Wanna listen to my VTEC story, huh!
I have a confession to make. I was very unfamiliar with Honda about 6 years ago. Heck, I was not even a fan. I would hear about this vtec thing and not get it. It would be scribbled on the side panel of some Hondas as if it was something special. The cars with the lettering were obviously 4 cylinders. Big whoop I thought to myself. I did not truly “get it” until I drove an S2000.
I can see many timid test drivers still not seeing what the big deal is. They would drag the car up to about 4-5000 rpm and shift. I know this because everyone I let drive do that. It’s quite funny when they pretend to be impressed while doing that. We’re all aware to truly get the effect you must mash the throttle hard and it will hit at 6200 depending on your application.
To this day, I still believe it is a spectacular feeling. I’ve been in several situations where I believed vtec saved the day. Some of you know what I mean. You pull into traffic with a sea of cars behind you quickly catching up. Wait for it….wait for it……WAAAAM!! Vtec saves the day. I’ve driven 500hp V8’s before. My best friend had a dragster Camaro back in high school. I’m quite familiar with tire shredding thrust. Today, our 237 stock horsepower seems quite dull on paper. The devil is in the details. It is and always be fun how they are delivered to us. I will always remember how my British pal from college described my car: Barry, this car is BLOODY manic man!! I love it.
You want VTEC, I got it...look no further 
Let us not be mistaken here, not all Hondas that slap vtec on their engine are created equal. Wait for it in a Ridgeline and I promise it will never come. It’s almost the same deal with the Accord. They can be quite punchy but it’s almost as if vtec came back from lunch and doesn’t want to work. I have to say that my favorite incident was when I got smacked. I was driving a girl I was seeing to dinner and I pulled out of a corner and went straight through two gears at full blast. She freaked out and smacked my arm. It was a playful smack but she honestly was alarmed and asked if I was hurting the car. Yes, you heard right. Hurting the car. That is when I leaned over and said “this car was made for this.” We didn’t last very long but I digress. Has your lowly 237hp car every alarmed a passenger?!?
-Onehots2k
NOTE: S2KI welcomes the opinions of its members on the S2000 and on all topics related to the S. Should you feel the creative urge to pen a few words then by all means do so and PM Energetic, Aashish2 or Onehots2k OR send us links to what you would like us to write about and we will feature you (or your community) on the S2KI Home Page.
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on Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:33 am
I have driven many cars in my day. The love of Honda came to me when I was in high school and my buddy had a Civic hatch with a B16 swap. If anyone has ever experienced a B16/VTEC stock it sounds faster then it really is. I remember every time I heard that VTEC kick I thought this car is like a Bike, BTW my friend hit the rev limiter daily for 4 years and never burned oil, or killed the engine, amazing. I have owned a Integra, Prelude, and now S2000 and the S truly asks to be pushed harder. From the point that I start the engine, to the shifting of the first gear, I feel the S2K asks to be pushed to its limit each day.
Honda Thank you
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:58 am
“Has your lowly 237hp car every alarmed a passenger?!?”
Yes
my gf is still not used to it. “Brian that scares me!” I hear as I accelerate in 2nd gear… everytime
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 10:08 am
VTEC is nice.
VTEC with gears is nicer.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 10:25 am
i had vtec in my 99 honda accord v6 coupe, and it was great, i loved it. when i got in the S, it changed my life. and because of vtec, i look forward to something like it in every car. i drove a g35 and a 350z and it was not as fun. i love hearing the crossover, i just wish i didnt have to wait until 6200
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 10:39 am
My mother came to visit me several days ago. You should see her thinking my passenger window had “one-touch up.” Anyhow, she is incredibly funny and is never one to mince words. I was in second gear and gave it WOT to pass a vehicle. She seriously said “BOY!!!!” and a few things after that. LOL. Not too many stock 4 cylinders can spook people.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 11:28 am
Very nice write up.
Trully speaks from the heart, at least for us, V-tec Lovers!
