My turn to be on scooby snacks...

Well, we were really enamoured of the S204 when we first drove it back in 2006 (see HERE and HERE) and there were at least two of us who were prepared to buy one for an attractive enough price. Sad to say, fate was not on our side so we moved back to Hondas instead.



Fast forward to 2011, one of the S204s that I had my (hawk) eye on finally came up for sale and after a great deal of reluctance on the original owner's part (how can we blame him?!) we finally sealed the deal on 17th Aug. 2011.


This example was originally registered in 2008 (manufacturing year is 2006, instead of 2 additional deals, MIE ended up exporting most of the 30 S204s due to their 'innovative' pricing strategy.)

To date, the one-owner car (mileage when taken over was just under 24,000 km) remains in original condition save for a full Cusco underbody brace, larger STi 12litre reservoir (for the intercooler spray) in the trunk and 6pot front/4pot rear AP Racing big-brake kit. Apparently, this full set-up with the all-round larger rotors weigh-in lighter than the stock Brembo system.



The original Pirelli PZero Corsa tyres from 2006 were buggered by the time this car was registered in 2008, so the owner slapped on a set of Michelin PS3s, which still have plenty of life left in them. At next change, we're likely to switch to Michelin Super Sports, since we've heard loads of good things about them, for both road and track use.



Otherwise, everything you see on the car is bone-stock, which includes the dry carbon front lip, rear diffuser, brushed aluminium finish wing mirrors, lightweight forged BBS alloys and the Titanium STi exhaust system that gives the car a delicious rasp during full-bore runs. Of course the gorgeous carbonfibre reclining Recaro SP-Xs are still there, while the other addition to the cabin is the defi triple gauge cluster (mounted in a Zero/Sports pod) that doesn't block out the digital clock.



We even managed to get a matching black-grey Recaro Start iQ baby-seat from Exotic Tuner to go with the leather/alcantara interior as well. (Incidentally, check out the carbonfibre weave on the backs of the front seats...!)




Fast Facts : Subaru Impreza S204
Engine: 1994cc, 16-valves, flat-4
Maximum power: 320bhp at 6400rpm
Maximum torque: 432Nm at 4400rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Wheelbase: 2540mm
LxBxH: 4475 x 1740 x 1410mm
Kerbweight: 1450kg
0-100km/h: 4.5 seconds (claimed)
Top speed: 248km/h (claimed)
YOM: 2006
Rescued and registered: 18th July 2008

Time to Part Ways with the Honda S2000

Well the time has come to part ways with my car after a glorious happy-revving 2.5 years.



Judging by Honda's current rhetoric, it's seems unlikely that cars such as the NSX and S2000 will continue to exist in Honda's future model line-up. Moreover, production has already stopped for the car so it has 'officially' achieved Classic status! :)

here are some quick details for those of you in Singapore who might be interested in Honda's 9000rpm red-line FR (that's Front-engine, Rear wheel-drive) roadster.

Kah Motor model with the 2L engine (F20C) that redlines at 9000rpm (PI 2.2L only goes to 8300rpm)
Rear Wheel Drive, 6-speed Manual Transmission with LSD (limited slip differential) and VSC (vehicle stability control)

S2000 has recently stopped production and higher rpm redline is normally more appreciated by honda enthusiasts.

For Reference: Modulo is Honda's in-house accessories division.
Engine has never been opened
body is in perfect shape
original owner from new.
Car has never been tracked or been to malaysia.



Registered: 31st January 2007
OMV: $38,842
COE: $13,499
Mileage: about 25,000 km (mileage reads slightly higher because i did not 'correct' for the Final Drive over-reading)

MY2008 17-inch S2000 rims sprayed Satin Black in staggered CSC3
S2000 Type S (matte black) 'S2000' badges
Honda Modulo side-skirts
Honda Modulo rear wing (low)
Honda Modulo front spoiler
Honda Modulo suspension (front external reservoirs)
Honda Modulo interior trim
J's Racing Twin Titanium cat-back exos (LTA-ok) with cert.
Toda Test Pipe
J's Racing carbon-fibre air intake
J's Racing c/f vented bonnet sprayed body colour
J's Racing Final Drive 4.44 (there is transmission whine during certain speeds); stock FD in a box at home.
Honda Modulo Hard-Top (aluminium) with glass rear windscreen and de-mister





