I've been in the market for an S2k for the last few months and test drove an 06 today at the dealer. The only other roadster that I've driven consistently on a daily basis is an 05 TT 3.2DSG so this was my reference.

Obviously, I don't need to tell yall (99% S2k owners) that the drive was exhilarting. However, I was "perplexed" shall we say by the less than direct turn in from the steering. It seemed like it had a slightly sloppier turning ratio when compared to the TT. Another subjective point that I noted, was the fact that once u hit VTEC (espeically in 1st or 2nd) u were almost instantly searing past the redline - i couldn't help feeling that the extra 1000's revs of an AP1 would have come in handy.

I guess my question is, is the AP1 perceivably more direct and "hard-core" so to speak than an AP2. Before the flames begin, this isn't another "which on is better" but rather I wanted to get some feedback from those who have driven/owned/own both about the visceral driving experience of the two. I've heard much about the S2k being a very crisp communicative machine, and was wondering whether an AP1 would cure some of the "perplexities" that I noticed in my test drive of an 06. As u can probably tell, I have yet to have the opportunity to test drive an AP1.

Oh, and one more thing - is the suspension tuning between 00/01's and 02/03's significant enough to cause a noticable difference in the feel and dynamics of the car?

 

To answer your question: YES, the AP1 is more direct and "hard core" so to speak than the AP2. Between the extra 1000 RPM, the lower torque, and the stiffer suspension, this is a fact in my book. It's one of the reasons I bought the S2000- it's a hard-core car, and I believe the AP1 to be "harder" core than the AP2.

Now, before all the AP2 owners flood my PM box or this thread with nasty insults, realize I never said the AP1 was BETTER. Just more hard core. Whether or not that's better for YOU as an owner is up to personal preference. They're both great cars, and even the softest of S2k's ('06, I suppose), is still one of the more raw cars on the market today.

As for the suspension tuning between the 00/01 vs. the 02/03, unless you're pushing the car hard on a frequent basis, you probably will not notice a large difference. In my experience, the tail of my '03 feels a tiny bit more planted than the tail of an '00 I've also driven, especially during frowned upon RWD maneuvers, like lifting mid-turn, and flooring it with the wheel at full lock .

Good luck with your soul searching

 

 

Basically Honda started with a really good car and has done a good job of updating the S2000 over the years. They fixed a few mechanical problems and tinkered with the features. You can definitely feel the difference between the 00-01, 02-03, and 04-6 versions. Some say they have gone too far, others appreciate the updates. You can't go too wrong with any of the versions, but it helps to know the differences so that you can choose the car that best fits your needs.

00-01 cars had the stiffest rear springs, so they have the stiffest suspension and most steering. The rear window was plastic, the center tunnel was carpeted, the stereo was really bad, and there were a few mechanical issues with the engine oil bolts and transmission.

In 02-03 Honda went to softer rear springs to take away some steering...to combat the reputation of the car spinning out. The rear window changed to glass with defroster, the center tunnel was changed to cover the carpet, they upgraded the stereo (still not great), added a clock ( :-) ) updated the engine ECU for a little more torque, and fixed the oil bolt and transmission issues.

In 04-05 Honda went even softer on the rear springs for more rear grip and more ride comfort, some say that they went too far and strayed from the "pure" concept of the original. The big news was the change from the original (award winning) 9,000 RPM 2.0 liter engine to a 8,200 RPM 2.2 liter for more torque. The original 16" wheels/tires were updated to 17" with tires that work better in the rain. Some new lights, bumpers, and a few interior updates freshened up the look. The tranny gears were changed slightly for more punch off the line and slightly more relaxed freeway cruising and smoother shifts. The chassis got a few extra braces to add a little strength and stiffness. They added a delay to the clutch to (supposedly) help prevent miss-shifts.

In 06 Honda added stability control (VSA) to help keep people on the road. The interior got slightly revised seats and headrest speakers.

The S2000 steering has always been a little different. It's electronically boosted which gives some people the impression that it doesn't give enough feedback. Myself, I like the steering feel, it's very stable and perfectly weighted, and I never really like the kick-back over bumps that you feel in many sports cars (cough, Lotus Elise). But if you want a raw and communicative steering then you probably won't like the S2000 feel.

The engine comes down to preference. I personally like the 9,000 RPM redline, especially on the racetrack. I've driven the 2.2 liter and found it lacking on excitement, others love the added torque and still like the 8,200 red line. The speed of the two are almost identical.

The virtues of the S2000: great reliability, great handling balance, great brakes, great shifter, super fast soft top, great ergonomics (for people under 6'), stiff chassis, decent fuel economy.

You should really go drive the different years to feel it for yourself. Good luck with your decision, the S2000 kicks ass!

 

You've gotten some pretty good responses on your issues with the car. It's refreshing to read these concerns being discussed without all the year model bashing.

The only part I'll comment on is quoted above. I've got an Ap2 and yes, it swings through redline, right now, especially in the lower gears. I did get to test drive a used Ap1 before I bought my car and I can tell you, in 1st or 2nd, that extra 1000 rpm really doesn't take that much more time. These engines gain rpm sooooooo fast.

When my car was new, or more accurately stated, when "I" was new to the car, I could get behind the engine all too easily. Now that I've had it just over 1.5 years and have 27+k miles on it, it's not as big a deal and I don't bounce it off the rev limiter nearly as often. Subjectively speaking, VTEC to redline in 1st and 2nd don't seem to come nearly as fast as it did when I was less experienced. It's not that it's any slower, I'm just used to it now. The down side of that is that I miss the adrenalin rush I used to get. The up side of it is that I'm a lot more comfortable and confident in my ability to control the car and use it to it's potential. All in all, it's worth the trade off.

Just take it easy and get used to the car.

Good luck & Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

If you think VTEC to redline takes too short, go and drive a turbo S with gears

Now back to topic:

"s2ka" summed it up perfectly. I like a lot of things on the AP2 chassis and design (we get EUDM cars here, with F20C engine) but the steering from lock to lock takes "longer" what I don't like at all.