[QUOTE=gernby,Jan 26 2011, 11:47 AM] A well tuned S2000 is much easier to drive.

 

My car made about 135 ft-lbs of torque while stock between 4K and 5k RPMs, but with the bolt-ons and tune, it makes more than 150 ft-lbs everywere above 3200 RPMs. That's more than an 11% increase in torque just from increasing throttle position. If you install 4.77's, that's a 16% increase in mechanical advantage. Of course, if you really want to cruise around at high RPM's, then just cruise around in 5th for the same effect.

I definitely shift gears less now than I did with my 4.77's, but I guess there are some driving styles or habits that might be the other way around. I drive mostly on surface streets, so 4.77's meant that I had to row through 6 gear changes after EVERY stop light. It's true that when I was on the highway, I never had to downshift with 4.77's, but I really don't with my setup now either.