Spoon or Mugen - The Great Debate


benzai

benzai

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I'll be collecting my 2000 EK9 RX in the next couple of weeks and I'm trying to plan out all my modifications before I get it.

It's come down to two brands that I would be happy with using on my car:
- Spoon Sports
- Mugen

Now my question is, which would you rather on your car?

What is your opinions of both brands?

This thread is just to help me decide on which brand to focus on whilst upgrading my car.

:nice:
 
neither, both are overpriced and you can get better parts for less money from other companies, however stating a purpose or expected horsepower goal for your vehicle would be helpful... ...actually never mind a hp goal wont be helpful as neither company really has any hardcore performance parts.

Why limit yourself to 1 brand anyway? i say mugen for the twinloop but then i say spoon for the brakes. anyhow good luck...
 
Yeah I don't have a "hp goal" so to say.

I suppose I could mix and match and see where that got me!
 
neither as said. i had full spoon exhaust breathing and mugen intake not so long ago and it worked well. however, i sold it all recently as i have realised that you can save loads buy buying otherbrands achieving same ++'s :)
Plus be different and mix and match ;)
save some £££ as well..
i do miss my spoon stuff though..
 
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Wow I didn't realise how much people don't like buying the Spoon and Mugen products!
 
its not that.. its just there are other brands aswell ;)
 
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i`ve caught the spoon bug so i vote spoon lol but do agree there are cheaper alternatives out there for half the price:nice:
 
Some of the spoon stuff is sh*# i had a radiator cap and the spoon badge came off lol. Ive heard the same about the oil cap to. But the big things e.g. Stroker kits, Final drives, breakes, suspension ect. . . Are really good, but the price aint lol.
 
It all depends on the parts your after but for the money there are much better parts out there so there is....
 
its the price that puts me off these brands. but i do have to say i luv a ek9 with a spoon b pipe and n1 they are awsume and good gains. and in this day and age there are alot of copies of parts that are half the pice and do just as god a job.
 
bgm13 said:
I'll be collecting my 2000 EK9 RX in the next couple of weeks and I'm trying to plan out all my modifications before I get it.

It's come down to two brands that I would be happy with using on my car:
- Spoon Sports
- Mugen

Now my question is, which would you rather on your car?

What is your opinions of both brands?

This thread is just to help me decide on which brand to focus on whilst upgrading my car.

:nice:
Click to expand...

Here is a classic issue with new Honda VTEC owners. Especially if you happen to own the exalted Type R. Both Companies have lots of parts for the now mature EK9 and DC2. I own a DC2 Rx in Japan and also because my former boss is an old friend of Ichishima so I can get good prices for Spoon parts in Type One so I am somewhat 'forced' to use Spoon parts...Not that I prefer Mugen I like Spoon and was a bit of a Spoon whore back home with my EG6.

Like Blinx said, neither company has really hardcore parts but if you are like me (I am not interested in hardcore tuning, I prefer softcore) then having your car filled with Spoon or Mugen will boost your own ownership pride.

The issue is that there are many type of owners. Some want more power and will thus go for the best value that money can buy to gain horses. Some want a nice show car and some want a bit of both. I happen to be in the last category.

If you are and insist on building a showcar that will resemble either company's concept demo car then decide which brand you like and go for it. From what I know though.. Mugen has discontinued their body parts for the EK9 and DC2..

Another major difference between Mugen and Spoon is that Mugen only sells parts, not their engineering. Spoon will sell you their engineering in the form of Overhauled or complete engines, transmission, drive shafts and throttle body.

I would suggest that if you are trying to build a show/performance car then get the parts that will show either company's logo. For parts that are hidden from view, just go for the cheaper brands. Because the truth is that for common parts like thermostats, brake lines and radiators, there usually come from the same few manufacturers. A lot of products are badge engineered.
 
Rich777 said:
Some of the spoon stuff is sh*# i had a radiator cap and the spoon badge came off lol. Ive heard the same about the oil cap to. But the big things e.g. Stroker kits, Final drives, breakes, suspension ect. . . Are really good, but the price aint lol.
Click to expand...

Same thing happened to me dude...dropped of during a touge run...never to be seen again.. Like I said from the above thread, a lot of parts are badge engineered. I personally saw some low ranking Spoon employees taking new parts out of a huge crate and placing Spoon Sticker on them before repacking them into Spoon plastic bags and boxes...

OK, since we are on this issue. I will list the things from Spoon and Mugen which I think are a waste of money and you would probably be better off getting cheaper parts that work just as well or better.

Waste of money:

SPOON:

Engine Torque Damper (they all all made by the same manufacturer!)
Radiator Hoses (just the badge, SAMCO is cheaper and better)
Radiator Cap
Thermostat
Thermoswitch
Oil Filler Cap (All these are made by the same guys)
Air Cleaner (Its Sponge, Blitz and others are higher quality)
Exhaust Manifold (debatable as most of the other Japanese brands are similarly priced)
LSD (Cusco and Kaaz are MUCH better)
Clutch set (some other brands are more expensive but better like Cucso, Exedy, OS Giken)
Tower Bars and Lower arm bars (Cusco makes the best for cheaper)
Zero Bump Steer (Good unless you can get it cheaper, they are all the same)
Brake Rotor (They are just stock discs that are slotted)
Brake Pads (good but too pricey)
Brake Hoses (other brands are better for the money)
Reclining Bucket Seat and Carbon Bucket seat (They are poor quality, Recaro is still the best)
Sports Wiper Blade Set (I don't even know why they bothered, PIAA and Borch are way better)

