S2000 AP1 Build Update

"yitznewton" (yitznewton) 12/06/2015 at 21:35 • Filed to: honda s2000

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I’ve had my S2000 for almost three weeks now. Everything I’ve done to the car so far has been basic daily-driver-worthiness stuff.

I installed a Pioneer Bluetooth CD head unit with the factory speakers. I dislike how the glossy face looks in the minimalist dash, so I’m going to tailor a matte iPad screen protector this week.

I have a set of AP1 wheels ready for when the snow arrives. I’m waiting to actually buy the tires in case we get a minimal snow year as sometimes happens in NJ, and I can squeeze through on the new all-seasons the car came with.

A Viper alarm is now on board; hopefully I never need it! I’m waiting for the S2000 seat lock master to roll out a new group buy so I can secure the seats.

I installed PIAA 400/500Hz Sport Horns. I hate Honda horns. This car needs a voice to go along with its engine note! The S2000 left the factory with two horns, so it was just a question of mounting the new ones in the OEM positions.

Future plans

I have an appointment next month with Billman, the Tri-State S2000 god mechanic, to do his once-over and hopefully find nothing wrong with the car. Only things niggling right now are a stubborn soft top drain problem and non-functional cruise control. I think the cruise control is because of a pedal sensor, but I’ve heard about pedal sensors getting messed up and crippling the car (e.g. clutch interlock), so I’m not going to try a DIY there. Pedals also need some lubrication, as they squeak a bit.

When the spring autocross season hits, I’m hoping to get some new summer rubber and a more sporting alignment. My candidates so far:

Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport (less aggressive)

Bridgestone Potenza RE11 (more aggressive)

Continental Extremecontact DW

I’m going to be looking for something good for daily driving plus occasional autocross, but my most important trait for this first “real” set of tires will be progressive loss of grip, so I can get to know the car well near the limits without worrying too much about sudden loss of grip.

Beyond that, I’m looking to stay stock for the foreseeable future. I’m sure over the next couple of years I’ll get a better sense of where the chassis/suspension might be improved, but it will probably be under the “upgrade things when they wear out” model.

I wouldn’t mind replacing the aging shift knob and boot. I’d love to score a hard top if I happen on the right circumstances, but they are super expensive. I would also be interested in some aero improvements, just based on what I’ve heard about the S not having the best aero characteristics: something like an OEM duckbill plus some sort of front lip or e.g. Amuse bumper.

jkm7680 > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:40

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Exterior pictures needed.

yitznewton > jkm7680 12/06/2015 at 21:41

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:) Hoping to wash her tomorrow. Stay tuned!

jkm7680 > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:41

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Yes!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680 12/06/2015 at 21:43

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Likewise

JGrabowMSt > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:46

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I would suggest Hankook Ventus V12 tires. Have them on the SL, and plan to get a set for the Magnum in the spring. I’m very satisfied with the performance from them as well.

AM3R shamefully returns > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:49

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DW’s are a good tire. I have the DWS on my 328i and C300. Gonna throw them on my 335i as soon as I wear down the runflats that came on the car. Lots of grip in the dry and wet, last a long time, and are fairly cheap. Sounds good to me!

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:49

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Why the RE11 as the aggressive choice? Just go balls deep and get the RE71R

RazoE > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 21:58

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Damn those horns sound good. I expected high-pitched annoying Hella Supertones.

yitznewton > RazoE 12/06/2015 at 22:23

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Yeah, I have always liked the tone of the VW’s I’ve owned, so I tried to shoot toward that. I don’t like high-pitched horns either.

yitznewton > SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman 12/06/2015 at 22:27

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Innnnteresting... that one slipped under my radar. I’ll have to check out the reviews.

SnapUndersteer, Italian Spiderman > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 22:58

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They’re unmistakingly grippier than the old RE11.

They’re also much better in the rain.

But for a street-only car, I wouldn’t get either of those. I’d pick the RE760 or the Michelin Pilot Super Sport instead for the longevity. Skip the Conti DW. Those are my recommendations based on me having owned all of these tires

Textured Soy Protein > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 23:11

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I had the Conti DWs on my old Mazdaspeed 6. I don’t think they’re what you want for autocross use. They have much softer sidewalls than other tires with similar grip levels. Makes for a softer ride but you have less sharp turn-in, and I managed to get them to go greasy just from spirited back road driving. Granted that was a heavier awd car but still.

Hanzr > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 23:46

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Upstate NY owner here. Congrats and car sounds promising!

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > yitznewton 12/06/2015 at 23:59

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Is the Michelin pilot super sport available in your tire size? If it is get that. I know it costs a bit more, but it is the best summer tire being made right now. It is very progressive at the limit, with its only real downside being that its not super talkative at the limit. i.e. you don’t get alot of loud squeals before it lets go. It does still make noise, just not as much as other tires.

It holds up very well to me abusing it in my e46 on the track, and barely appears to wear on normal street driving. My first set of rears lasted ~20k street miles and ~2k track miles. The first set of fronts didn’t last as long because I was still running a street alignment on the track. Since I had a bit more camber dialed in up front, the fronts are now wearing much better.

I’d imagine on your S2k, it would grip just as tenaciously and probably wear even better.

MarquetteLa > yitznewton 12/07/2015 at 00:06

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I can vouch for the RE760s. I’ve happily gone through three sets on my NB2 Miata.

Nick Has an Exocet > yitznewton 12/07/2015 at 00:07

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I had Potenza RE760’s on my Ralliart. They’re meh. Weirdly enough, I really like the firehawk oval indy 500’s. I just put Sport Comp-2’s on my car but now I miss the indy 500’s.

yitznewton > e36Jeff now drives a ZHP 12/07/2015 at 05:34

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I def thought of the PSS being an avid Smoking Tire listener, but it’s a very controversial tire on the S2KI forum for this car. With your notes I’ll give another look - thanks!

Michael > yitznewton 12/07/2015 at 08:21

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FYI, the stock Potenza S-02’s were a cheater’s 225 tire. They actually measure out closest to a 245. If you’re using the stock wheels, or anything close to them, make sure you maintain a 205:245 or equivalent ratio front:rear. Otherwise the handling gets all spin-happy

Opposite Locksmith > yitznewton 12/09/2015 at 09:32

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Get Nitto NT05r’s. Not too aggressive

Nauraushaun > yitznewton 12/10/2015 at 07:23

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I have many questions about your headunit.

Doesn’t the S2000 hide it away under a flap? Wouldn’t that make the glossy finish less of an issue?

Also, how do you work around the fact that you need the flap open all the time if you’re using AUX? Personally I’d be trying to find some other way to do it, so I can leave the flap closed as the car was designed.

yitznewton > Nauraushaun 12/10/2015 at 09:11

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I deleted the door, because the radio is the only clock in the car, and it looks wrong to leave it open all the time. Common mod, apparently. I stream Bluetooth, so I don’t have the AUX problem.

I put an anti-glare shield over the big open part of the display to cut down the glossiness.

Nauraushaun > yitznewton 12/10/2015 at 22:12

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Cool :)