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lol at the price of this BRZ. I know it's salvage but this 2014 with 22k miles is going for the same price as a salvage early AP2 S2000 that's 11 years old with double or triple the miles.
lol at the price of this BRZ. I know it's salvage but this 2014 with 22k miles is going for the same price as a salvage early AP2 S2000 that's 11 years old with double or triple the miles.
Tyler, fuck yeah, man...nothing in this thread brings me more joy than knowing that you got what you wanted and that you're enjoying the living piss out of it to the tune of 70 daily curvy road miles. You're a great guy and I love that you're happy.
Sam, they're getting hard to find. The only ones they have now are the version 2, which have this groove cut into the spokes that I don't like at all. Evasive has them for $1850 shipped but they're an odd color and 10" wide
Advan Racing RS is the model you're searching for. Stomaching the cost is hard, but not being able to have the ones I wanted (back) would have sucked more. In the end, I coughed up the scratch and am glad I did. Took some shots, gonna edit now.
Dark Gunmetal, or Bright Chrome.
When I bought the set back though, I ended up with an aftermarket VERY dark gunmetal (my previous) rear wheels...and bright chrome brand new front ones.
I had to have them all powdercoated and I selected Mega Grey from prismatic powders for the job. Wife helped pick and it's perfect, lighter than the TL but darker than silver.
After having a lowered vehicle for 5 years, the wheel gap on the S2k is really starting to drive me crazy. With being a cheap ass and thanks to good reviews, I'm leaning towards the Espelir springs. I don't want to go as low as the TL was, so I'm not really considering coils, though I could be persuaded.
Any suggestions or thoughts? I just want some of the wheel gap gone.
...or just leave it? Honda spent millions in R&D to develop that suspension to handle the way it does with that chassis while keeping the overall comfort of the car intact.
function > form
This isn't even a "I love OEM" argument, I follow this logic for every car I've ever owned. I'd never do it unless it was for a functional purpose.
Yah but you forgot about 1 important factor about OEM. They also need to take many other things into consideration and aftermarket has a lot less restrictions since it is not mass produced like OEM.
So aftermarket in general does not mean it is inferior than OEM (reputable brand). spring/shocks as example, most of these reputable brands use better material than OEM and with better design (shocks). So just because it is lowered does not always mean the handling is worse. Honda knows it can be better but because it is a mass produced car that everyone can buy, they have to cap the limitation. That is when the aftermarket brands come in. Now if it is hellaflush lowered, then that is different.
Exhaust is another example and it is obvious why aftermarket is better than OEM overall in quality and design. But since OEM cannot produce too much sound and CO2, they are more restricted.
Last edited by oonowindoo; 11-18-2015 at 03:44 PM.
Yah but you forgot about 1 important factor about OEM. They also need to take many other things into consideration and aftermarket has a lot less restrictions since it is not mass produced like OEM.
So aftermarket in general does not mean it is inferior than OEM (reputable brand). spring/shocks as example, most of these reputable brands use better material than OEM and with better design (shocks). So just because it is lowered does not always mean the handling is worse. Honda knows it can be better but because it is a mass produced car that everyone can buy, they have to cap the limitation. That is when the aftermarket brands come in. Now if it is hellaflush lowered, then that is different.
Exhaust is another example and it is obvious why aftermarket is better than OEM overall in quality and design. But since OEM cannot produce too much sound and CO2, they are more restricted.
Agree completely.
I replaced the suspension on my E46 with Koni and Eibach because the springs had a nasty habit of breaking. Aftermarket > OEM.
I'll replace the suspension on my Jeep as soon as a lift is available for more ground clearance. Aftermarket > OEM.
It's not a catch all but lowering a car for the sake of not looking at wheel gap is not a function, that's form. You could buy aftermarket that doesn't lower at all and improves handling (at the cost of something else) if you wanted better handling but there are always compromises and OE suspension on the S2000 is precisely that. A good compromise of ride height, comfort, handling, and reliability.
Also, I can't lower mine because it would never make it up and down my driveway. I'm millimeters from scraping every time as it is...