Thanks for sharing.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 12:53 pm
I love my s2000! All I want to do is drive! I honestly considered “upgrading” to an aston martin vantage, but I won’t do it!!!! My friend think I am crazy, but when I let them drive my car they say hmmm, wow that little guy is powerful! I am going to do some serious modifications next year and I cant wait! 911′s beware, I’m comming for ya! haha
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
heh. i think i’ve shocked a couple of passengers once or twice…
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Ive had many Hondas and i hated all the people who liked VTEC because it didnt do anything. When i got the S I was really surprised, it is the only Honda to have dual VTEC on both cams, that is why it feels better than Civics and Accords. They only have single VTEC on one cam.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
These “opinion” pieces on the main page are really starting to get annoying…stop now please…go back to finding interesting things and posting them there.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I know what you mean about people driving the s2k, when i got mine i let a friend drive it.. he went to 6k and shifted he refused to go higher because he said it sounded like it was going to blow up.
I was giving someone a ride once and they asked me if i hit NOS at 5500.. I said nope just VTEC!! lol
Bill, you don’t like them, then don’t read them! S2ki.com/forums
Keep them coming Barry!
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Ive scared 4 people in my S… only 4 people have rode with me so far. Its amazing that my dad was the first one to tell me to lay off the throttle.. hes owned a 69 camaro with a 454 built to hell and back and daily drove that for almost a year… my bone stock S was just to much for him, he says he will never ride in it again unless hes driving (wont happen lol). Another supriser was my girlfriend, she has gone to countless races with me and always insists that she ride along because she likes the rush just as much as me but just cant drive haha… first time she rode in it was the first time id ever seen her clench the handles and hold on… I LOVE MY S.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
hard to believe someone that’s driven “500hp v8s” before would be enthralled by vtec.
my first car had 300tq to the rear wheels at around 2000rpm stock.
stock.
it was not stock.
i love my s2k but for one to try to compare the two is ridiculous
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
@Bill – Opinions are welcome from all S2KI members. Perhaps you could give us further detail on what kind of content you’d like to see. We’ll do our best to get it posted.
From the other comments posted here, the opinions seem to be rather well received.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
ok so the vtec is fun in its own way- but i could never put it above the feel of a V8
and @Bill- I dont quite understand what you upset about. The main page used to feel almost deserted with new content only posted once in a while. But now with these opinion pieces it feels a lot more active and there is actually a reason to keep coming back and checking it regularly.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Thanks for the great story about your experience in your S2K! I’ve had mine since Sept. ’09 and I STILL have not dared to venture farther than about 5-6k RPM. Perhaps I’ll sample the VTEC sooner rather than later.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Thats my S2000. Very nice
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Vtec is truely amazing! I too have been smacked by my girlfriend when I engage vtec. She cant stand being pulled back in the seat without me warning her first. Sometimes when merging into traffic its necessary to get the revs up, but I never think to tell her first. I mean, its not in my thought process while driving to warn my passenger of vtec. I guess I need to work on that! LOL!
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
Bill complains about something he is not entitled to. Bill complains without offering any suggestions. Me Generation version 2.0.
on Feb 17th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I enjoy reading these “opinion pieces”….I dont see anything wrong with it.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 2:01 am
Vtec is like having a huge laggy turbo like a gt42r and runinng 1 psi of boost. I love my s2000 and all but came on guys the car is not a fast car. When vtec hits at 6k sure there might be a little tiny pull but its no big deal. The car is a beautiful great handeling car but powerfull it is most certanly not.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 7:55 am
@David- You have never taken your car past 6k since you bought it in September?!?! You have no idea what you’re missing. You should let me know when you do.
Thanks for all the interesting comments and support guys. I enjoy reading what you all have to say more than writing.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 8:21 am
Agree with Derek completely. First S2k I drove was Barry’s and I promised myself I would own one someday. It took 2 years later but it finally happened. Although there are many faster more powerful cars, I think its the spirit of the car everyone is trying to describe. Everytime you drive it, you know it was meant to rev at 9k, all the time, everytime. No other factory car is like that, period.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 10:43 am
Whats so great about vtec?
