Just test drive another S, preferably one with a few miles on the odometer and let it rip. If you still feel the same way, move on to the next candidate.

 

I had a '97 Prelude and now have an '05 S2000. The S2000 is MUCH faster, but you have to drive it like you stole it. Plus, it loosens up with some miles.

 

Drive an AP1

I hear they have more of a on-off vtech transition...plus the 9K. THis might be more like what you were expecting

-Dustin

 

Find someone on the boards near you that owns an S and let them take you for a drive. Honda has built a very well balanced enthusiast vehicle with the S and getting to know the joys of it in 15min. is near impossible.

 

i felt the same.. i had really high expectations when i got my02.. the first week, i was driving it, going about half throttle when I wanted to pick up speed, and would hit 6k and feel a weak vtec kick, but since reading up and learning more about the car, the car is fast and quick.. people complain about the low end, but if you keep it in the power band, the car flies.. you can't baby it through 5-7krpm, you have to give it some gas and the vtec you were expecting will be there.. i am appreciating and just love the car much more... i've had it for 2months..
i don't think you will be disappointed after you get used to it.. all cars are tuned differently.. the s2k is unique..

 

I had the same experience when test drove the S. After the break in period (600 miles), my S is lively and smooth. It's happy when the RPM is above 3500 RPM. Most drivers are surprised that they could not catch up with me at stop lights.

Cheers,

 

My 2005 seemed to get progressively faster as the mileage went up. I am at 5000 miles now and the kick is more noticable than it was at 2000 miles.

 

I can guarantee you one thing, if you owned a late model Prelude or TSX, you will forget about those cars once you own the S. I had a 01 Lude that I sold to get the 02 S and was pretty concerned, but have not thought for a moment about the lude since the S came around. It is that much more fun!
The VTEC engagement in the lude is a lot more refined and quiet. The VTEC engagement in the S is raw and wild .. only way to describe them. Please test drive another car and see. I suggest a pre-04, if you want to see what differences there were between the generations. I picked a pre-04 as I felt
it was more raw.

 

I have a TSX and the AP1. Honestly I like the tq from them TSX, but the 9k Rev limit wins me over every time. I would say that you can't really get the full grasp of the S till you've ran it thru it's paces.

In stock form, the first time that I drove the S my buddy allowed me to take it to the 9k limit and take it to some great courses in the mountains. I was very impressed with it, I didn't compare it with the WRX or the EVO only because I wanted a roadster drop-top car. The ones that are in the market today are too big or don't have all the attributes the S has. Comparing the S to the EVO or WRX is like comparing apples to oranges. BUT if you're comparing based on price then I think that you'd be off with the EVO/WRX/ maybe even the SRT-4.

The S is a great reliable car that is IMPO very fun to drive.

 

I'd say try a 00-03 model and give it hell. Like everyone else is saying, you're not going to get thrown back like in a Vette or anything with a reasonable amount of low-end torque. However, flying from 6K-9K is incredible.