MUGEN:

Radiator Car
Thermostat
Thermoswitch
Oil Filler cap (Same reason as Spoon)
Oil filter (They are all the same, the performance ones that is. Just use HAMP or Stock)
REV-S and R Engine Oil (Cost too much!!, why not use Motul or stick with good old Castrol)
Exhaust Manifold (Just too pricey)
Sports Suspension (Good but the price!!!)
Brake Pads (Not that suitable for street and its too much to pay, Endless and Dixcel are my choice)
LSD
Clutch (same reason as Spoon)
Oil Pan (Same reason as Spoon)
Radiator
Wheel nuts
Micro Mesh Brake Lines

Now for stuff that are invaluable

SPOON:
Engine Assy (excellent if you just want an overhauled stock engine)
Transmission Assy (same reason)
Throttle Body Venturi Type (there is no other like it)
Full Spec Suspension (they seem to understand Honda very well so its good)
Mono Block and Twin Block Calipers (Is there any other 4 pot caliper that fits over stock brake rotor size?)
Polished Valve Set (they really put a lot of work into this one)
High Tension Plug Cords (there is no other with grounding)
Gear set (the ratios are very nice for Hondas)
Polished Drive Shaft (Again really hard work)
Change Rod (there is no other like it)
All Carbon parts (Remember that they started the whole carbon fibre hood craze. It seems to fit the gaps the best)
Stickers (Immediate 10bhp psychological gain!! hahahah)

MUGEN:
Hard Bushes (No one else seems to make the complete set, the only reason they have this item because Mugen supplies to one make races for regulations)
Carbon Air box (There is really no other like it!!)
Twin Loop Exhaust Muffler (It has its good points, although I think just don't waste time, go for a straight through)

Thats it..
 
i think it's sooooooo stoopid to pick a single brand and soley build a car with a single brand.

why not pic that parts that are made for quality and not logos. i can name things that spoon makes better then mugen and the other way around, but then again i can also name parts made better by other companies that are not spoon or mugen.

so this is the way i look it, if u wanna build a great car, hunt for good parts not brands.

spoon cluster > mugen cluster
mugen lsd > spoon lsd
project mu calipers > spoon calipers/mugen calipers

just build a great car my friend, a collection of many nice parts will make u stand out, a car filled with spoon and mugen parts will only be shown up by the manufactures of the very companies, (spoon and mugen) through their project cars because believe i highly doubt anyone of us can build a better spoon car then spoon or a better mugen car then mugen...
 
britishracer said:
Here is a classic issue with new Honda VTEC owners. Especially if you happen to own the exalted Type R. Both Companies have lots of parts for the now mature EK9 and DC2. I own a DC2 Rx in Japan and also because my former boss is an old friend of Ichishima so I can get good prices for Spoon parts in Type One so I am somewhat 'forced' to use Spoon parts...Not that I prefer Mugen I like Spoon and was a bit of a Spoon whore back home with my EG6.

Like Blinx said, neither company has really hardcore parts but if you are like me (I am not interested in hardcore tuning, I prefer softcore) then having your car filled with Spoon or Mugen will boost your own ownership pride.

The issue is that there are many type of owners. Some want more power and will thus go for the best value that money can buy to gain horses. Some want a nice show car and some want a bit of both. I happen to be in the last category.

If you are and insist on building a showcar that will resemble either company's concept demo car then decide which brand you like and go for it. From what I know though.. Mugen has discontinued their body parts for the EK9 and DC2..

Another major difference between Mugen and Spoon is that Mugen only sells parts, not their engineering. Spoon will sell you their engineering in the form of Overhauled or complete engines, transmission, drive shafts and throttle body.

I would suggest that if you are trying to build a show/performance car then get the parts that will show either company's logo. For parts that are hidden from view, just go for the cheaper brands. Because the truth is that for common parts like thermostats, brake lines and radiators, there usually come from the same few manufacturers. A lot of products are badge engineered.
Click to expand...

I think I'd be more of a softcore tuner myself. Love seeing the brands I like displayed on my car!

I think I'll have to mix it up abit with Mugen and Spoon (mostly Spoon though!)
 
CraftySince86 said:
i think it's sooooooo stoopid to pick a single brand and soley build a car with a single brand.

why not pic that parts that are made for quality and not logos. i can name things that spoon makes better then mugen and the other way around, but then again i can also name parts made better by other companies that are not spoon or mugen.

so this is the way i look it, if u wanna build a great car, hunt for good parts not brands.

spoon cluster > mugen cluster
mugen lsd > spoon lsd
project mu calipers > spoon calipers/mugen calipers

just build a great car my friend, a collection of many nice parts will make u stand out, a car filled with spoon and mugen parts will only be shown up by the manufactures of the very companies, (spoon and mugen) through their project cars because believe i highly doubt anyone of us can build a better spoon car then spoon or a better mugen car then mugen...
Click to expand...

I see your point alright. This is my first car to actually modify and enhance with performance parts so please bare with me :nice:

I was thinking to getting the Mugen Intake and header with the twin loop. Not sure, would be doing it for a while though!

Thanks for all the tips, I'll start a project thread as soon as I get the car and hope that I can get some help and advice from everyone :clap:
 
babyface said:
no spoon?
Click to expand...

ewjQds.jpg


"There is no Spoon."
 
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