Hey guys!
Just wanted to (re)introduce myself. I joined the forums about 6 years ago when I picked up an 03 CL-S AT as AnthraciteBeast, but couldn't remember my password and the email I used to register is no longer active; so here I am with a new account!
Background
I've always been a Honda guy. My first car was a 96 Integra GSR. I purchased it when I was 17 and owned it for close to a year. At the time I was living in Oregon, but relocated to the Chicago area in early 2008. I loved the car, but with over 200k on the odometer is was beginning to give me all sorts of problems so I decided to sell.
A few weeks after selling the GSR I picked up the CL mentioned above. Admittedly, I made a mistake in not waiting to find a 6MT and picked up an autotragic. The car was solid and never gave me any problems, but a year into ownership and the manual trans itch was starting to get me. After being an idiot and receiving two speeding tickets within two years (that's Illinois for you) my license was suspended for three months. While unfortunate, I saw it as an opportunity to sell the CL and search for my next car - an S2000.
Two months into my suspension I found one that I was able to afford without having too many miles. It was a 2001 Silverstone (the most common color) with red interior and 67k miles. I fell in love with the car. It handled magnificently and the feeling of revving the engine up to 9k is unmatched (even if I wasn't going very fast :tongue: ). Oh and the shifter! Let me tell you about the shifter! It is by far the best and most gratifying shifter I have ever used and or felt. About a year into owning it I began going to autocross events held by a local Miata club and eventually did my first track event at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan. I even drove it down to the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina. If you ever get the chance to drive an S2000 on a road course, take it and don't think twice! It is by far the best car experience I have ever had. In early October of last year I was involved in an accident and insurance declared it a total loss. I nearly replaced it with an Integra Type R, but with the theft rates here I knew it wasn't a very god idea so I decided to stick with the S2000.
Autocross at Tire Rack in South Bend, IN
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
First track event at GMR
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
This time around I told myself I would wait for the perfect color combo. Luckily two weeks after the accident I found the perfect car near Detroit (yep, I know). It was a 2003 Grand Prix White with tan interior (one of the more rare combos) with 26,719 miles. I purchased it from the original owner who purchased the car in 2006. Apparently it was driven by the dealership's owner's wife for three years before it was offer up for sale. This thing was mint! Unfortunately being October meant that I could only drive it for a few weeks before having to store it for winter as I didn't want to expose it to the salt here. Man was it a long four months! While it was stored I began hoarding parts in hopes to turn it into a double duty track and daily car. The major purchases included a Voltex Type 2 and a WASP track splitter. Obviously there were suspension and brake mods but this is getting really long and I don't feel like listing them all out. Anyways, I attended four track events with it this year and it was a blast! But after I was all done for the year (racer budget had run dry) I began feeling like needed another car to use as a daily. As much as I loved the car it just wasn't practical enough to drive everyday and I didn't have room for a second car. It was time to sell. I knew my friend's girlfriend was looking for one and she had expressed interest in buying it. Three weeks later it was gone :frown:
In all it's track glory (yes the wing is functional)
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Right before the Indy 200 in Wisconsin
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Another one of it's states
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Myself and two other s2000 owners/friends added some special livery for #GRIDLIFE. You might of seen us on the Doge Facebook page.
Also check us out on Facebook: #Twerk Team Racing
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
That time we autocrossed a rental Corolla with Hello Kitty racing stripes
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
Present
That brings us to last month. I was always a fan of the TL-S (especially in KBP) and figured it would be a good replacement. It would be more practical while still being fun. I was also looking at E46s and even 135i's but didn't want to deal with BMW reliability issues. I searched everyday for three weeks and found a few good options:
2008 NBP 6MT in New Jersey - dealership wanted WAY too much. I believe it is still for sale.
2007 NBP 6MT in New Orleans - Someone beat me to it
2007 KBP 6MT in Seattle - decided it had too many miles.
Then finally the perfect one popped up in Miami. A 2008 NBP 6MT with only 57k miles for the right price. I contacted the seller right away and was on a flight to Miami a week later. I picked the car up on Tuesday and planned on driving back to Chicago the same day. Everything seemed great until the battery indicator came on just outside of Orlando. The dash started to turn off and the radio began cutting in and out. I managed to get to an Autozone before the headlights (it was about 9PM) and eventually the car shut off. I figured it was the alternator and went inside to get a replacement. They didn't have it but were able to get it the next morning. I stayed at a nearby hotel for the night and planned to swap it out on the spot the next morning. I had them charge and test the battery while I pulled the alternator out. the whole job took me about three hours to complete. I was on the road by noon that day and made it to Louisville around 1AM before I stared nodding off. Not wanting to pay for a hotel for a few hours, I slept in a Walmart parking lot. Super sketchy. Four hours later I was on the road again and managed to make it home at 10am Thanksgiving day. A few days later the check engine light came on and threw codes P0171 and P0174. Ugh.
Impressions
Plans
Finally, the pictures:
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
![Click the image to open in full size.]()
TL;DR
Purchased an 08 TL-S 6MT. Going to turn it into a track car.
I look forward to participating and hopefully being of use to this community!
Brian
Just wanted to (re)introduce myself. I joined the forums about 6 years ago when I picked up an 03 CL-S AT as AnthraciteBeast, but couldn't remember my password and the email I used to register is no longer active; so here I am with a new account!
Background
I've always been a Honda guy. My first car was a 96 Integra GSR. I purchased it when I was 17 and owned it for close to a year. At the time I was living in Oregon, but relocated to the Chicago area in early 2008. I loved the car, but with over 200k on the odometer is was beginning to give me all sorts of problems so I decided to sell.
