Best Year S2K - Everything Considered
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 11
I have an 00-01 because its chassis that comes equipped with the most aggressive and fun/raw performing handling equipment out of the whole era. I further improved on that by incorporating a full 04-05 ap2 drive train from engine, trans, to rear end. Then I modified the entire car from there to make it go much faster in the turns and straits. Its taken almost 9 years and I'm sure I'll still find things to improve on in the future, but its pretty much there at this point. Its the most attractive and fun performance car I could and likely will ever own 
- AP1 exterior (easily swappable on any year)
- AP1 interior (easily swapped)
- AP2 drivetrain
- built motor
- aftermarket exhaust
- aftermarket wheels
- etc
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,860
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From: phila
the 09 is easily the most appealing year to me.
I own a 2006.
and ap1s are kinda meh, the 9k redline is w/e. I like the extra torque the f22c gives and its proven to be faster at the wheels.
The dated exterior, dated interior, arguably slower, less reliable, that the ap1s are. eh. but 9k and the rawness!? eh.
I own a 2006.
and ap1s are kinda meh, the 9k redline is w/e. I like the extra torque the f22c gives and its proven to be faster at the wheels.
The dated exterior, dated interior, arguably slower, less reliable, that the ap1s are. eh. but 9k and the rawness!? eh.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 14,275
Likes: 12
From: Virgnia
Don't get me wrong, I think the 9k redline is awesome. But for me, after about a year of owning an 03, that's the only thing I was telling myself to have a reason to keep it. I kept looking at AP2s and wanting the whole AP2 package. I would say it's just personal preference, but it seems A LOT of people on this site switch out for AP2 headlights, tail lights, wheels, bumpers, interior bits, diffs, trannys, etc.
Honda might have ditched the 9k redline on the AP2(in North America), but I think they got everything else just right.
Honda might have ditched the 9k redline on the AP2(in North America), but I think they got everything else just right.
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
QFT 
(I'm biased).
Still DBW so you can get P&P tuning (haltech, etc)
Better tranny ratios IMO
Better engine IMO
Better diff FACT
Better looks IMO
Less problems than ap1 in terms of engine FACT
Overall, I did the research and this is what I came to, but to each his own. If you REALLY need 9k, I'd say go ap2 and buy new forged engine parts to lower that mass enough to easily allow revving to 9k.
(I'm biased).Still DBW so you can get P&P tuning (haltech, etc)
Better tranny ratios IMO
Better engine IMO
Better diff FACT
Better looks IMO
Less problems than ap1 in terms of engine FACT
Overall, I did the research and this is what I came to, but to each his own. If you REALLY need 9k, I'd say go ap2 and buy new forged engine parts to lower that mass enough to easily allow revving to 9k
.
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 36,017
Likes: 226
From: Queen City, NC
Fwiw, DBW is only 06+.
It would probably be better to say they are less developed than the AP2 - Honda made 2,000+ changes to the car when it went from AP1/F20 to AP2/F22 and many things were changed to increase durability, remove weaknesses, address some other minor reliability issues, etc.
Some of the early years (00-01) did have real problems though, like the banjo bolts, spark plugs, etc.
Some of the early years (00-01) did have real problems though, like the banjo bolts, spark plugs, etc.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 1
i agree with the spark plug issue...but the banjo bolts are only an issue if youre running high speed, high rpm for a good amount of time(most people would never be in a situation where it would become an issue)...ive seen AP2's with TCT issues as well...i have over 102k miles on my S with the original banjo bolts, original TCT, and the original "shitty" AP1 retainers...runs phenomenially well and compression is 220 across the board...i even heavily track my car as well...its all in how you take care of it...the only downside is oil consumption while in VTEC, but i had a fresly built ITR that burned just as much oil
