!

PS, we need to figure out the few nights you're going to stay. The house will likely be in disarray! And you can drive it...sober and somewhere with no curbs or trees!

myron

iTrader: (4)

NICE, hardtop as well, great looking car

Aman

Fuck yeah! Congrats, J!

wilztlxs

iTrader: (8)

nice pick up man, love the AP2, would have been my choice as well

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Fuck. You.



Ugh.



I didn't even know, Justin!

This angers me.

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Absolutely beautiful and clean. I can't wait to see it in person.

Awesome choice, J. I'm glad you kept the TL too.

MAS

iTrader: (3)

Wohhhh! Didnt see this coming. I guess i should pay more attention.

Anyways great choice. Love that car and at one time i too was considering it as well....just never saw myself as a convertible guy.

Congrats on buy!!

Kaiii

iTrader: (1)

niiiiiiice. grats on the s2k

Catfisha

WOW J!!!! Lucky bastard...

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

well fucking done !!! that is awesome...

am happy for ya bruh....I know the S2K will be just as SICK when you are done

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Thank you, bud!
Gracias!
Merci bien! I love it, I can't even lie. So friggin happy.
^^LOL, you're a trip! One post before we texted, the other, after.
My Mom doesn't even know...Saturday night she's like, ohhhh thinking about another car. I was like, NOPE! I wanted to show up with it one day but couldn't last week. Lawnmower wouldn't fit in the S
Thank you MAS...very much! NOW forced induction on THIS...NAOWWWWWW we talking, bruh!

Never considered myself one either, man...the Sunday before last we took the top off and hit the highway...something VERY satisfying about looking up and just being out in the open atmosphere going 90, errr, 65 mph. Awesome feeling.

Thank you thank you!

You like me? You really like me?

KJ TL-S

iTrader: (9)

Awesome J! Looks fantastic! I'm sure it will be tons of fun....can't wait to see where you take it!

MAS

iTrader: (3)

How comfortable is it inside? i got in a Miata once and was pleasantly surprised....then again it didnt drive it for extended period of time either.

More pics of the interior man.

BTW, how far you gonna take this one? I know its hard to predict and one always ends up doing more than initially planned but a moderately modded S2K says alot. No slamming, no tuck, no crazy wheel changes, no crazy exhaust....just subtle changes that allow the higher end Honda style shine thru....that would be sexy.

Real happy for you man.

Actually i think this might fit what Predator is looking for as well.

Predatorbird

Congrats on the car! I had no idea you were that serious about buying another car so soon. My dad has a Miata that he bought for fun. Even though I feel a little homo in it, it's a blast to drive with the top down. I keep telling him to sell it for a S2K.

This car is too small. There is barely enough room in my TL when I have all my work stuff in the car.

MAS

iTrader: (3)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predatorbird

Congrats on the car! I had no idea you were that serious about buying another car so soon. My dad has a Miata that he bought for fun. Even though I feel a little homo in it, it's a blast to drive with the top down. I keep telling him to sell it for a S2K.

This car is too small. There is barely enough room in my TL when I have all my work stuff in the car.

It probably is to small for a young single stud like yourself....gotta be hard to bang random chicks in this thing.

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Why thank you, Kurt!
Thanks, brother...honestly, it's funny, it's fkn TINY, right? But when I'm in it, it feels VERY comfortable...seats support where they should...after a 2.5 hour drive home I was fine. Honestly, part of the reason I picked this one was that it was just tastefully modded and not slammed/tucked/rolled. I feel like I went a little too far in my boredom with the TL where it became more about the looks of the car than being able to comfortably enjoy driving it. I don't plan to go that route with the S. I even had the lighting module out to clean the contacts and decided against doing LEDs that I had readily available. And although the ride is somewhat harsh over small quick bumps, the overall ride is good and the stance is absolutely perfect. There's a LOT less front bumper clearance to wheel gap ratio on this car. So is it worth the $1400+ on coilovers when I want to keep the same height just so it's a little softer? Not even...because coilovers will make me want to go lower, then I'll fk the bumpers up, then I'll need wheels to sit flush, then I'll roll fenders, then I'll have cracked fender paint.

