It's all personal opinion, and what you're going to use your car for. Nothing wrong with a GSR - still puts most other 4 cylinder cars to shame. I really enjoy my R, but there have been times, such as when I'm driving 4+ hoursin marginal weather on the highway, when I would have enjoyed a Cadillac, for chrissakes. However, as soon as I get on a secondary road.......
It's not just the R's speed, or even it's ability to handle curves. I'm quite spoiled by it's level of braking performance/feel, it's general steering precision, how well it's damped despite it's handling capabilities, how 'tight' it is. It will likely be a hard and unfortunately expensive car to replace.

 

Okay, say I get a GS-R. It'd leave me with money to spare, obviously. For say, 2000-2500 dollars, what kind of performance/handling modifications should/could I do? I don't want a loud exhaust since, obviously, I'd be choosing the GS-R for higher level of comfort and a loud exhaust would sorta impede that.

Argh, just when I was about to decide to get the Type R...I scuffed the nose on the 2003 Cooper S I'd borrowed from my father while he's on some trip. Didn't mean to, I was just cleaning it with a sponge and somehow it scuffed it. I was trying to make the car look nice before he got back . Anyhow, I'm taking it to the body shop tommorow for repair ($$$ ). Also, I think my insurance company just quoted me 3800/yr for insurance. Which seems a bit odd since I've no accidents, no tickets, and I get 3.5 GPA in college. I guess that's what I get for being 19 . Maybe it's because I work full time and that adds risk or something.

 

As hard as this may be to do, put the money in the bank.

Drive the car in stock form and autocross it and do high performance driving events with it. Later down the road buy a set of wheels and tires for track use. Perform routine maintenance on it and enjoy the car.

Every time you get the urge to modify the car, remember that you ultimately will not keep this car.

 

Well, the ITR brakes OWN GSR ones.. so I wont even go there.

These parts on my 2000 GSR put down 169whp/123wtq:
AEM CAI
JDM ITR 4-1 header
Carsound 94006 Cat
no power steering belt
18 degrees timing
VAFC (tuned)

Total, that's what? 1200-1400 or whatever.

I went through a few suspensions and have now settled on OEM ITR springs on OEM GSR shocks. Works fine and is softish still. 22mm comptech rear swaybar is also installed. I've since sold the VAFC and installed the power steering belt, in which condition the car put down 160whp/120wtq.

Tq curve was always pretty much flat, although a little more flat with the VAFC installed but it still has decent midrange.

IMO, if you can get the ITR, do it, if only for the brakes and LSD (that's my biggest complaints against the GSR) and you can live with the slightly elevated noise. Cruise control is a PITA to install but can be done.

 

This guy doesn't need an R

 

This guy doesn't need an R[/quote:c90610dd21]

because he scuffed a car? are you serious?

 

This guy doesn't need an R[/quote:ddc5f00231]

because he scuffed a car? are you serious?[/quote:ddc5f00231]

Because he scuffed it WITH A SPONGE! How is that even possible?

 

I doubt it is. He scuffed it in some other way or the scuff was already there, at least, that's my opinion of it.

 

You guys would take D's R away from him in a heart beat if a scuff is that big a deal.

These aren't show cars . . . .

 

well, some are :shock: :shock: