Got a track related question? I'll try to answer.

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

The world is a small place

Taiwan in da house! lol

[Deraj]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

The S2000 has SIGNIFICANTLY more power at the speeds your tracks see, and uses more tire. The GT86's advantages only show at higher speeds (80+).

Hi all, I'm a new member here, but been browsing the forum for some time. I don't currently have a twin since I'm living out of country, but I can't wait to get one and start tracking it once I move back this summer. Already got wheels for it! Haha.

Mike, your posts are great, very informative. Can you elaborate on this statement? I'm actually debating between the two cars (will be dedicated track car somewhere down the line) so I'd be interested to know which you think is a better all around track car.

[hoss1990]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Hard to say. Keep going down until it's not bouncy anymore. Go 3-5 clicks at a time; low end stuff usually doesn't do much on the extreme end of the range.

Thanks very helpful i almost got it dialed in. The suspension is a lot easier to ajust on the imports than it is on trucks lol

Sent from my LG-VS410PP using Tapatalk 2

[solidONE]

Originally Posted by Deraj

Hi all, I'm a new member here, but been browsing the forum for some time. I don't currently have a twin since I'm living out of country, but I can't wait to get one and start tracking it once I move back this summer. Already got wheels for it! Haha.

Mike, your posts are great, very informative. Can you elaborate on this statement? I'm actually debating between the two cars (will be dedicated track car somewhere down the line) so I'd be interested to know which you think is a better all around track car.

[RehabJeff86]

Mike- JRZ RS Pro now or continue to wait for SRC CSG Spec?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Deraj

Hi all, I'm a new member here, but been browsing the forum for some time. I don't currently have a twin since I'm living out of country, but I can't wait to get one and start tracking it once I move back this summer. Already got wheels for it! Haha.

Mike, your posts are great, very informative. Can you elaborate on this statement? I'm actually debating between the two cars (will be dedicated track car somewhere down the line) so I'd be interested to know which you think is a better all around track car.

"Better" is subjective.

I own a s2000, but spend far more time on track in FRS/BRZ's than I do my S2k. Then again I spend more time in everything on track than my s2k...

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by RehabJeff86

Mike- JRZ RS Pro now or continue to wait for SRC CSG Spec?

Can't EVER go wrong with JRZ RS-Pros...

[gramicci101]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

"Better" is subjective.

I own a s2000, but spend far more time on track in FRS/BRZ's than I do my S2k. Then again I spend more time in everything on track than my s2k...

Is it because it's your DD and you don't want to risk it, or is it broken?

[CSG Mike]

Mostly because I don't have a racing budget. I need a day job.

[gramicci101]

Ah, I can see how that's a drawback. I'm under a similar constraint.

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

"Better" is subjective.

Agreed.

If I may, I'd like to offer @Deraj some further thoughts, elaborating on this.

This is your thread though, @CSG Mike, and if you'd rather I did not do this again in the future, please say so, and I won't do it again.

There are a number of issues to consider, @Deraj.

Will you be in competition? Is that your goal? If so, how does each car fit in their respective class? Competitive, or not? Some cars will dominate their class. Others haven't a chance of winning, realistically. That's one thing that needs research and evaluation.

In autocross, for instance, some years ago, the Neon dominated its class and so was a good car to get for that class if one wished to be competitive. The S2000 is still competitive, I believe, in its class in autocross, B-Stock IIRC.

If pursuing a competition goal you'll want to look up the local and national-level race results and see which cars are dominant and regularly at the top of the standings. There often will be one make and model that may be the better choice if the goal is to be as competitive as possible.

If you've narrowed your choice to two cars, you'll want to consider their respective reliability and durability records. Is cost an issue? Is one less expensive to maintain in a track environment? The Honda S2000 is nearly bullet-proof, while the GT86 is still being developed and still has issues, as one would expect.

Perhaps of greatest importance to a beginner is the following: Which of the two cars affords the driver the safest platform for LEARNING. If you're a beginner, you're not likely to be leading the time charts at day's end. Now, @solidONE would certainly like to lead the time charts all day, every day, but he's young yet and he's still learning that maybe it's a wee bit more difficult than he'd originally imagined. It is quite possible that his "passion" is actually slowing him down. ("There are old drivers and there are brave drivers, but there are no OLD brave drivers.") We may even convince him, yet, to set aside his stopwatch for a while and focus not on speed, but on doing it RIGHT. In time, the speed will come.

How fast can you go? Who knows your limits? But, understand that God did not create all men equal. Don't get bent, driving over your head just because you saw Jackie Stewart do something and you reckon that you can do it, too. Probably not, you know?

Most drivers bring a lot of "passion" to the track. There's no distinction in "passion." We'd all be on the top step of the podium at Grand Prix events if passion mattered greatly. But, there isn't room for all of us to be standing up there.

Respect your car's limits, and respect your OWN limits. LEARN those limits gradually, one step at a time. Choose a car that helps you attain your goals safely.

Personally, I find my BRZ to be a more driver-friendly and forgiving chassis than my S2000. It is my thought that the GT86 platform is a better car for the beginning performance driver to learn on. Mike and others can elaborate, but my thought is that the GT86 will be both easier and safer to probe the limits in the high speed bends. That's where the men are separated from "the girls," as Hans Stuck said, narrating his marvelous BMW lap around the Nurburgring. The fast bits are where you can get hurt, even seriously killed. Take care. ( @orthojoe, keep that foot right down, over that crest, my friend. It's more stable that way. )

The S2000 can be twitchy by comparison with the GT86. If you were my son, I'd reckon you would be less likely to get bent learning in the BRZ/FR-S than in the S2000, and so, I'd encourage you to start with the GT86 chassis. For this reason alone, I would urge you to consider this as your car to start off with. It's easier to drive, easier to push to its limits.

In time, as you gain experience and develop your knowledge, skill, and abilities, you'll be better positioned to choose your next competitive car.

You're a beginner seeking to learn. You're not yet a seasoned champion looking to win yet another championship. Choose the appropriate tool for your immediate goal. I favor the GT86 for a beginner, but it's your choice, not mine. Choose wisely.

Besides, those wheels you've already purchased won't fit the S2000, will they?

[major quicknap]

@CSG Mike
Are the original sway bars still fitted to your FR-S/BRZ? Given the much higher rate springs than stock you are now using I am thinking (probably incorrectly) that the sway bars now offer a much lower percentage of the total roll stiffness. So if they are contributing such a small amount do they still provide a benefit? That is, would you notice their absence?

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by major quicknap

@CSG Mike
Are the original sway bars still fitted to your FR-S/BRZ? Given the much higher rate springs than stock you are now using I am thinking (probably incorrectly) that the sway bars now offer a much lower percentage of the total roll stiffness. So if they are contributing such a small amount do they still provide a benefit? That is, would you notice their absence?

Yes, the CSG BRZ still uses the stock sways. While their contribution to roll stiffness is minimal, we use them to "tidy up" the suspension. In essence, their purpose is to connect two sides to make the suspension work more efficiently, rather than to prevent body roll.

You don't REALLY think that stock rear sway is there to prevent roll, do you? It's got the stiffness of a coat hanger...

[major quicknap]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

In essence, their purpose is to connect two sides to make the suspension work more efficiently, rather than to prevent body roll.

Could you elaborate on that? I thought the fact that a sway bar ties the wheels together was a bad thing. That is, some of the wheel's independence was lost.

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

It's got the stiffness of a coat hanger...

That would be a pretty big shirt.