The only thing i would have to decide is 2.0 with 9k redline or 2.2 wit 8k redline but more torque??? Hmmmmm........ probably 2.0 since they are cheaper and 9k redline sounds awesome!!

I guess I should test drive one eventually.

 

The 2.0 are also easier to turbo from what i've seen. not that you need another car to go crazy with

 

Had one and loved it. The shifter was like a toggle switch and the instrument cluster made driving feel like an arcade.

 

If you go 2.2, only get an '06+, as they have flash-able ECU's.

There is not a major difference in torque output (I mean, maybe in Honda torque) so I'd save the money and get a 2.0.

 

How did you like the torque, performance, and otherwise competitiveness? We have only 1 or 2 guys able to drive one worth a damn in the DFW AX group. I loved my RX-8...best laid out car, balance, economy, style, interior, and NOT PERFORMANCE! Would I do it again, hell no! If they put 300lb-ft in it...hell yes!

 

S2k was the best, most fun, car I've ever owned.

 

Uhm, then why did you get rid of it?

 

I was living in Minnesota at the time and was tired of owning and maintaining two cars while living in an apartment. I sold my Plymouth Laser RS AWD winter beater and S2000 and bought the Evo IX. I looked into getting another S2k this past spring to have around as a weekend toy but never found one that met my criteria so I just gave up. Probably for the best.

 

Next project

 

looks good, but i think you cannot use that with evo x that has aero package.

 

There was no torque, but that's no surprise.

Gern B. drives that white s2000 with the incredibly loud exhaust (pointed at the ground) and he's consistently at the top of the s2000 class in NTAXS. I've compared overall times at previous NTAXS events too, and noticed that the better s2000 drivers usually run ~2s better than me (again tires have much to do with this, as you won't find a single s2000 out there without Star Specs, RS3's, or AD08's. Greg L. (who moved to AZ) did awesome in his blue s2000. Of course, Jones (blue s2000 CR), who designed most of NTAXS' courses this season, is always up there too.

I sound like fanboy, but they really are great cars. I can't say they offer the same feel as an evo simply because they lack much of the rawness (as I'm sure you noticed in your RX-8 Jose). But they are a very pure driver's car. They just feel like a proper sports cars (sit low, RWD, sporty styling [in and out] etc.). I particularly miss the heavy steering/low power assist. I feel like my VIII's steering has way to much assist at any speed (but I'll take the evo's insanely responsive steering over crisp feedback any day).

I don't know that it was the best car I've owned, but then I never even took it autocrossing or tracking. Therefore, it's hard for me to rate the "competitiveness."

 

If you look closely at the grill, these are Ralliart specific

 

Jones runs on RS-3's(previously Z1's) and is a great driver, very consistent and knowledgeable..

 

Front wind splitter vs a lip (front air dam). I assume a lip will help some wit down force, but is mostly for looks and a splitter only purpose is to split the air in front of the car to help downforce.

Also questions does it do any good to have a GT style wing and not have a splitter or lip??

Trying to learn more about aero.

 

Lip is really a looks thing. It helps, but not enough to matter really. A proper splitter streamlines the air under the car, causing a low pressure area, thus increasing downforce due to the high(er) pressure on top of the splitter.

It would unbalance the car to have a proper GT wing without a splitter up front, as your rear grip would be higher than front. Some people would intentionally do this, if they wanted to promote rear grip vs front, but for a TA/TT type car, you want it balanced. Don't do one without the other.