I can only answer from my own expeience but the two cars are great, just they tend to perform better in different areas. Higher speed is definetely NSX territory whereas tight and technical is favored for the S2000. I think both cars are very similar in performance overall - but given the cost differential for each the S2000 clearly comes out the winner in bang for buck.

NSX is just a really cool car with some exclusivity to it. If money is a problem I almost never tell people to get the NSX over an S2000. $.02

 

Wohoo! Maybe I can do more things.

Think about it, both cars weigh about the same (many S2K's are coming in at 2,700lbs) while my NSX has a lighter than stock carbon rear wing, side vents, and a lighter aluminum rear bumper) and weighs 2,800lbs. NSX probably has 10-40whp up on the S2000 but also has MUCH longer gears (even the shorter 6speed and japanese 5speeds are way longer than the S2000), let alone an S2000 with 4.44 or 4.55.

Shorter gears keeps the car higher in the powerband. Both the NSX and S2000 make more power as the RPM increases. Keeping the car higher in the RPM longer over a given lap from shorter gears is effectively increasing the amount of power the car is making over a given lap (shifting it up the curve). While the NSX makes more peak power and power up top, it probably makes less power than the S2000 in many corners where the RPM is relatively low, while the S2000 is always high in the RPM for the same corner. -Different way of looking at a performance metric.

Also the WIDEST front tire able to fit under an NSX is 235, while the S2000 can fit 255s up front without too much of a problem. That 255 does WONDERS for the S2000 IMO especially on a car with a low front polar moment like the S2000

S2000:
255/255 = 1020 tire area (255*4 tires)
2,700lbs
50/50 weight distribution
200-240whp
short gears

NSX:
235/265 = 1000 tire area (235*2 + 265*2)
2,800lbs
40/60 weight distribution
230-260whp
longer gears


The NSX is a great car, but the S2000 is much newer and is a VERY quick car. With the ability to put such wide tires under it, it makes a substantial difference. A huge component of cornering speed and grip (time) is your tires (model, compound, and SIZE). The NSX is limited by its front tire.


Now for a longer track like Laguna Seca, WSIR, ACS, Road America, Road Atlanta, Infineonk, etc... I would probably say the NSX has an advantage with its increased power, but for tighter tracks and autocrosses (I would guess, i'm not familiar with AutoX) like BW and SOW, the S2000 with its short gears IMO has an advantage and I was impressed to see that my NSX with similar mods was competitive on my out lap.

Here's the in-car from the 2:01.0 I did - bearing in mind this was the ONLY lap, the out lap, and first and only flying lap that I got to do all day, and the first time the car's been on track since the suspension change, diff change, tires, alignment, etc...

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kzq-Itme0s4 [/media]



Billy

 

NSX just looks soo much smoother than an S2000...maybe it's just your driving Billy, but looks like buttah!

 

strong work ed

 

I personally think it's the camera lol. Seems to be mounted and counterweighted in a way that diffuses the vibrations from the car. I definitely see the car shaking

Nice vid...and very nice comparison of the S2K to the NSX.

 

great driving!

 

Questions:

1...assuming 3.5" ride height still lower than OEM? can you confirm?
2...pics of fire extinguisher install please
3...explain catalytic relocation (*confused*)

 

1) I'm PRETTY sure 3.5" is lower than OEM. I had to tech twice because my cat hit the 3.5" bar. I literally zip-tied one of the rear hangers so the entire exhaust would sit higher...and I barely cleared 3.5" on my second tech.

2) I had a SUPER ghetto fire extinguisher install. The unit came with a quick release. I took two hose clamps, wrapped it around the quick release and my rollbar. Like I said, ghetto...

3) The custom exhaust that Berk built for me had the Cat sitting as far back as possible (most RTA participants last year did the same - Manley Kuo mounted his as the TIP of his exhaust! See pic below). In Enthusiast Class this year, the cat has to be within 18" of OEM location. So the guys at Berk cut off the cat in the old location, and rewelded it in the OEM location. Comprendo?

 

[QUOTE=nichigo,Mar 31 2010, 09:25 AM]I personally think it's the camera lol.

 

Got it!