Right guys

In the UK we aren't blessed with the expert tuners you guys have. I've decided on a SC project and fixed on the Vortech kit for its flexibility and ease of upgrade.

Bit I'm struggling with which car to buy to put it on. I'm on my 3 rd S which is an 06 with DBW & VSA but in the UK it still has the 2.0 engine.

So I'm looking at

02 UK car which is the same as a USDM AP1
JDM AP1
04 UK car AP1 engine with different ECU map to smooth vtec transition

My question?

Well I'm trying to work out which one will work best with the Vortech black box.
The JDM has a different map and higher compression, the 04 has a different map to the AP1.

Which is going to work best and why?

 

Id select the car 1st Mikey. You can get any of them to work one way or another

And I know you plan to go for a custom map within a short while so another reason to pick the car you want 1st.

MB

 

Mark

Ultimately I might go for a custom map, but I'd like to start of with a "Dummies guide to SC"

I'm actually starting to revert back to a none AC Comptech unit just for the simplicity and support from them.



I'm just not sure the Vortech kit is as well engineered and supported even though it give me better future potential

 

Comptech non AC is my 1st choice Mikey

Much less hassle to fit, and slightly less power so things are less stressed.

You can also upgade it at a later date, to the A/C and smaller pulley etc.

It depends what you are after, many will disagree on the above statement but it fits for me!

MB

 

I do like that logic.

You know I wish that would go on a UK 06 car!

 

Flog it, buy an 04, free up some money, fund S/C

Simple!

Great thing about the S is that it doesnt really change much, im sure an 04 wouldnt be much of a shock!

MB

 

I agree with Dark Blue Mark, but I'm biased since I already have the comptech kit As for the car, if there really isn't that much of a difference in price, I'd suggest the '04 car. Apart from the different suspension setup Honda ironed out a number of niggles prevalent in the first generation s2000's. Being younger than the others by a couple of years it might prove to be a more solid car to build for forced induction.

 

You'd be surprised actually! I'm no expert, but I'm fortunate enough to say I've driven all three (or is it four now?) incarnations of the S. The suspension changes of the '04 S make it quite a different animal to the first models. For one, I've noticed the '04 onwards cars have a tendency to understeer more, and give you that little bit more leeway before snapping to oversteer when driven 'hard'.

 

I more meant cosmetically which is more often than not the reason people change. Guess I was also meaning compared to other cars - ive come from Impreza STi land, and they change radically between MY's!

What do you prefer? Ive only tried MY00 and like the feeling that it can and will hurt you if you dare! Ive heard later ones are a bit more predictive.

MB

 

Oooh tough one! They all have their trade offs/redeeming features. I liked the first genertaion because they were pretty raw, and of course, it was the first S I set my eyes on and subsequently took for a spin. On the other hand , the 04/05's have a more comfortable day to day ride and are a bit more forgiving (read - will understeer slightly before it snaps to oversteer and is not as susceptible to bumpsteer). Then again, the My06's have by far the smoothest power delivery thanks to the DBW. Then again, the revisions sone to the '06 model make it hard to find any aftermarket parts that are 100% compatible - for now. It seems like Honda try and tone this car down with every subsequent generation (trying to make it more user friendly to the joe public) However it's hard to do that and keep true to the character of the S as a daily car that comes prepped for the track from the factory....Phew didn't think I'd write so much

In short my fav has to be the 04/05 though. It's got the facelift looks, the suspension's more compliant/ slightly more predictable, and there are plenty of tried and tested aftermarket parts for it.