-You claim you like the sudden power when you hit and go beyond a certain rpm. Have you even driven a turbo car? Compare the two and vtec looks silly in comparison for this reason.
-Almost all japanese sport cars come with a form of vtec standard in their cars, these days. Nissan has ‘continuous variable valve timing’ which operates both in intake and exhaust and at all rpm ranges. The 350z for example can generate optimum fuel consumption at low throttle angles and max power at WOT via their continuous variable valve control.
So tell me whats so great about vtec?
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 1:49 pm
That car is black……..NOT
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 3:23 pm
@all… s2ki’s frontpage hits have increased due to the interesting articles and opinion pieces. The folks who have dedicated their free time to create articles deserve a pat on the back. Every article is not going to tickle everyone’s fancy, but rest assured, s2ki admins are extremely happy with the effort being put forth. I would encourage everyone to put their fingers on the keyboard and pump out some interesting articles and we will definitely post them. All members and friends of s2ki have the green light to submit your creative words. Think about it. You know you wanna contribute.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
@hondagal – i dont mind them at all, keep them coming. if anything, it generates comment traffic on the main page. just because i dont agree with other people doesnt mean they arent entitled to their own opinions.
on Feb 18th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Honda made one fun and exciting car. I bought that car. When it comes time to buy a replacement for my S2000, Honda will have nothing to offer. VTEC is nice for what it is, but its one part of a package that makes a car like the S2000 great, that’s why other VTEC engines don’t make for fun Hondas. Its a shame Honda doesn’t know how or seemingly want to make fun cars anymore.
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 5:00 am
I agree with you, Say. It really is what makes the car special IMO. It dosen’t really matter to me that some other cars use a similar application. It just isn’t delivered in the same fashion as our cars. My .02
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 6:36 am
Reminds me of when my dad was riding with me.
Dad – “So how fast have you gotten this car huh?”
Me – “You really wanna know that??”
Dad – “Ya! C’mon, i won’t be bothered”
Me – “140..”
Dad – “what?!? this can’t go that fast!”
Me – “ya it can… trust me..”
Dad – “no way i don’t belive you..”
*down shit to second, WOT
Dad screaming “OH MY GOD” head stuck in to the seat..
was a priceless time with my dad. He believed me afterwards.
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
I drove my chairman back to the airport form the office so he could fly back to his country.
I took it relatively easy but I know his a car guy and we chatted a lot about his Porsche and various other bits of metal. He had asked about my S and I had explained it to him, and the power delivery via VTEC…he was aware.
Despite this I decided to show him instead of explain it. 2nd gear with a mashed loud pedal and he seemed fine, then I hit VTEC and he was not expecting the remaining 3,000RPM, lent forward with 1 hand on the dash expecting a redline cutoff, he was visibly shock up by it.
Great stuff.
on Feb 19th, 2010 at 7:25 pm
This just made me want to go for a drive in my s2
on Feb 21st, 2010 at 12:23 pm
It was my friends first time in an s2 and i seened the eager expression in his face wanting me to show him what my car was about so down shift from 4th to 2nd gear i punched it and let the never ending rpm’s go what he didn’t know was that my car was capable of going ALL away to 9000 which scared him when i punched it into 3rd and he told me stop which i thought to my self PUSSSAAAAY haha.
on Feb 28th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
Hey, glad to see that picture I took of Ron’s car make this article! Wish someone would have given me a heads up.
Cool stuff either way.
James
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotoset/
on Mar 17th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I take it up to 6k once or twice a week… Puts a grin on my face everytime.
on May 12th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I know its a cliche, but every time I get into my S and drop the top, a foolish grin and peaceful feeling hits me. I love to mash a couple of gears and hit that vtec to redline. No tickets yet.