What Supercharger is Better, CT Engineering or Vortech?
CT Engineering, formerly known as Comptech, and Vortech are considered the two best supercharger options for the S2000. A look at the spec sheets shows these two kits to be relatively equal in a number of categories, but there are a few differences to consider before making your purchase. It is worth noting that Vortech now actually distributes the CT Engineering supercharger kit through their website, but the original Vortech kits are still available from several different suppliers.
Blower Specialists
One of the first things to consider when shopping for any aftermarket performance product is a little background info about the actual company that is selling the product. In the case of these two supercharger kits, it's interesting that the companies are completely different, yet their kits a quite competitive with one another. CT Engineering specializes in Honda/Acura products only, and have received rave reviews for their quality and vehicle specific fitment. On the other hand, Vortech is a much larger company that not only produces products for numerous automotive applications, but has also been involved in marine, industrial, and aeronautical industries, and is arguably always at the front of blower development and design. While Vortech uses their own centrifugal supercharger design, CT sources a Paxton unit for their kit.
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Pricing
The first thing you are bound to encounter when comparing supercharger kits is the price. CT Engineering offers aftercooled kits for $5495.00 that is compatible with the 2000-2005 year models, and a kit for 2006-2009 models that retail for $6095.00. Similarly, Vortech kits are still available using either their older V2 supercharger unit or their new V3 blower with prices ranging between $6200.00 to $6600.00. Each of these kits can be found a bit cheaper if you shop around, but expect the 2006-2009 kits to run a few hundred dollars more than the kits for earlier year models.
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Horsepower
The big talking point with any performance upgrade is how much of a bump in horsepower the new mods are worth. Generally speaking, the CT Engineering kit produces 5.5 psi of boost out of the box which is good for approximately 320 horsepower at the crankshaft. In comparison, the Vortech kit claims to produce a touch over 350 horsepower because of the slight increase in boost pressure (7-8 psi) over the CT setup. Having said that, supercharger pulleys can be changed to different sizes to vary the amount of boost supplied to the engine for a bump in power.
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Supercharger Units
The supercharger used with the CT Engineering kits is a Paxton Novi 1220SL that is internally lubricated and requires no connection to the engine oil supply. For the Vortech kits, they either come with their own Vortech V2 SCI supercharger that requires plumbing to the oil pan or the newer V3 SCI blower that is internally lubricated much like the Paxton unit on the CT kit. For the most part, the dimensions and output of these three superchargers are the same with the inlet diameters at 3.5" and the discharge diameters at 2.75". They all three flow 1050 CFM and are capable of flowing a maximum of 775 horsepower, which is likely far more than any S2000 owner will ever need.
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Fit & Finish
The general consensus seems to be that the Vortech kit has an edge in the looks department, but the CT Engineering kits are a bit more thought out and allows for an easier install. Owners have expressed that the install of the Vortech kit is a bit more intrusive, especially on the electronics side of things. Also, if you are using the older supercharger kit it will require lubrication via the oil supply from the engine. Those that have installed the CT Engineering kit have praised the ease of install, with some even stating that they completed installation in half of the estimated install time. Additionally, CT's communication is said to be rather good, which one would expect from a small business specializing in parts for a specific brand of car.
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Warranty & Compliance
As has come to be expected in today's marketplace, both kits come with a limited warranty. The Vortech wins out in this department as they offer a 3-year warranty on every supercharger kit sold and will guarantee that the output of the supercharger unit performs within spec. In comparison, CT Engineering offers a 2-year warranty on their kit but is very specific that the warranty will be void if boost levels are altered from the factory setup. For those that live in regions with emissions testing, rest assured that both supercharger kits are 50-state legal and should give you no trouble at the smog testing station.
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