Fast Facts : Honda S2000 (AP1)
Engine: 1997cc, 16-valves, in-line 4
Maximum power: 240bhp at 8300rpm (but revs to 9000rpm!! FTW! hahaha)
Maximum torque: 208Nm at 7500rpm
Transmission: 6-speed manual
0-100km/h: approx. 6+ seconds
Top Speed: >180km/h
LxBxH: 4135 x 1750 x 1270 mm
Wheelbase: 2400mm
Kerbweight: 1270kg (without hardtop)
Agent: Kah Motor

Blued Hood: J's Racing

Car was finally ready on my last day of ICT.

After the gradual deterioration of the J's Racing Type S carbon fibre bonnet (it was starting to look nasty really fast!), i decided to get it sprayed body colour (Laguna Blue Pearl).

And rather than to get it done at the same place that sprayed my rims, I figured it was too risky with a bonnet (I didnt want to worry over body colour matching and the sometimes unpredictable effects of baked paint on cfrp) so I managed to get a slot with Ah Loong (who operates above Lamborghini dealer, Eurosports) during my ICT.

At the same time, the chrome 'H' emblems (front and rear) have enjoyed a matte-black treatment to match the Type S 'S2000' matte black emblems along the flanks, as well as the black MY09 rims.

Taking a Deep Breath : Honda S2000 (AP1) J's Racing Carbon Fibre Air-intake

this just in, a J's Racing Tsuchinko carbon fibre air intake for the S2K. Essentially, a 'snorkel' draws air in from the front of the car into the shielded conical air filter; the gourd-shaped chamber after that keeps air in 'reserve', which helps improve throttle response at stationary/low speeds.



another angle:



The car is breathing a lot better but Im sure it'll improve a lot more with exhaust/manifold mods...:)

Apart from looking good, it sounds great now and the induction roar when VTEC kicks in is a lot more pronounced.

The F20C engine is certainly revving a lot cleaner and happier; 9000rpm never came quicker!

HOWEVER... bear in mind the bonnet WILL NEED to be CUT to accommodate the snorkel, fine if you're running an after-market carbon bonnet, but a bit 'heart-pain' if you're running the stock aluminium bonnet.

for a point of reference to what's new, check out this 'BEFORE' shot:



more gratuitous carbon fibre bits... !



for those who asked, here's a shot of the cut made to the c/f bonnet on the underside... note that only the fibreglass skeleton is cut, not the c/f weave itself:



another angle:

Subaru Impreza WRX STi S204: Feeding on lots of Scooby Snacks

OUT of the box, this HAS to be one of the more potent Scoobys' available, and is rivalled only by the Spec C in terms of desirability (in my eyes at any rate).





320bhp/6400rpm and 432Nm/4400rpm sound good eh? The extras help too: 2 x Recaro dry carbon race seats at a rumoured SGD$8,000 a piece! (reclinable, no less!), 18inch forged alloy rims wrapped in sticky Pirelli Corsa rubbers and a bespoke bodykit form the sticky syrup topping on this yummy dessert.

Moving off, it doesn't feel as torquey as one of those 'green', Euro-friendly 2.5-litre STis', but the moment the needle crosses 4000rpm, hang on to the steering wheel as the full fury of the 1994cc flat-four is unleashed, and charges unabated all the way to its 8000+rpm redline!

The steering has been sharpened up over its 2.5 brethren, but there's still a little vagueness about the straightahead, and it's not as darty as the Evo IX GSR.

Take a listen to the drive-by. Am i the only one who thinks it sounds uncannily like one of Honda's loco VTEC engines?

What i can't get my head around is the marketing strategy for the S204. Pay an extra SGD$1,000 on top of the $160,000 price for each unit sold? I guess that's why only three units have been released into the wild so far.

But considering the mere 600 units produced worldwide, this could already be 3 too many! :)

MotorImage Enterprises has just 30 of these beauties to apportion between its various regional showrooms.