Another AP1 vs AP2 battle? NO! Read the whole thing and you'll understand.

Recently, my sister-in-law told my brother that she misses his old Mk 2 MR2 and gave him the green light to get another sports car in the near future. I immediately told them to get an S2000. But my brother, who would be the primary driver of the vehicle, is a big guy. He's bigger than me by height, width, breadth, and weight (for those who know me). He's also one of the rare people who I've entrusted to drive mine, which is an AP1. The first thing out of his mouth was that the S2000 was a little too tight for him on interior room.

Then I told him to get an AP2.

I thought the AP2's interior was designed to have more room than the AP1, so I need to confirm that. And by how much of an increase of space one would actually get in an AP2 over the AP1. This would include shoulder room, leg room, steering wheel adjustments if any, if there is more leg room around the steering wheel if no adjustments . . . ect.

I just need some help convincing him to get an S2000, because, hey . . . it's an S2000.

Thanks.

 

door panel inserts were changed to provide a bit more shoulder area room. leg room should be the same, steering wheel is still non-adjustable. i recently purchased the Backyard Special lowered seat rail, which I'm hoping will make the car just a bit more roomy feeling.

how big is your brother in law?

 

Your Kidding Right,

if there is any difference it must be very small IMHO.

Some People just arent ment to Drive an S, Ya Know.

 

Having had both, I don't feel any noticeable difference in interior room, but as you know I'm not a very big guy either. (I enjoy that the S2000 was probably designed to fit Japanese men of my dimensions).

I looked up the official numbers on edmunds:

AP1
Front Head Room: 34.6 in.
Front Hip Room: 50.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 49.8 in.
Front Leg Room: 44.3 in.

AP2
Front Head Room: 34.6 in.
Front Hip Room: 49.8 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 50.7 in.
Front Leg Room: 44.3 in.

Not sure how much that extra bit of shoulder room is going to help.

I'm a bit surprised that size is that much of a concern coming from a MK2 MR2 - of course I've never sat in one of those. A friend of a friend is selling a turbo'd MR2 Spyder (pm me for details). According to another friend of mine who is a big guy (you met him at Road America. Can't fit in a miata, finds the s2000 a snug fit), apparently the MR2 Spyder is decently comfortable for him.

 

The AP2 door panels were redesigned and provide a little more space.

It doesn't sound like much looking at it, but it does make a difference. If you park an AP1 and AP2 side by side and jump in each you will fell a difference.

Now if your thin and scrawny you won't feel it. I feel the difference between both, but thats because I have a few extra pounds. lol

 

My brother is not a fat guy, he's just big. I'm not scrawny by any means either. He just bought some seat rails for his Integra (has a sunroof) because his headroom right now is literally about an inch. And that's with the seat lowered as far as it'll go with factory rails. Headroom in the S2k isn't the problem (and why would it be in a convertible?). It's moreso shoulder room and leg room both total and below the steering wheel. But I believe below the steering wheel room would be the biggest factor here.

If seat lowering rails helps out with room below the steering wheel, then he might go for it. But considering that he just spent money on some, I'm unsure if he would be willing to do that again. Especially since he's still waiting for them after he ordered them months ago.

The Mk2 MR2 had considerable room in it compared to the S2k. I've been in that car quite a bit. It's less of a "bathtub" feel, and the seat bolstering is considerably less. And with the T-tops, the headroom wasn't a problem for him either. He does not quite fit in a Miata, and he's told me that he doesn't care for the MR Spyder because of its lack of a driver-centric interior.

 

Seat rails are a definite must for anyone over 5' 8", it changes everything about how you sit in the car, it's a pretty massive difference.

As far as AP1 vs AP2, I highly doubt that it's noticeable at all, but everyone knows AP2's are better

 

and Ap1's are Faster.

 

Recaro Pole Positions and call it a DAY.

I sit on the damn floor as far back as I can.

Two people in this car. I am 5'10" and my head is about the height of the side mirror haha:

 

damn nick. you are a baaad man. car looks good