We found a few S2000s online that seemed to be good candidates and ultimately landed on a private seller's '01 model. The earlier chassis was preferred simply because it's cheaper and our budget was limited. With around 130K miles on the odometer, the car was driven extensively to make sure it was up to par—and a quick diagnostic check at Sportcar Motion confirmed it was worth the asking price.

BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO THE SUSPENSION

Suspension was the first area to focus on as the week got underway and AST Suspension supplied its 5200 Series Club Sport coilovers with external canisters. They feature a two-way adjustable shock based on the company's competition three-way shock setup. Adjustable in both compression and rebound, they're tame enough for the street yet fully capable of supporting track days and, in fact, the compression adjuster is an evolution of the same one used for the American Grand-Am series.

To back up the new shocks and coils, Energy Suspension provided its world-famous polyurethane bushing kit. With almost two decades on the chassis, the factory bushings were in dire need of replacement, and Energy's polyurethane kit not only outshines the performance of the factory rubber, but it will also outlast it. Areas like the upper control arms, front and rear sway bars, and differential mounts were all upgraded, and the very moment you hit the street, the difference can be felt. The AST 5200 and Energy Suspension combo drastically tightened up the roadster's turning ability, straight-line control, and overall ride quality.