So why are they bad for autox? Would think it would help out since they are usually pretty low speed courses?

 

They suck for autocross because most courses work out well in 1st and 2nd gear for a stock S2000, but with a 4.77 geared S2000, 1st gear is proctically useless, and you either have to spend a bunch of time bouncing the rev limitter in 2nd, or shift to 3rd a few times.

 

Plus, autocrossing is primarily about being smooth, and less about power. Bouncing rev limitters and shifting gears really makes it hard to be smooth.

 

Ah makes sense. Yeah first gear does feel fun with the gears but also you do have to shift out of first very quickly so I can see how that would be a pain.

 

They suck for YOU!

Your statements are sweeping statements when in fact they are subjective and personal to your own experience.

In my experience *on the street* the kick I get from 1st gear through to 3rd is akin to a turbo. The car is significantly more responsive from low down - it seems that the power band is more accessible and the car is a whole heap of fun compared to stock.

Is it faster than stock? I've no idea
Is the power band more accessible than stock? you bet
Is it more fun on the street than stock? without a doubt

IMO it remains the best bang per buck (NA) for the S

 

I don't understand why you are having such a difficult time grasping this conversation. Moddiction asked a specific question about why 4.77's would be bad for autocrossing, and I answered. Then you get upset, and start rambling about how you enjoy them on the street. Do you know what autocrossing is? Nobody disagrees that 4.77's are fun on the street! Let me repeat that ... Nobody disagrees that 4.77's are fun on the street. If you need to read it again for clarity ... Nobody disagrees that 4.77's are fun on the street. In bold ... Nobody disagrees that 4.77's are fun on the street How about with a red font ... Nobody disagrees that 4.77's are fun on the street

 

Thanks for that, perhaps now you will defer your opinions on 4.77 gears and autocrossing for the relevant subforum or when a specific question is raised on 4.77 gears and autocross.

 

Nope. I'm not going to do that. It's clear that Huntsmcgee is new to gears, and possibly the S2000, so I'm going to give him the warning I wish I had received about the trade-offs of 4.77s. If the "full story" offends some some people's one-sided view that 4.77's are the greatest mod ever just because they are fun between stop lights, then click the "Ignore" button. On second thought, maybe you should take your own advice, and save your opinions for the "Street Encounters" forum.

 

Agree w/ gernby's point again. I see so much info on how wonderful "gears" are for S2000, but in the end they are not the be-all/end-all of NA mods. They are good for ONE thing specifically: acceleration from zero (or very low speed). Outright acceleration capability at rolling speeds above ~30mph or so aren't going to be affected all that much, as half the time you're going to be in a taller transmission gear if you have lower (numerically higher) diff gearing.

From any speed above ~30mph, performance advantage/disadvantage with 4.77 gearing is on average going to be a wash. Sure there will be stretches where 4.77 gears will have an advantage, but stock gears will have the overall gearing advantage at 40mph (8400rpm in 1st vs. 6300rpm in 2nd with 4.77s), at 60mph (8200rpm in 2nd vs. 6900rpm in 3rd with 4.77s), and at 80mph (7900rpm in 3rd vs. 7200 in 4th with 4.77s).

If you like the ability to pass at highway speeds without downshifting, how 'bout just not shifting into 6th? Stock 4.10 gears in 5th is equivalent to 4.90 gears in 6th, yeehaw!

 

You know, no one track is specifically designed for an S2000 with 4.1 or 4.77 gears, the driver has to adapt his driving style accordingly. If you were slow when you switched to 4.77 it would mainly down to your lack of technique, nothing to do with the gears, but I can see how it would difficult to admit that to yourself.

There was some very good advice in this thread, did it help?

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=188522