Honda S2000

[Rich]

The car is junk. I replaced the two blown paper speakers with 4 working ones. Not original though. Tanked the value.

$20

[BimmerM3]

Sorry if this is in here - I don't feel like reading through 30 pages. Did you end up putting aftermarket shocks/struts on your car? How do you like them?

I think mine is overdue for new ones. I'm leaning towards stock just because I've always been really happy with the car and don't think it needs to be improved, but I also feel like I should do some due diligence.

[MrH]

Sorry if this is in here - I don't feel like reading through 30 pages. Did you end up putting aftermarket shocks/struts on your car? How do you like them?

I think mine is overdue for new ones. I'm leaning towards stock just because I've always been really happy with the car and don't think it needs to be improved, but I also feel like I should do some due diligence.

I've been dragging this out.  With the wife getting a new Mazda CX-5, I tried my best to stick the S2000 in the deal and get a new Miata out of it too.  I couldn't get any dealer to commit to KBB for trade in.  The dealer finance manager said it was just too much risk, because the prices for these are all over the place.

I also tried to buy a used 2016 Miata for cheap, drove 2 hours each way, dealership wouldn't hold to the numbers they committed to via email

Eventually I came to the conclusion, the gap to a new Miata is too big.  I don't really want to spend $15k to upgrade.  Maybe I'll get an ND miata years from now, but sticking with the S2000 for the foreseeable future.  So now I'm committing financial seppukku and dumping money into the car.


-Ordered 949 Racing 6UL wheels, waiting for them to get in.  I'll be running a square setup.  17x9, +55, 245/40/17 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.  Once the wheels come in, I'll take them to Costco and get tires put on
-Dropping the car off at a local independent Honda & Acura guy to do the following maintenance: valve adjustment, spark plugs, radiator flush, oil change.
-Ordered a new timing chain tensioner. I'll do that myself once it comes in
-Once I get the wheels and tires in, I'm dropping it off at TurnIn Concepts.  They're going to install Bilstein PSS9s, set ride height, alignment, and then slight fender roll to make it all fit.

Should be something like $3300 total.


At that point, the car should be 100% good to go mechanically.  The rest is mostly nice to have and cosmetic stuff for me to do: dynomat some areas, install second 12 volt outlet, rig up a qi charger to hold my phone, clean the rust off my calipers and paint them or something.

TL;DR - I'll let you know how Bilstein PSS9s feel in a few weeks

[Rich]

IME lately Mazda dealers are the worst experience I've had so far.

[12,000 RPM]

I'm thinking the dealer experience is going to continue to get shittier at brands where sales are in free fall

Everything Mazda makes is down in the double digits so far this year after big sales drops the last 2 years

[Rich]

I'm thinking the dealer experience is going to continue to get shittier at brands where sales are in free fall

Everything Mazda makes is down in the double digits so far this year after big sales drops the last 2 years

It's the opposite of what the symptoms of that would be. I have to continue contacting these people and they have a terrible idea of what they are selling

[AutobahnSHO]

Cuz the sales aren't high enough to keep the good salesmen? Too much turnover?

[68_427]

My Mazda diller friend said Mazda is in the process of upgrading dealers/dealership experience and is leaving dealers out to dry if they don't want to take on the upgrades/changes.

[MrH]

[BimmerM3]

I've been dragging this out.  With the wife getting a new Mazda CX-5, I tried my best to stick the S2000 in the deal and get a new Miata out of it too.  I couldn't get any dealer to commit to KBB for trade in.  The dealer finance manager said it was just too much risk, because the prices for these are all over the place.

I also tried to buy a used 2016 Miata for cheap, drove 2 hours each way, dealership wouldn't hold to the numbers they committed to via email

Eventually I came to the conclusion, the gap to a new Miata is too big.  I don't really want to spend $15k to upgrade.  Maybe I'll get an ND miata years from now, but sticking with the S2000 for the foreseeable future.  So now I'm committing financial seppukku and dumping money into the car.


-Ordered 949 Racing 6UL wheels, waiting for them to get in.  I'll be running a square setup.  17x9, +55, 245/40/17 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S.  Once the wheels come in, I'll take them to Costco and get tires put on
-Dropping the car off at a local independent Honda & Acura guy to do the following maintenance: valve adjustment, spark plugs, radiator flush, oil change.
-Ordered a new timing chain tensioner. I'll do that myself once it comes in
-Once I get the wheels and tires in, I'm dropping it off at TurnIn Concepts.  They're going to install Bilstein PSS9s, set ride height, alignment, and then slight fender roll to make it all fit.

Should be something like $3300 total.


At that point, the car should be 100% good to go mechanically.  The rest is mostly nice to have and cosmetic stuff for me to do: dynomat some areas, install second 12 volt outlet, rig up a qi charger to hold my phone, clean the rust off my calipers and paint them or something.

