I'm new to this board so this is probably an old topic. I'm looking to get an S and want to do HPDE days and autocross, and still use as a daily street car. Is one a better starting point then the other? I've driven both on the street and I prefer the 2nd gen but have no track experience. (unless you count 30+ years of offroad racing motorcycles....I don't) thanks in advance for your insight.

Tom

 

Personal preference.

Most people think the newer cars are (a very little bit) faster, when all else is equal.

 

I prefer the AP1. Others prefer the AP2. They are very close in performance as evidenced at a recent autocross when a nationally competitive driver did several runs in each type of S2000 and his results were within 0.2 seconds of each other (the AP2 was slightly faster, but it had new rubber). On the track, there's nothing like screaming up to 9k RPM coming out of a turn in the AP1, but the AP2 has slightly better torque mid-turn.

It will be your car, so you get to decide.

 

doesn't "slick rick" use a 2.2L engine in his ap1? They have spent enough time on the dyno.... so i assume there is a benefit to the 2.2L in racing (road course racing) vs the 2.0L

NASA makes the 2.2L S2000's weigh 100lbs more than a 2.0L S2000, so they feel there is some benefit to the 2.2L also.

 

There may be some debate over the engine, but there's no debating over the AP2 suspension/chassis being better.

 

OK stupid question, but it's bugging me. What does AP stand for? I know one is the 1st gen and likewise the other is 2nd gen but don't know what AP stands for. Please excuse the ignorance.

 

[QUOTE=Splash,Feb 14 2006, 10:26 AM]OK stupid question, but it's bugging me.

 

Assocaited Press.

 

AP1 and AP2 are Honda's chassis codes for the cars. It comes from the VIN code for the car, which will begin JHMAP1..., or JHMAP2...

Steve

 

Ass Pucker.