I actually prefer the closed headrest of my AP2 as far as comfort, but I admit, I prefer the open look of previous models cosmetically. The seats to me overall are just more comfortable then my 01, and IMO look so much nicer, but I wouldn't mind having the open headrests for looks purposed.

Of course this is my opinion. There really isn't anything on my former AP1 that I like more, with the exception of perhaps the headrest looks, and the fact that in late 2000, I had the oppurtunity to be rare and unique, as the car was still rare, and would draw so much attention everywhere you went. That doesn't happen very often now, as the car is abundant and everywhere. I always look back to when I first got that car, and it's a feeling that only those who got this car in the beginning can really understand.

I was a little ticked when shortly after I got mine, the 2002 came out and had a hard plastic window though. What a pain it ended up becoming keeping that thing clean.

 

^ i liked the look of the earlier headrests too, but then i heard from other owners that the full headrest was much more comfortable. i wouldnt know though since my first S was an 06. i was just in middle school when the S first came out... so i clearly couldnt share the experience you had

 

Stop being jealous.

 

Well, you got yourself an unbelievable car for your age, so more power to ya. It's an expensive and costly hobby I had by being one of the the early owners of the hottest new cars (S2K, STI, RX8), and now a Speed 6 lease and an 06 S2K, so I'm married to my S2K for at least 4 more years. I don't mind it one bit.

 

^ i know, i'm lucky to have the support of a lot of people around me that helped me bring my dream car to reality.

 

Thanks man. I really appreciate you taking the time to write this. If I do get the chance to get one of these, I will try and get a newer one. I really didn't know what I was getting into when I first started this thread. I wasn't aware that there was much confrontation of the two chassis but know I know. Lesson learned, haha.

 

Saki...sorry...will continue to point to the HT FAQ on the changes through the years. Hate to say it, but it is the most user friendly version I've seen. Not a huge HT fan either...but it is what it is.

iheartS2K...hearing that you are a young driver, I'm going to amend my recommendation. Red is quite correct...now that stability control is available on the s2k, you should get a 2006+ and not worry with the earlier cars.

The s2k is a very challenging car to drive and it will bite the crap out of a driver who makes mistakes. There is a reason that the s2k is one of the most expensive cars to get insurance. There are many single car accidents where the driver loses control. VSA will protect you and the car from an early end.

S2K-DJ...I'm not sure Red is all that rare. There are many of us ap1 drivers who could afford an ap2, but found the "improvements" so small as not to justify the expense; or found that some of the changes were a detriment for their desired use of the car (ie autox in SCCA stock class, where an ap1 has continued to deliver the quickest time at Nationals).

 

iheartS2K,

i think the choice of words should be that you aren't spoiled, but instead, very, very privileged. your family obviously has money if they're going to buy you a $30k car, and that's fine. i'm pretty sure hellspare is just jealous, and i am too, but i won't go talking smack. when i was 16 (in 1998), i shared a 1989 plymouth reliant K-car station wagon with my 17 year old sister. AWESOME. i went to a relatively affluent high school but even the so-called "rich" families didn't buy their kids brand new RWD convertible sports cars. they got their kids (my friends) 1991 ford tauruses, camrys, etc.

that's not to say that your pop shouldn't reward you when you get solid grades. it's a matter of preference when it comes to raising kids, and it's his right to shower you with a sweet car if he wants to. that said, if i were the father of a 16 year old, regardless of how much money i had, i would not buy my kid a brand new sports car. it's just begging for trouble, either in speeding tickets, driving in a manner that endangers my kid, his passenger, and people around him or her. that said, you might be a super responsible 15 year old right now, so i won't pass judgment. i was relatively responsible back in the day, and i got good grades, but i know that if my dad bought me an S2000 in 1999, there is NO way i would drive it like a grandma. i would drive it hard, fast, and probably borderline recklessly. many kids get that feeling that they're invincible but in reality, they're not. if they act recklessly and live to tell about it, they're not invincible...they're just plain lucky.

so, good luck with whatever you get, keep up the good grades, and drive safe. perhaps you should take the advice of some other people here on s2ki and take it to an empty, wet parking lot to get an idea of the limits of the car, how it reacts to certain things, and how you should react to the car when you need to.

some side notes:

AP1, AP2, CR...you can lose the rear if you drive it like you stole it in dry conditions, and you can lose it much easier when it is raining out. if it's snowing out, forget it. you should either garage it or put high quality snow tires on the car and drive it like a granny.

+1 for the VSA. it helps make mild corrections and can definitely save your ass.

good luck.

 

useless thread, get a civic and drive for a year or 2 to get experience, then buy the S best advice I can give you.

 

[QUOTE=negcamber,May 27 2008, 09:50 AM] Saki...sorry...will continue to point to the HT FAQ on the changes through the years.