A while back, before I purchased my 2007 Sport, I test drove a 2010 R3 and the feeling of the steering response of the R3 has stuck with me ever since.

The foam filled cross member and updated suspension geometry [ details ] have been cited as contributing to this more precise feel. I am also not the only one to feel the difference. Several posts [ 1, 2, more ] have related with the exact same thing i'm describing.

Of course, many immediately claim that there are simple mods that can be done on any 8 for less money and even better result. I'm sure you can get better track performance with aftermarket upgrades than a stock R3 but what I'm after is the steering response and feel of the AE and R3. Are there known upgrades that can get you that? If not I might be on the market for a AE.

 

A set of wider, stickier tires and an aggressive alignment should to the trick

 

Thanks, I'll give the aggressive alignment a go.

Anyone out there who has driven both an R3 (and felt a difference) and also driven a Sport with upgraded suspension?

EDIT: Okay, so I got a new alignment (I was asked if I wanted sport or stock and I answered sport). They said my caster was frozen and I would need to take it out or apply an air gun to it or something to get it unstuck. Even so they got the settings within tolerances (in the green). Long story short though, it didn't provide the improvement in steering response and feel i'm after. My tires are Vredestein Ultracs which are not R compound but plenty sticky.

 

It's probably in the shock valving. The Bilsteins respond quicker than the Sport units, and they may be biased front-to-rear differently as well. You can easily replicate this feeling with a set of adjustable shocks like Tokicos or Konis, or non-adjustable revalved Bilsteins from somebody like FatCat.

Note that I'm not talking about running super stiff shocks that kill the ride - even at the medium settings for the Tokicos, or soft for Konis, you will get better transient response (read: quicker steering response) than with the sport shocks and still get good ride quality. And, since the Konis and Tokicos are adjustable, you can tweak the balance to your subjective preference easily.

If you can find a local car with good shocks & stock springs, you should give it a spin and see if it gives you the feel you want.