Filed under: Honda news
Got some exclusive stuff coming up for you guys. Ever since I started this whole thing I’ve always wanted to give you guys an inside look at the Socal Honda community. This site started out so small and it’s gotten bigger than I could have ever thought. With the help of my peers and homies around me, I am able to bring you some real indepth and behind-the-scenes stuff. I am very thankful to them for contributing to my life and to this site everyday. The blog would not be the same without them….
Actually, uh, just kidding. This is sort of an inside joke, but I had to do it. On the heels of the success of Joey Lee’s The Chronicles blog, some other would-be blogger basically cut and pasted the entire paragraph above and pasted it to his own site. I figured I’d do the same. Anyways, updates are coming. In the meantime, visit The Chronicles–the link’s in my blogroll. Like Behind the Mag, it’s one of the few automotive blogs that uses original content and takes silly things like plagiarism and copyright infringement seriously. Go figure.
The writing’s been on the wall for some time, but Honda announced today, officially, that its S2000 production will end this year. With the company taking a turn toward more environmentally responsible vehicles as of late, cars like the FR roadster that sold fewer than 65,000 units in the U.S. during its lifespan just doesn’t make sense anymore. This comes just after the news of the long-awaiting NSX successor project being cancelled, which, by many accounts, was far less disappointing than the S2K’s demise. If the renderings and speculations were accurate, the redesigned NSX was going to be a far cry from the legendary sports car, far enough to where it arguably should have carried a different name. But the S2000 will be missed. What began as a tribute to Honda’s 50th anniversary, the company prolonged its production much longer than it had originally intended due to customer demand and critical acclaim.
Filed under: Feature cars, Honda Tuning issues, Honda news, New stuff | Tags: Honda Tuning February/March 2009
The February/March, 2009 issue of Honda Tuning goes on sale January 20, but, for the most part, it’s already been circulated. I’ve got to say, I am really happy with this issue, but it’s a far cry from what we had planned. Take the cover cars for example, Eric Dickerson’s ITR and NSX. We had planned on featuring both of them, but not on the cover. We’ve got a serious stockpile of white cars here at the office, which means securing a cover spot with something white isn’t easy—not that Eric’s cars aren’t worthy, but we did have something else in mind and we do have others lined up. Our original cover cars fell through, which left the door wide open. If it wasn’t for Rodrez’s spot-on photography of Eric’s cars, the choice wouldn’t have been so easy. Fortunately, Rodrez handed in the shoot with a few vertical shots that got us out of our cover bind and apparently made Eric quite happy.
Sometimes it’s the little things that are the most exciting, like the handles you grab onto when you walk into the Mugen headquarter’s showroom. They look like connecting rods because they are. And these aren’t door handles that just look like connecting rods. Nope, they’re real, used connecting rods that were turned into door handles. I couldn’t tell what material they were made of or what application they were from since they’re coated, but you can definitely see the knick marks on them and tell that they saw action at one point. Hmm, I have some extra rods lying around. Maybe I’ll do something like this at home.
Filed under: Honda news, New stuff | Tags: Tokyo Auto Salon, Super Autobacs
I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit one of the Autobacs stores in Japan but, if you’re near one, what the heck, check it out. Make sure it’s a Super Autobacs though and not the smaller Autobacs. The Super stores are fairly large, but unfortunately, even they don’t have very many parts that the U.S. locations don’t have. If you’re into automotive literature though, paying a visit to the Super Autobacs Shinonome location isn’t a total waste of time. The second floor is dedicated mostly to books, posters, magazines, DVDs, and pretty much any other medium you can think of. I walked out of there with a couple hundred dollars worth of NSX memorabilia that I’ve yet to see in the U.S.
Filed under: Honda news, New stuff, Shows and events | Tags: M-Tec, Mugen, Tokyo Auto Salon
Yesterday we visited M-Tec’s head offices in Saitama — the guys who produce Mugen. This is where the company stores all of its demo cars and is where a lot of the R&D and production is done. The place is huge and its employee parking lot is every bit as impressive as you’d expect. We had an opportunity to check out its NSX-RR concept and FD2 Civic Type RR up close as well as Mugen’s S2000, ’09 Fit, and other various Civic demo cars. M-Tec’s showroom isn’t huge but there’s plenty to see in it, including some of its early Formula 1 engines, which are simply amazing. There was even plenty to see in the employee parking lot like this DC2 Integra. We also saw a couple of pretty sick Odysseys and an older Fit on M5s.
