best street-legal track car?

[lstjohn]

Hi All, am new to the community, but am hoping some of you fine S2000 folks can steer me right so I can join the party. Here's a couple notes on my track experience, I'd love to hear your recommendations:

I'm looking for ideas on what to get for track-use that I can also still run around the country on the weekend and maybe use to get momma (my wife) lured into the sport as well.

I've currently got an '07 BMW M5 as my daily driver, which I've got about 5 track days in, & it's great, but it's got a big butt (even if the suspension is great) and doesn't dance quite as well as a lighter better balanced car.

So I've taken about a dozen demo rides in different cars while doing track days, and THE most awesome hair-raising experience was in a fully race-ready Spec-Miata. Not street legal at all, a full race car. So I started looking around for "partially modified Miatas (suspension, breaks, roll bar, turbo or supercharged (the M5's made me a power junkie)) but ran into problems 'cause at 6'3" the only way they can make me fit is by bolting a race seat to the floor which means it can't be adjusted for momma to run around in w/o remounting it.

Having said that, the second most awesome hair-raising experience on track ever was in a mostly stock (brake kit & sticky tires only) S2000 AND IT WAS ONLY SECOND IN MY MIND BY A FRACTION. I thought that said A LOT for S car since considering it was bested only by a full-race set-up. I LOVED the way it cornered, LOVED the way it shifted, LOVED the convertible-yet-still-legal-for-track-use-due-to-the-stock-roll-protection factor (another plus for luring momma into driving it), LOVED the way it looked (esp w/some black rims!), LOVED the way it sounded at 9k RPMs, and LOVED the fact that I've heard it can be easily modded to get close to M5-rivaling power w/some sort of forced air intake or other engine mod.

OK, so that's where I'm at. PLEASE HELP: what should I get? What should I do to it to get it where I want it? Thanks in advance to anyone that's got a thought!

[J'sS2K]

Stick with the M5 is my suggestion.

[D1sclaimer]

You sound like you have the same passion that the s2k provides that all of us like. The s2k can be used as a daily driver as well, but Im sure coming in with an M5, you'd be disappointed with the s2k if you're gonna daily drive it in its stock form. You'd probably want a supercharger and they differ for the different years. Just for the supercharger, it'll run you about 6 grand alone.

Never driven an M5, but have heard nothing but great things about them except the same thing you said. The car is too big and suffers handling a bit from it, but its still well above average turning capabilities. It is a big difference between the M5 and s2k for weight so if you're looking to "sling" the car around, the s2k is the better car.

Have you also considered a Lotus Elise? They're a bit pricey, but you can throw them all over the track and they'll stay stuck to the ground. They're awesome little cars with only 194 crank hp, but they're still faster in the 1/4 mile than the s2k and on a track, it'll rip an s2k.

[s2kx2]

I would suggest taking a stock S to some track days and some driving courses then, after you reach the point of where you are faster than the car, that is where you begin to mod the suspension first then maybe forced induction if you must have more power. S2000 forums are full of people "parting out" their cars after modding and many of these are attributed to those who mod first without knowing how "Stewie" can bite. A stock S2000 is already more car than most owners can handle. Just my 2 cents. Good luck!

[js1]

A guy I know bought a Caterham 7. It is based on the old Lotus 7 and Super 7 cars. It is street legal and it will destroy anything out there and I mean anything. Car and Driver did a page or two on it a few years ago and they said that after driving it everything else seems bloated and underpowered. The same buddy also has a Ferrari F430 and the Caterham makes it look silly. It has a 2.3 liter cosworth 4 banger that spins to 10,000rpm and it has 260hp. It only weighs about 1300lbs. I got to drive it once on highway 35 which is a little two lane highway that runs through the Crystal Springs Mtns. here in the Bay Area and turns that I was scared to take in the S2000 at 50 , I was confidently taking at 65. It's expensive but you have an M5 so it seems that cash won't be a problem. The only problem is that it is way too extreme to drive everyday but you still have your M5. I picked the S2000 over the Lotus Elise because I drive the S everyday and the Lotus is just made poorly. Good Luck with the search.

[js1]

Here is the website for the entire Caterham line.

www.caterham.co.uk/

[js1]

Here is the us site, unfortunately we can't get the euro spec cars...

www.uscaterham.com

[Swingle1]

The S ain't a bad way to go.

I guess it all boils down to being street-legal AND how much "momma" is willing to put up with.

If you continue to look at the S, I'd suggest focusing on the AP1 (pre 2004) or the '08 CR. The stock suspension is tuned more closely for that type of driving... with the later being tuned the most. The CR is the least practical, but I doubt you mind.

BTW, I feel your pain. I'm 6'2" 205. If the car doesn't fit, nothing else matters.

Good luck and post back with whatever you decide.

[Neil]

lstjohn, back to the rack with yer lad for thinkin miata........some of us guys are so close to our cars we got rid of the dog.....
Good luck on your choice tho......the s is a great little car

Neil

[Java Junky]

'Anybody know how the Stewie-powered Ariel Atom stackz up against the 'Ham?

[lstjohn]

Guys, thanks for the feedback, especially D1sclaimer & S2kx2, that's helping me figure out where to go. I want a nible car for the track so I can learn how to drive the line, and then worry about building power back up later. As far as what I can get: I have an M5 because I'm in love with that car more than a proper savings account, so yes $$ is a consideration. So while I agree that a Lotus is probably great, I'd rather find something I can develop a love affair with for around $10-15k, so an AP1 is sounding pretty good. It's gotta be "fun" for momma, cause I really'd like to get her into this hobby w/me, so something that's also comfortable enough for an every-*other*-day-driver is what I'm shooting for.

Any particular years to look for on an AP1? Or issues that can pop up to watch out for? What are some simple, mods I can look at w/big bang-for-buck factor?

Oh, and Java Junky, I don't know anything street legal that can touch the Atom. I was running out at Thunder Hill here in NorCal this weekend and a Lotus Exige owner brought out his brand new 2007 Atom and said it was like nothing he's ever been in. The Lotus was running a 2:17 lap, a Ferrari F430 was doing 2:14, a Nascar club had a run group and they were doing around 2:02, but the Atom had a 1:50 time for the same track. I don't think it can be touched. Here's a link to a pretty good Atom review: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaWoo82zNUA. You'll see at the end how it's track time compares w/a Ferrari Enzo (any guesses??)

[gomarlins3]

The S is great at the track, but remember, not all organizations or tracks will allow an S to run even if you have a hardtop. Most people will not meet the 'broomstick' test. I am 5'11" and I don't meet it. Since you are taller, I would bet you wouldn't be close either. Just a thought to keep in mind.

[jagg]

The S2000 is great at the track, for sure.

Better served as a d.d. , in this man's most humble of opinions. Cheap 'n dependable was Honda's mantra, long before it started building real canyon carvers.
Economical to boot! Can't go wrong for beatin' on purposes. Simple layout, with superior engineering where it counts. It dares me to blow it up, er wreck it.

Welcome to the site, lstjohn.


Regards,
Jagg