HAS Intake and test pipe (that eliminates teh cat) with zero CEL.
I put in a front X brace strut bar...front end felt squirrely over bumps, this solved that. I put on that little front aero lip to protect the oem lip. I want the soft top back in so I can go topless EVERYWHERE. And I MAY upgrade the radio to a pioneer that allows me to match the oem dash button color and have bluetooth/satellite capability. The OEM radio CD player doesn't eject the CD properly. I will also likely upgrade the oem brakes to better pads, paint calipers something muted like black or gunmetal, better rotors with no rust on them and buy 2 new matching front tires.

Thanks Adam...I agree, I'm in a unique situation with OWNING my TL and not having to have 1 car that suits ALL needs. The TL is good for what the S isn't and vice versa!
Between the sleeve, his mad game, and his firefighter physique...he'd have to get a tow hitch and rent a uhaul trailer just for all the panteez.

Predatorbird

If only you knew how much my activity has gone up in the past few week

Undying Dreams

iTrader: (3)

Bring me along.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I'm glad I helped, J

Congrats once again sir! I envy you.

Aman

Would you ever consider autocross/track days in it?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

who the fuck cleans the lighting module contacts?

Marcelechka

Congrats J; awesome find!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Yeah Adam, bring Austin to ensure that activity tapers back off...
Don't, Tyler...when I was 24, I had just bought my house and I ended up with an extra $40 a month. We all have our time and trust me, with how responsible you are with school and not blowing money on cars even though that's what makes yerdikhardz...you'll have this same post in 10 years except it'll be for a 911 turbo you bought cash.

I doubt it, Aman...not because I don't think they're cool...but you have to spend a lot of money on tires and put a big strain on the drivetrain. I just want to keep it clean and drive it like a douche on the regular roads, like normal
Hey...I bought the car and the lights inside wouldn't light up unless you pressed the ON button, so SUPER dark at night when getting in the car...googled s2ki forum and bam, the fix took me 10 minutes with my dremel!

Thank you, brother...I thoroughly appreciate it. I'm seriously in love.

Oh, and the broken link picture, figured out which one it was!

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

oh, you read it on forums...


i thought that was apart of your new car cleaning check list.

makes more sense that you knew what the problem was

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Well, after reading up on it, I figured it was likely my issue too. Previous owner told me he liked the lights off so people couldn't see him getting in and out of the car. Guess that sounded better than "it doesn't work". LOL

Aman

Ok.

That's an awesome picture. Dat valve cover.

Come on, just two or three events next summer! You already have the rubber for it.

EvilVirus

iTrader: (8)

Awesome car rockstar

TLDude876

iTrader: (7)

I'll be following your footsteps sir. Test drove the 335i recently and decided it wasn't for me. Looks like you picked up a very clean one. Congrats! Look out for a pm

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Evil, Aman, thank you boys...
if it makes you feel any better, I do try and go slightly a little bit sideways every time there are no cars around and I'm taking a turn. Best way to learn the limits of your car are to actually test them!

Dennis, I may, or may NOT have known about this little PM that I'll be receiving

swoosh

iTrader: (5)

so spill em....what are the plans for the car? :thrilled:

ATLS_666

Might have missed this somewhere but where are thr advans for the tl?

S2kTl6

iTrader: (3)

Wow... That thing is beautiful. Makes me miss mine.

The Machine

iTrader: (8)

I didn't think it was possible to both love someone and hate them at the same time, but I now know it can be done.

Awesome pics though and I can't wait to see what time has in store for your new toy.

Predatorbird

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

OoO, i want to drive it.

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

So J, how do you plan on bringing both cars to the meet.

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

Your wife will hate me for this but.. http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?page=6&t=3017287

Aman

You know how we have summer wheels and winter wheels? Well he has in garage wheels, and out of garage wheels.