Import Cars featured

I know what Sam is thinking. Even though it's a cool, 60-some-odd degrees outside (and dropping), he wants to drive his S2 out to the photo shoot with the top down. I even mention, "Hey Sam, um, it's a bit chilly." So, does he acknowledge me? No. He wants the attention. He wants chicks to notice how "cool" his car really is. But do you want to know what I think? At this point, I'm beginning to feel a little bit chilled-c'mon, two guys riding around in a convertible? Yeah, real cute, huh? I can't even get Sam to turn the heater on for me.

When I first met Sam a couple years back, he was drag racing his Spoon-ed out EK at a NIRA race. It was sweeter than finding the entire Jeffersons series on DVD. I envied that car and wanted mine to be like his. When I found out he sold it, I stopped all contact with him. I didn't return his phone calls, deleted his e-mails, and ignored requests to have his "new car" put on Super Street's fine Meguiar's posters. I later found out that his "new car" was an S2000 and suddenly, I was Sam's friend all over again. When he told me that it was going to be built up with Spoon parts-well, I started kissing his arse and we agreed to hook up for a shoot. But getting this job done was no easy task. He pulled the old "I have a few more parts I need to order first" and the process was delayed. It's a good thing we waited.

Now, if Honda's S2000 is the ultimate in sexy and puts the sauce in saucy, then Sam's car is the Giselle of them all. He wasted little time with the exterior and flew in Feels body kit pieces from Japan, including the carbon-fiber front lip, side skirts, rear bumper, and carbon-fiber rear spoiler. Fiber Images molded a carbon-fiber hood to replicate the Spoon look, allowing Sam to use the money saved on a pair of Japanese factory headlamps. He tells us one of the most difficult parts to find for his car were the wheels. Sure, he could have gone with a set of Volks, but that could've been a three to four month wait. So, Sam chose to have a set of wheels custom-made by Kinesis, going 18x8.5 on the front and 18x10 on the rears. Apparently, this seems to have been the right choice.

Although we're sure the suspension is already as taut as it can be, Sam wanted to make sure it was stiff times two, so he threw on a set of coilover dampers from Feels. He also added both a Spoon Sports front crossbrace and a lower tie-bar to tighten up the rear lower control arms. And even though it's hard to tell from these pictures, the stock pads were replaced with a more aggressive set from Mugen.

As the hood is propped up, I take a quick glance and realize that there's not much there. There doesn't need to be-the S2000's fast already. It doesn't need an engine swap. It doesn't need nitrous. It doesn't need boost. However, Sam did use parts from Spoon and Mugen to give the F20 a swift kick in the groin. From Spoon, he added a higher flowing throttle body and from Mugen, he went with an ECU upgrade and clutch. Quick revving is also available with the addition of a Toda Racing flywheel. The HKS Hiper exhaust delivers a deeper tone and quickly reminds me that this car is still a Honda, not a Probe. But trust me when I say this car is a blast to be in-even when you're in the passenger seat.

As we finish the photo shoot, I can tell Sam is happy. His friends are all sitting in their cars along the side of the road, waiting to go home. People driving by are staring-some give a thumbs-up or they honk furiously. They know that not everyone gets to have a chance with Super Street and Sam's lucky to have a second go at it. But he doesn't care-he's simply enjoying the moment. We shake hands and part ways. I look back and smile-the top's still down.