Exactly how do you go about improving on perfection? When it was released to the public, Honda's S2000 was considered by many to be the perfect topless sports car. It had 240 hp on tap in a diminutive 2,800-lb shell, utilized rear-wheel drive so it was completely tossable in the corners, and incorporated a chassis more rigid than many cars that come equipped with a roof. Add to the fact that its four-pot engine revved to 9000 rpm and started with a race-insired push-button ignition, and you can see why so many people were universally soiling themselves. Push-button ignitions are cool.
However, we at 2NR and you, the 2NR enthusiast, share a common value when it comes to new, factory-fresh automobiles: No factory car can ever be considered "perfect" as it rolls off the assembly line. There's always room for improvement in every new car, whether it's squeezing more power from a suffocating factory powerplant or simply adding one's own unique style to the car's interior or exterior.
Moon Choi, an East Coast player from Silver Springs, Md., was actually in the market for a Lexus IS when a friend convinced him to take Honda's new roadster for a test drive. The test drive would turn out to be a date with destiny. By the time he got back to the dealer lot, Choi was more than ready to sign the paperwork.
This car wasn't Choi's first experience with import hardware. He had been previously driving a turbocharged Civic EX, which he had given to his sister in the interest of securing something more economical to use for his daily commutes. He admitted at the time he was thinking more of economy and convenience when it came to daily-driven transportation, but the fateful test drive made him change his mind.
"As soon as I drove the S2000, my mindset reverted to its original state in about 10 minutes," he said. "I decided I would go all out, before I got older and had more responsibilities that would prohibit me from enjoying my expensive hobby."
It turned out to be a good call; after all, once a car freak always a car freak-at least that's how we look at it. Choi admits he was impressed by the S2000 even in its default factory mode, but he nonetheless knew there was plenty of room for improvement. He began with the suspension, adding a Cusco front strut tower bar and Spoon X-Brace and rear tie bar to help reinforce the nearly bulletproof chassis. Coilovers were next, and Choi chose some of the best, Japanese-market Zeal B6 assemblies.
About the same time he added new wheels to work with the car's freshly lowered stance in filling up the unsightly gaps between the tire and fender lip. His choice of rolling stock were Volk LE37Ts wrapped snugly in Yokohama Parada rubber.
With the car's handling dialed in, Choi went straight to the heart of the power matter: the engine. First on his list of overhauls were the induction and exhaust systems, upgraded with an Injen intake, Proflow throttle body and Tanabe Racing Medallion exhaust. Next came a Comptech supercharger kit, which Choi calls a spur-of-the-moment purchase. It was a solid one though, which Comptech claims delivers an additional 100 hp to the crank, putting power output at the wheels somewhere slightly north of 300. The kit included fuel enrichment equipment, a pressure regulator and bigger pump, and also came with its own airbox, so Choi had to ditch his intake. He made the best of things and sold it to pay for another exhaust upgrade, a DC Sports header, because it improves exhaust flow and because its Jet Hot coating makes it look the shit.
Once the car's power output had been bumped to a suitable level, Choi found the factory clutch was beginning to slip, so his final addition to the engine bay was a Star stage 3 clamper, along with a lightweight TODA flywheel. Nine thousand rpm never came on so fast.