Ok, so i just bought my '01 S2k last week, and so far i'm loving it! I've got a bunch of people tell me that the 00-03 S2000's are better than the 04-06's because some reason or the other.

Now normally i wouldn't really listen to this, but i've heard it from 3 people this week. All car peeps. Can anyone tell me why they say this? What are the major differences?

 

Probably not a good question to ask around here. It's heavily debated as to which is "better" - but the reality is they both have their pro's and con's.

No one can say for sure if the AP1 (99-03) or the AP2 (04-05) is better.

All that I can say is that I've owned an '01, and now an '04. I prefer my '04 in every way, and in my personal tests, I have found that it is faster in a straight line.

 

Neither one is better, just different.

From 00'-03' you get the 9000 RPM redline in the 240HP/156 lb-ft torque 2.0L motor.
From '04 on you get the 8000 RPM redline in the 240HP/162bl-ft torque 2.2L motor.

Besides the obvious styling changes and tire/wheel change that took place in '04 I'll just say try using the search function to find out all the little details.

While some might say the earlier years were more for the purist and was Honda's original intent before some marketing people got involved I like both versions, they each have their own advantages.

 

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ohh god no not another one.

 

It's like saying apples are better than oranges.


While some people may like the ap1's, others like the ap2's.

one is not better than the other.

 

does the ap1 at 9k make that much of a difference then a ap2 at 8300

700 extra rpm blah doesnt matter i dont race

 

i personally like the AP2 styling better.

on the motors, i think the 2.0 is purer to honda's original concept. Remember that outside North America, AP2s still have the F20C.

The reasons are:
Americans like torque, so honda thought that more of it would help US/CAN sales.
Europeans are taxed based on displacement. Over 2.0L, the taxes are substantial. Also Japanese and Europeans like high-revving cars.

Around town, I would probably like the 2.2L. I like the 2.0L redline for aggressive driving, though. The earlier years are also less soft than the newer ones.

In a straight line, they are the same until a substantial one-to-one test is done.

 

Then it becomes obvious that the AP1 is faster.

OH NO, did I say that?