OK, so I've owned my S (AP2) for a year and a half now. I've only taken it over 6500 for short bursts of maybe nor more than 15 sec., usually on freeway onramps. Am I totally missing out on the driving experience? If I'm driving on a winding, hilly road, is it OK to keep it in VTEC for minutes at a time?

 

sure, why not

 

Vtec is just your motor on a different cam lobe so there is no difference then when your drive normal..
Of course u will be at higher rpm which does degrade the motor.. But its so little u will never see it since it was built for that

JUST make sure u have a good amount of oil

 

Driving in VTEC is fine, although I personally wouldn't drive around in VTEC all day long on the freeway. Here is a pic to help explain VTEC:

 

I agree especially if you have an AP1 which are more likely to consume some oil

 

Right, the VTEC cam is actuated by oil pressure so if you are in the high rpms, but it doesn't feel like VTEC check your oil!

 

If using vtec is a bad thing I'm in severe trouble!

 

^^ I halfway expected that to end "then take me to jail"

 

no kidding. vtec is not a crime!!! i see it from dam near every stop sign LOL (i live in the country, i also see 120 on a regular basis) i'm also not afraid to down shift into vtec to fly by somebody either. vtec cruising on some twisties hasnt hurt me either, god knows i'v done that plenty of times. just rolled over 22000 today also.

 

You reminded me of someone's post about constant vtec driving. I can't dig up the post right now, but his engine died at 40K. His issue was that he'd stay above 6,000 at all costs. It ended up costing him his engine. Now I'm not saying that you're doing this, it's just a warning.