If you plan on visiting the Tokyo area, be sure to stop at the Honda Welcome Plaza. The plaza, located in Aoyoma Itchome, is basically a display of each of Honda’s latest Japanese domestic models. That means that you won’t see cars like the Pilot or your mom’s Odyssey there and that the TSXs are all labeled as Accords. All of the cars are unlocked and visitors can check them out just like they would at a dealership. Inside there’s a gift shop with all sorts of expensive Honda shirts, souvenirs, and literature. I was lucky enough to pick up another NSX book to add to my collection among other things. And before you leave, be sure to check out the ASIMO show, which takes place throughout the day. Seeing ASIMO in action really is an interesting experience. Oh, and all of this is free save for roughly two bucks’ worth of subway fees. To get to the Honda Welcome Plaza make your way to the Ginza line and exit at the Aoyoma Itchome station. Walk up the stairs and lift up your head – it’ll be right in front of you.
Filed under: Honda news, Project NSX | Tags: NSX-R conversion, Spoon Sports headquarters
Yesterday the Honda Tuning crew headed over to Spoon Sports’ headquarters in Ogikubo, Tokyo. First we hit Spoon’s main offices and then its Type One shop down the street. Few shops make use of all of its available space like the Type One shop does. Its first-to-second-floor lift and overhead car racks allow for at least a couple dozen Hondas to squeeze into a shop that would otherwise hold less than 10. You’ll have to wait for the upcoming issue of HT where we’ll feature the company’s FD2 Civic Type R and NSX-R conversion for more pictures, but here are a couple of teasers.
Spoon Sports hasn’t been recognized as one of the more prominent NSX tuners, but that’s all changing. Today, there are C-series blocks stashed all around Spoon’s engine room and we counted four NSXs on hand, all of which will undergo Spoon’s exclusive NSX-R treatment. For about $120K, you too can own your own Spoon-converted NSX-R. Once you leave your deposit, Spoon will source a used LHD NSX chassis from Japan (yes, LHD), paint it to your specifications, and assemble the car just how you want it, including every single part that makes the NSX-R different from the rest and a brand-new, blueprinted and balanced engine assembly.
Filed under: Honda news, New stuff | Tags: Mugen NSX RR, Tokyo Auto Salon 2009
Today means two things: the first day of the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon is over, and I’ve been awake now for two days. TAS was okay this year; Japan isn’t immune to the troubled economy and the empty floor spaces revealed as much. And, as usual, there was very little Honda action there. Of course, you’ve got Mugen, Spoon Sports, J’s Racing, and Honda’s booth, but the brand’s presence pales in comparison to anything Nissan and RWD. All in all it’s a good show — Mugen brought out an all carbon-fiber Civic Type RR and its new NSX demo car, Spoon had its FD2 Type R and one of its first U.S.-spec NSX-to-NSX-R conversions. And J’s Racing had its S2000 and ’09 Fit on display. More Japan updates on the way. There’re still two more days of TAS and then it’s off to Honda Twincam (FEEL’s), Spoon, and then Mugen.
Mugen's new NSX RR concept car.
I got my first tool set a little over 20 years ago. I used it mostly to set up skateboards and to build launch ramps in my parents’ front yard. Later, I added a few automotive-specific tools to the ol’ Craftsman box just to keep my ’78 Celica running. That was around 1990. I haven’t stopped collecting tools since. Today, my home garage has got enough tools in it to put most full-time mechanics’ quarters to shame. Dial indicators, micrometers, and other precision measuring equipment: check. Torque wrenches of all sizes: check. An entire drawer full of Honda-specific tools: check. I’ve never actually thought about it until now, but I’ve probably got 25 different ways to remove a 10mm-head bolt. Of course, I have my favorites. I can’t imagine doing a clutch job without one of these ring gear holders. I’ve had this one forever, and I believe it’s actually specific to VWs. It works fine on Hondas though. I’ve used it on everything from Accord clutch jobs to my NSX clutch and flywheel install this weekend – more on that later. Simply lock it against the flywheel, bolt it to the block, and loosen or tighten bolts without worrying about spinning the crank. So simple, but so effective.
