Detailed AP1 Ownership Review a Great Way to Pass Time
Extensive list of maintenance culminates with several epic journeys across Europe.
Intriguing Story
The story of this particular S2000, owned by user S2000_F20 over at PistonHeads, is not unlike many of the ones we've heard before. After acquiring his AP1 back in the Spring of 2018, he's set about modifying it to make it his idea of the perfect S2000. And over the last couple of years, this car has also traveled around Europe quite a bit as its owner is clearly enjoying it. And all of that makes this story well worth the read.
Photos: PistonHeads
Good Start
The loyal Honda fan picked up his first S2000 after admiring them afar for the last 20 years. It only took that long because of monetary reasons, of course, but when the OP's budget finally matched his aspirations, the deal was sealed. Thankfully, this AP1 was in great shape when he got it and didn't need much in the way of repairs or maintenance.
Photos: PistonHeads
Living up to the Hype
Also thankfully, the car lived up to the hype. "The driving experience is so different from any Honda I have driven," the OP said. "The rawness of the S2000 coupled with its superb gearbox and that 9k rpm limit engine makes you feel like you're in a racing car. When you push that engine and work those gears, the car just puts a smile on your face every time."
Photos: PistonHeads
Deep Clean
Thus, the OP didn't want to go crazy with modifications on his new ride. The goal was to simply repair everything that wasn't perfect and somewhat "restore" the AP1. He also took the time to give it a good deep clean, not just on the outside and interior, but also the dirty engine bay.
Photos: PistonHeads
Interesting Changes
Along the way, that work included returning a few things back to stock. Even the speakers, which were aftermarket at the time, didn't sound very good anyway. So why not just revert to the factory? This build also featured a few interesting changes that you don't see every day, like a soft top striker modification designed to reduce wind noise.
Photos: PistonHeads
Entertaining and Informative
The idea was to make this car as perfect as possible, and the attention to detail the OP shows off is certainly commendable. He went through the entire car, doing little things everywhere, all with the idea of returning the AP1 to its original glory. And reading through his extensive thread is certainly entertaining and informative.
Photos: PistonHeads
Finding Inspiration
After he was finally finished going through this S2000 with a fine-tooth comb, the OP was quick to enjoy the fruits of his labor. And who can blame him? So if you're looking for a weekend project or two, be sure and check out this highly detailed thread. If nothing else, it's sure to inspire you to get out there and get some work done on your own car.
Photos: PistonHeads