Interesting... see I never had the tires break loose upon VTEC crossover except in the rain or turning... even when I had 225 All-seasons. But yea perception is big. One person can look at something that takes .5sec for example and think it was instant, and someone else think it wasn't. I noticed that a lot in training. Where we have to time things in the jet very precisely and some people feel things happen instantly that others feel like there is a delay on, and this is in the same jet. I can feel a small instant kick followed by a very very fast yet smooth increase in that time, where it feels instantaneous to you, but I bet if we timed it with a stop watch it would be the same. Interesting conversation! (I know from comparison with buddies that my brain seems to slow things down more than others so this makes sense to me)

 

As I hear it change, I don't feel a sudden jolt or kick, but the acceleration afterwards is faster. It's nothing like spooling up at 3500 revs in the civic, but there's definitely a noticeable change in the butt dyno.

 

I know exactly what you mean - martial arts training makes it seem like people are moving in slow motion to me when I spar beginners. And guys I can beat now seemed lightning fast when I first started training. As you become more familiar with the situation and sensations, they become less intense.

 

You have an AP2 right? It is a different feeling.

 

AP2's have more kick than AP1's
I rode in my buddy's 05 and I felt the kick everytime versus my AP1 where it would just get loud.

 

To all those who feel Vtec kicking in when it's wet, anyone driving WOT in the wet is about to get something he deserves. Reminds me of a complaint I read where someone filed a form with the DOT about his S2K spinning out while using cruise control in the rain. The salesman didn't warn him that was a bad idea. You're not supposed to use cruise in any car in the rain--unless you really know what you're doing. Same with WOT and vtec.

 

I wouldn't make a blanket statement like that. After numerous autox's in heavy rain, I can say that with the right tires it is perfectly fine to use WOT and VTEC in the rain as long as you know your and the car's limits and such. THis car is actually quite good in the rain with good tires, I frequently do extremely well even against AWD cars in the rain at autox. I am not sure why so many people have so many issues controlling this thing in the rain unless they are being complete idiots about it. I think its more of an issue that our generation (im 23) for the most part has no idea how do drive RWD cars, especially in the rain than an S2000 issue.

 

The point is, because the F20 has such a huge power difference between cams, when traction is limited by cold or wet there is a greater chance of breaking traction, upsetting the car's balance, and ending up in the weeds.

Another reason why Honda revised the power profile with the F22 - the huge change in avail power doesn't do anything to help with handling and balance.

And a few autocrosses in the rain is not the same as real world driving. If you don't understand why people have trouble with the S2000 in the rain, many people here could tell you in many details the various reasons.

 

The point is, because the F20 has such a huge power difference between cams, when traction is limited by cold or wet there is a greater chance of breaking traction, upsetting the car's balance, and ending up in the weeds.

Another reason why Honda revised the power profile with the F22 - the huge change in avail power doesn't do anything to help with handling and balance.

And a few autocrosses in the rain is not the same as real world driving. If you don't understand why people have trouble with the S2000 in the rain, many people here could tell you in many details the various reasons.
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Ok we can throw out the few autox's in the rain and just look at the fact that I have lived in fairly rainy climates (NJ and Florida) the entire time I have owned the car, drive it daily, and put an avg of about 18k-20k miles a year on the car the first 2 years I owned it. Ive driven it frequently in everything from sun to tropical storm, to blizzard, and the only time I ever had an issue was when I did something retarded, or was trying to get going from a stop in the snow, up hill. That said, I have always been very careful about my tire choice and such. Plus until this past october when I moved to florida, I was a volunteer firefighter and also drive the ambulance for a volunteer EMS squad, and both required me to respond to the station from wherever I was when there were calls and do so quickly even in the rain.

The point I am making, is that although you do have to be careful, its a bit excessive to say you can't consider VTEC or WOT in rain without crashing. WOT can be used in the wet if done so smoothly and when pointed straight or nearly straight, and VTEC can be used if in a straight line and not done WOT while crossing standing water. Its just a matter of feeling out the available grip in a controlled, smooth and cautious manor and never using so much of it that you cannot void a potential accident that pops up in front of you. Obvoiusly you cannot go WOT in VTEC in 1st or 2nd through a puddle while turning for example, but that doesnt mean its dangerous to do it wet pavement with no puddles in a straight line. It's just that most people were never taught how to drive RWD or how to be observant of the conditions and how they affect your car.

 

Well, its not just a puddle, any lack of traction will throw the S off and if you are anywhere near WOT you have a loaded suspension to boot. On the roads, you never really know what the road conditions are. Start to spin, stay on the gas and you can continue to rotate, let off and you can throw the car into a spin. Its all avaoidable by simply being more careful with throttle control. I've seen ten-ton fire trucks hydroplane, you just never know so one should be careful in low traction conditions. Can you WOT in the rain? Sure. Is it the safest or wisest decision? Not so much, but thats always the case when exploring the limits of adhesion. In the wet however, recovering takes longer and is more difficult to attain.