A few weeks after selling the GSR I picked up the CL mentioned above. Admittedly, I made a mistake in not waiting to find a 6MT and picked up an autotragic. The car was solid and never gave me any problems, but a year into ownership and the manual trans itch was starting to get me. After being an idiot and receiving two speeding tickets within two years (that's Illinois for you) my license was suspended for three months. While unfortunate, I saw it as an opportunity to sell the CL and search for my next car - an S2000.
Two months into my suspension I found one that I was able to afford without having too many miles. It was a 2001 Silverstone (the most common color) with red interior and 67k miles. I fell in love with the car. It handled magnificently and the feeling of revving the engine up to 9k is unmatched (even if I wasn't going very fast :tongue: ). Oh and the shifter! Let me tell you about the shifter! It is by far the best and most gratifying shifter I have ever used and or felt. About a year into owning it I began going to autocross events held by a local Miata club and eventually did my first track event at Gingerman Raceway in Michigan. I even drove it down to the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina. If you ever get the chance to drive an S2000 on a road course, take it and don't think twice! It is by far the best car experience I have ever had. In early October of last year I was involved in an accident and insurance declared it a total loss. I nearly replaced it with an Integra Type R, but with the theft rates here I knew it wasn't a very god idea so I decided to stick with the S2000.
Autocross at Tire Rack in South Bend, IN
First track event at GMR
This time around I told myself I would wait for the perfect color combo. Luckily two weeks after the accident I found the perfect car near Detroit (yep, I know). It was a 2003 Grand Prix White with tan interior (one of the more rare combos) with 26,719 miles. I purchased it from the original owner who purchased the car in 2006. Apparently it was driven by the dealership's owner's wife for three years before it was offer up for sale. This thing was mint! Unfortunately being October meant that I could only drive it for a few weeks before having to store it for winter as I didn't want to expose it to the salt here. Man was it a long four months! While it was stored I began hoarding parts in hopes to turn it into a double duty track and daily car. The major purchases included a Voltex Type 2 and a WASP track splitter. Obviously there were suspension and brake mods but this is getting really long and I don't feel like listing them all out. Anyways, I attended four track events with it this year and it was a blast! But after I was all done for the year (racer budget had run dry) I began feeling like needed another car to use as a daily. As much as I loved the car it just wasn't practical enough to drive everyday and I didn't have room for a second car. It was time to sell. I knew my friend's girlfriend was looking for one and she had expressed interest in buying it. Three weeks later it was gone :frown:
In all it's track glory (yes the wing is functional)
Right before the Indy 200 in Wisconsin
Another one of it's states
Myself and two other s2000 owners/friends added some special livery for #GRIDLIFE. You might of seen us on the Doge Facebook page.
Also check us out on Facebook: #Twerk Team Racing
That time we autocrossed a rental Corolla with Hello Kitty racing stripes
Present
That brings us to last month. I was always a fan of the TL-S (especially in KBP) and figured it would be a good replacement. It would be more practical while still being fun. I was also looking at E46s and even 135i's but didn't want to deal with BMW reliability issues. I searched everyday for three weeks and found a few good options:
2008 NBP 6MT in New Jersey - dealership wanted WAY too much. I believe it is still for sale.
2007 NBP 6MT in New Orleans - Someone beat me to it
2007 KBP 6MT in Seattle - decided it had too many miles.
Then finally the perfect one popped up in Miami. A 2008 NBP 6MT with only 57k miles for the right price. I contacted the seller right away and was on a flight to Miami a week later. I picked the car up on Tuesday and planned on driving back to Chicago the same day. Everything seemed great until the battery indicator came on just outside of Orlando. The dash started to turn off and the radio began cutting in and out. I managed to get to an Autozone before the headlights (it was about 9PM) and eventually the car shut off. I figured it was the alternator and went inside to get a replacement. They didn't have it but were able to get it the next morning. I stayed at a nearby hotel for the night and planned to swap it out on the spot the next morning. I had them charge and test the battery while I pulled the alternator out. the whole job took me about three hours to complete. I was on the road by noon that day and made it to Louisville around 1AM before I stared nodding off. Not wanting to pay for a hotel for a few hours, I slept in a Walmart parking lot. Super sketchy. Four hours later I was on the road again and managed to make it home at 10am Thanksgiving day. A few days later the check engine light came on and threw codes P0171 and P0174. Ugh.
Impressions
- Solid overall.
- Hello torque.
- Holy torque steer!
- Holy understeer!
- Mushy shifter.
- What is this 3rd gear grinding nonsense?!
- What is this HFL battery drain nonsense?!
Plans
- First and foremost I plan on fixing all the little things that need attention starting with the CEL. The motor mounts needs replacing as well as a squeaky pulley. Oh and the hood supports. After that it's go time!
- I plan on taking it to the race track. Because of that I will be focusing on track oriented modifications. Yes I realized aftermarket support isn't very big for this car, but I'll make it work. I was close to purchasing the ASPEC kit from HeelToe during their Black Friday sale but decided against any major purchases until winter is gone. For the time being I'm sticking to smaller modifications and improvements.
- I'll be messaging MrHeelToe in hopes that he'll maybe have some interest in helping me build this thing into a track capable machine. No I'm not asking for free parts, but hoping to maybe build a HT-Spec track TL-S.
- This will be a slow, track oriented build so it may not appeal to many of you, but hopefully it'll motivate you guys to visit a local track!
Finally, the pictures:
TL;DR
Purchased an 08 TL-S 6MT. Going to turn it into a track car.
I look forward to participating and hopefully being of use to this community!
Brian