Couldn't feel or hear the VTEC transition on the '04??? Did someone load you up with novacaine before the test drive? I've got an '04 and from what I understand, the VTEC kick isn't "perceived" as being as strong as the previous year models but that's "only" because the 2.2 makes more power "below" VTEC so the difference isn't as pronounced. Above VTEC, both the 2.2 and 2.0 are so close that it's not really worth arguing about, especially if both cars are stock.

I won't comment on the "more civilized to drive" part.

When I bought my car, I found a dealer that had a new '03 and a new '04 on the lot. I got to climb in and out of both of them several times. I can tell you that sitting in one, right after the other, I could tell that the '04 had "slightly" (and I do mean, slightly!) more room at elbow level only. If I hadn't been climbing all over to both cars at the same time, I would never have noticed the difference. Basically, the door panels were redesigned a little.

For me there was "no" difference in effort required to get in and out of either car.

I agree the 9k redline is nice to have. Sometimes I wish I had it but I certainly don't loose any sleep over it. I love my '04 just the way it is!

BTW, BrhGT3, the 2.2's redline was lowered to 8k.

Drive Safe,
Steve R.

 

Go with an 03 with the 9K redline!!!!!!

More fun to drive than the 04-05.

Extra 1k of VTEC also.

Makes the car feel like a true 4-wheeled motorcycle!!!

 

I wish we could just move these threads into a special little section that has all the threads about the last year of production, which CAI/header/exhauset/etc is better, and other similar threads

 

Both

 

Hmm.. I don't know thats its the higherst normally asperated engine ever built-- perhaps for CARS... but my Motorcycle has ~180HP and is 1000cc's, with a red-line of 13,500 RPMS, all naturally asperated.

Of course, its a motorcycle, not a car, but to quote you, you said "engine ever built"...

Also, the RX-8 is a 1.3l displacement producing ~238hp (in the US)... granted, its a rotary.

 

The "displacement" for a rotory isn't the same so it's apples and oranges I think the equivenlant is something like 2.34 but I'm not sure at all so don't flame me over it. and it must be for auto because it was listed as such until 04.

 

well thats good news for my all us '03 and older cars..... Anyone got any take on $$$ value? Not like I would dream of unloading my S for a while but you think we have something that would rise in the futures?

 

A value rise in the future? MAYBE in about 30 years or so. It's still a Honda and they are mainly sought after by Honda enthusiasts. Now the prices for used '03 and under cars have dropped to around $17,000, so I highly doubt that there will be any real significant rise in the value of the older models.

But hey, they are basically worth what someone is willing to pay for 'em.

 

I'm pretty sure it is just double... making it 2.6L, -- 1.3L per rotor.

 

Given a choice, I would get a 2004 or 2005. It's not so much the engine - the power curves as a percentage of redline are pretty similar - as the chassis and suspension improvements. Europeans are getting better lap times out of the newer version even though theirs still have a 2.0L engine.