TL;DR - I'll let you know how Bilstein PSS9s feel in a few weeks

Nice. I think I'm gonna do similar stuff - keep the current garage and spend a bunch of money getting both vehicles up to snuff. Explorer will be first because it's going on a long road trip next month, but I want to get S2000 in tiptop shape too. I won't be upgrading wheels/tires and will probably stick to OEM suspension components, but I gotta get some preventative maintenance done too in addition to the shocks.

I might do some dynomatting too. I want to cut down on the exhaust droning when the roof is up (though I don't drive it with the roof up all that much anymore).

[MexicoCityM3]

I think your car is better than a Miata, at least as a pure enthusiast car. I am glad you're keeping it. The S2000 is much more of an icon.

Not dissing the Miata.

[Laconian]

I think your car is better than a Miata, at least as a pure enthusiast car. I am glad you're keeping it. The S2000 is much more of an icon.

Not dissing the Miata.

I agree. I wouldn't get an S2000 now because they're too expensive for what they are, or they're riced out, or they're in questionable condition. If you have a good S2000 that's already in your possession, then just enjoy it

[MrH]

I just got really burnt out trying to get the car right.  I've dumped a lot of time into the thing already and was just sick of messing with it and thought I could squeeze a new miata in and cut my losses.

After trying so many scenarios and still looking down a $15,000 bill to upgrade has me motivated to make this work again   Probably the better move.  I'd feel kind of stupid spending all that time ripping the interior out and doing a full stereo system and wire job myself, only to dump the thing.

[68_427]

If you weren't in the wrong part of Ohio I'd totally drive over and make you let drive it.

[FoMoJo]

I think your car is better than a Miata, at least as a pure enthusiast car. I am glad you're keeping it. The S2000 is much more of an icon.

Not dissing the Miata.

So true, the S2000 is the little jewel of the almost affordable sports car class.  Well worth keeping forever.

[giant_mtb]

This picture makes it look like you've got a 17" on the out-side and a 16" on the back-side.

[MrH]

Nice. I think I'm gonna do similar stuff - keep the current garage and spend a bunch of money getting both vehicles up to snuff. Explorer will be first because it's going on a long road trip next month, but I want to get S2000 in tiptop shape too. I won't be upgrading wheels/tires and will probably stick to OEM suspension components, but I gotta get some preventative maintenance done too in addition to the shocks.

I might do some dynomatting too. I want to cut down on the exhaust droning when the roof is up (though I don't drive it with the roof up all that much anymore).

Yeah, it's not a quiet car. 

I'm off to order tires from Costco.  I also reinstalled this radio bracket from Modifry.  I order a qi charging phone dock off amazon.  Need to wire in a second 12V outlet into the passenger footwell and then I'll have my phone I can drop in front and center and provide Waze and everything.  Should be a pretty slick setup once it's done.

Got my Honda guy lined up for all the maintenance while on vacation.  Just about everything should be done by mid June 

[MrH]

$919 for tires

[CaminoRacer]

$919 for tires

Oh boo hoo I paid $1060 for a set that will probably only last 1 year.

[FoMoJo]

Oh boo hoo I paid $1060 for a set that will probably only last 1 year.

Does your wife know?

[Eye of the Tiger]

$320 for some nice Hankook all terrains, and I can't seem to put a dent in them.

[CALL_911]

This car is way cooler than a Miata and you should keep it forever. What kind of tires are you looking at

[MX793]

$919 for tires

My regular street tires cost over a grand mounted and balanced.  AutoX tires cost slightly more...

[CaminoRacer]

My regular street tires cost over a grand mounted and balanced.  AutoX tires cost slightly more...

The joys of muscle cars vs. lightweight roadsters.

[MrH]

This car is way cooler than a Miata and you should keep it forever. What kind of tires are you looking at

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

[Eye of the Tiger]

Michelin Pilot Sport 4S

Well that's why it's $919. Get some Westlakes!

[MrH]

Does your wife know?

Yes. She watched me buy them haha. I bought her a MacBook Air for getting into grad school to balance it out a bit.

[Xer0]

Yes. She watched me buy them haha. I bought her a MacBook Air for getting into grad school to balance it out a bit.

So for the honor of having to spend a lot of money in the next two years, you two rewarded yourselves with spending a lot of money now 

Either way, congrats to her!  Pretty exciting.  And to your tires too 

[MrH]

So for the honor of having to spend a lot of money in the next two years, you two rewarded yourselves with spending a lot of money now 

Either way, congrats to her!  Pretty exciting.  And to your tires too 

I tried to tell her it didn't make sense. I waste a ton of money on a car, so she gets to waste a ton too?

Anyways, the pay bump when she's done is so big, I'll gladly support it with a laptop and some tuition costs. Nurse practitioners make about double what nurses do.

[CaminoRacer]

Yeah, gotta be careful with the "even spending" idea. It can get out of hand quickly