Specifically you'll be falling out of VTEC on your shifts and missing a lot of power opportunity until you get the engine back into VTEC range. If you had the car floored you should have noticed the VTEC transitions as their is a engine sound difference and dramatic increase in power. If you weren't feeling the transitions you may not have had your foot in it enough to get VTEC at all which means you were staying on the high efficiency cam profiles and the car is completely gutless. The S2000 is a dual personality machine, you have to get it into the high power band and keep it there. My understanding is the optimum shift point is at the redline for every gear.

VTEC is important:


Thanks, I'm glad I didn't have to defend my post myself.

 

I was sold on the steering, handling and transmission on my first drive. Disappointed about the power, but that is not the point of this car.

After riding motorcycles, one realizes that no reasonably priced car has enough power...

Then again, considering how many people chose to purchase the S over the Z cars and the Corvette, these are marginal views. Other similar cars sell better than the S.

And yes, S has pretty decent high speed acceleration above VTEC. A couple of days ago, on a highway ramp, I was caught off-guard with the rapid acceleration, and was like "Where did that come from?"... This never happens below VTEC...

 

Quite an elegant way to put it!

You can read all about the notchy S2000 transmission on this forum - it's a well known "issue." The scare quotes are there because you should absolutely not be feeling the notchy shifts at high RPM - this is where the shifter feels as smooth as a rifle bolt. You can also nearly stop all notchiness at lower RPM shifts through technique, specifically dwell between shifts. I had the technique down pretty good with in a few weeks of driving the car daily; now I only get notchy shifts if it's cold or I blow it.

The S2000 is quirky, dealing with the quirks is part of the experience of owning it. I'm also quirky, complex, and highly technical so we get along just great.

People also catch VTEC by surprise in a corner and spin out because of it.

 

Honestly, the S is not for everyone, I've gotten my car for almost a month now and i get many compliments from friends and family but only 1 said he'll considered buying it. If this is gonna be your everyday car, then you must know that it's not a very comfortable one. For me, i find it just fine for everyday driving. I put about 400 miles a week on my car and love every second of it. I believe if you're not exited every time you drive your car, then don't buy it or you'll hate it later on. Remember, you'll be the one that's gonna be driving it everyday so make sure it's something you love! on a side note, i let one of my friends test drive my car today and told him to get on the fwy and redline that sh!t, at first he didn't want too for fear of damaging my car so i slap him and tell him to DO IT!!, needlessly...he hates his 3wk old insight now, afterward he wanted to trade car for a week but i told him to GTF back to your hybrid!

 

^ Wow you are trusting. When I let someone else drive my car I wish I could throw it into limp mode to keep them under 6k RPM not only so they don't get into VTEC and surprise themselves but also because if they money-shift there's still some room left for the engine to speed up before it explodes.

 

not really, he own a stick for a couple years(accord) so i know he's not someone new at the wheel. he was very impress with the gearbox, way better than his accord.

 

^ You say that now, after 1 month of owning the car. Wait until you let someone drive it and they do blow the shift. You'll know what I mean then.

I don't wish to straw-man you but my ah-ha moment came when someone who is no moron and quite apt with shifting got 5th instead of 3rd because the throw is so short. Consider also that owners money-shift their cars from time to time as well.

 

Very well explained. I thought my tranny for the good first month or so was finicky, but I realized that it's just how the transmission is. Like this poster said, the transmission is buttery smooth at higher rpms, just at lower rpms it's a bit finicky. But, the notchiness is easily fixed by timing your shifts precisely, and you develop a "rhythm" to shifting in the car that becomes second nature after time. I haven't noticed the notchiness in months.

I do kind of agree with others that if you didn't fall in love with the s2k at first, then chances are it might not be for you.

 

I see your point but i trust my friends enough to trust them w/ my car(the ones i let drive), I've realized that there is always a chance of getting the money shift no matter who drives it. friends are friends, i won't gimp my friends just because just because i don't have enough confidence it them, it feel..."cheap"?

 

The first few times i tested drove an s i didnt really get a chance to push it. My brother an dad also drove some of the cars and told me that they were surprised how slow it was. I knew that it was a car you really had to push to get it to go. Then i bought one took it to redline a few times and then showed others how fast it really is.