They are both S2000s anyway ...

Should be happy with either one!

 

For people who had AP1, but now have AP2: most of you are saying you like the AP2 better. But is paying the price premium over an AP1 really worth it?

 

As an AP1 owner with THE lowest possible torque in a sports car, you should learn that torque numbers by themselves are meaningless. It's torque at high RPM that makes power.

EDIT: Also the higher torque with the better gearing make a difference throughout the entire power curve. Peak power between ap1 and ap2 are equal, and any good driver can keep ap1 in the power band, but the little bit more under the powerband make for better daily driving IMO.

 

Wise words!

 

I will NEVER give up my AP1, as I have had plenty of seat time in AP2's I just think the hype over 8 foot pounds is hysterical. One of my favorite Honda's was my '73 CB350/4, that puppy spun up to more than 13,000 rpms, my '85 Nighthawk goes up over 11,000, and to me that whole going up to 9k in a car is a HUGE part of the S2000 alure.

And as far as an AP2 being faster, as any good autoxer or track whore knows, there are no fast cars, there are only fast drivers, so I suspect a lot of AP2's are actually slower than my AP1.

 

Drive both and see which you prefer. If it's going to be mainly a street machine, the performance differences will be negligible for the most part. Don't let anyone tell you the AP1 is sluggish under VTEC, its a perfectly capable around the town machine when shifting at 4k. Anyone that tells you otherwise is just wrong.

AP2's come with more bells and whistles and refinements. AP1's are more raw and bare bones, generally speaking. Both are fantastic cars either way.

I went AP1 because I liked the allure of 9k and I'm a very minimalistic/bare bones kind of guy when it comes to cars. The price difference would let me customize the car to my liking sooner as well, so that's why I chose an AP1. I drove both before hand and decided the difference in tq wasn't enough to make an AP2 the obvious choice.

 

ap1+ gears ftw

honestly. 6 one day. half dozen another. most ap1 owners get the ap2 headlights and tail lights and center console. most ap2 owners want to rev to 9.

its an s2000. you win no matter what. get the cleanest one for the price that hasnt been beat.

 

As has been stated, drive em both and pic your preference.


However, i am going to say this (and i am probably gonna catch some flak for it) If you want a 1/4mi car, get something with a V8. In terms of raw fun factor, i don't think the S can be beat, but for straight line drag performance....nothing you do to the S will compare to a V8. Even something like a 350Z is not going to compare to the bottom end torque of a V8, which is huge for drag racing.

The S is a corner carver, like the evo. it is not a drag strip car.

 

[QUOTE=sandiegan,Mar 7 2008, 03:11 PM] For people who had AP1, but now have AP2: most of you are saying you like the AP2 better.

 

So if every "good autoxer or track whore knows there are no fast cars, there are only fast drivers", and you "suspect a lot of AP2's are actually slower than my AP1", does that mean you're not a "good autoxer or track whore"?