Having driven my mom's AP2, the stock suspension is much more forgiving than lowering springs + OEM shocks, but feels less connected & engaging.
At the limit, stock suspension has more body roll, more flex, absorbs bumps more effectively, and overall less unpredictability with uneven road surfaces. For your average driver, these would do just fine. Even on a track setting.
IMO, Espelir springs make a firmer & more connected drive - the steering & turn-in feels crisper, the car corners flat, and it can make for a more pure driving experience while giving an aggressive look. It's a win win in my book
At the end of the day, Tyler wants his car lowered.
I replaced the suspension on my E46 with Koni and Eibach because the springs had a nasty habit of breaking. Aftermarket > OEM.
I'll replace the suspension on my Jeep as soon as a lift is available for more ground clearance. Aftermarket > OEM.
It's not a catch all but lowering a car for the sake of not looking at wheel gap is not a function, that's form. You could buy aftermarket that doesn't lower at all and improves handling (at the cost of something else) if you wanted better handling but there are always compromises and OE suspension on the S2000 is precisely that. A good compromise of ride height, comfort, handling, and reliability.
Also, I can't lower mine because it would never make it up and down my driveway. I'm millimeters from scraping every time as it is...
But if spring provide the same performance and lowered look, then why not?
Unless you go with something like H&R race and swift springs with ridiculous spring rate, in my experience, most of the aftermarket ones like Tein S tech, H&R Sport, Espilier and whatever other ones you can think of are really close to OEM feel. I did not notice any difference in ride quality between OEM springs and Tein S tech on my old S2k. What i did notice is less body roll, probably has to do with lowered center gravity vs. weight transfer than the springs themselves.
Now if you cut your OE springs to lower, then yah that is pure Form > Function.
My 05 was lowered with Buddyclub N1 Coils then Tein S tech and the 07 was never touched, I did not mind either way.
Last edited by oonowindoo; 11-18-2015 at 04:05 PM.
Having driven my mom's AP2, the stock suspension is much more forgiving than lowering springs + OEM shocks, but feels less connected & engaging.
At the limit, stock suspension has more body roll, more flex, absorbs bumps more effectively, and overall less unpredictability with uneven road surfaces. For your average driver, these would do just fine. Even on a track setting.
IMO, Espelir springs make a firmer & more connected drive - the steering & turn-in feels crisper, the car corners flat, and it can make for a more pure driving experience while giving an aggressive look. It's a win win in my book
At the end of the day, Tyler wants his car lowered.
Yup and it's his car and he can do whatever he wants with it, so go for it.
But if spring provide the same performance and lowered look, then why not?
Unless you go with something like H&R race and swift springs with ridiculous spring rate, in my experience, most of the aftermarket ones like Tein S tech, H&R Sport, Espilier and whatever other ones you can think of are really close to OEM feel. I did not notice any difference in ride quality between OEM springs and Tein S tech on my old S2k. What i did notice is less body roll, probably has to do with lowered center gravity vs. weight transfer than the springs themselves.
Now if you cut your OE springs to lower, then yah that is pure Form > Function.
Also probably had something to do with the old springs in the car vs the new ones...
Springs do tire out after a while and I'm guessing that the all S2000's on the road now don't feel anything like they did when new.
I got sick of my 4x4 look, so I got the coilovers. Does a coilover set makes me go faster? Not necessarily. The stock suspension on my car is actually extremely balanced.
Is my car stiffer than the stock? Yes. Is it uncomfortable compared to the stock? No, it's actually smoother.
The only compromise is that I have to be careful going over the bumps or the dips.
People just have different priorities and views on the modifications.
Tyler doesn't want the wheel gap. His best bet would be to get the lowering springs that won't kill the ride quality and mess up the handling. A lot of options are out there for that purpose.
Fuck springs, spend the $$ some meaty 9.5s. $75 for a dinner at one of the best restaurant in town and another $40 for some games @ D&B. still got $15 for some rubbers after.
The car will be lowered naturally in the process with those 9.5s.