Hi,

I just registered here. Well, yesterday I finally got to drive an s2k. The salesman sucked at driving stick and selling lines like: "that car is all you man" and "wow, i have never seen someone drive this car so good as you...you really know how to drive it" and finally "this yellow s2k will definately make people notice you" lines were used.

When I got to drive it, my first impression is that it is actually way smaller than I thought it would be. Perfect. Makes me feel like I'm in an ah-64 apache lol. Clutch felt nice, the tranny felt clunky and nice at the same time...very 'mechanical' may i say. I have read the reviews and some say it's perfect and gears go right in like knife through butter, others say it feels clunky. I felt it clunky...somewhat regular for daily driving, but perfect for slamming in them gears while racing. You actually had to push the gear in...in my current car [and past], you pushed it a bit and then it went in by itself.

My current car is an AWD Mazdaspeed6, comes with 274hp/280tq stock, I4 turbocharged. Car has a short-ram intake, thats about it. Coming from a car with a lot of torque, i was expecting the worse from the famous torqueless s2k. But it actually felt pretty decent on the down low. I guess it is because the lightweight makes you feel faster than what you really are going i guess...well, at least to me.

I have driven a new 4 door Si, but not for much, so I wasnt too familiar when the v-tec was going to kick in...i actually thought it would at 5k rpms...well. I stept on it as soon as I got out of the dealer, ancious to see what the fuzz was all about. Car went up and up...pass 5K...yet nothing, but then 6k came in and BAM. Felt it lol. It's fun as fudge when you're up there.

Took it to the highway and back down to the dealer's exit ramp. I got THE most perfect off-ramp you can imagine. Unfamiliar with the S2k and RWD, i did not dare to push it to it's limits, afraid I might do something stupid. But I did take it hard. I also did a small RWD tail shake when I made the right onto the street lol, that felt good.

I love how the car is all compacted and you have [all] the instrument panel right there with you/around you just like a pilot would in his aircraft. The top was up, so I didnt get to experience that wind in your hair sensation lol...oh well.

To be honest, the car was lots of fun, but I felt mine was quicker in the straightline. Yes, yes, i know, this car is built for track. Anyways, the retarded salesman, who as I previously mentioned, did NOT know how to sell me this car, kept making dumb comments on how Mazda wasnt doing too well in 2001-2002 blah blah blah (who gives a dang? geesh) and how the new v6 accord with 368whp (yes, he said 368hp, then corrected to 268hp), could punch my car right in the kisser. He even corrected me on my own car specs, when I told him it was an I-4turbo'd...insisting it was a V6.

Well, I gave this dumb dumb the ride of his life (both, in the s2k and my car) and then dropped him off at the dealer and told him to give me a call if he ever gets an 06-07 white or black s2k. Their system was down, so I was lucky not to get hassled to much into giving in my info...i gave him my email and told me to let me know when they get any. They had ran out of s2ks and the only one up for grabs was the one we test drived, which was an 2004 yellow s2k with 30K miles and selling for 25K. They said they could give me a GREAT deal on it, but I really wasnt interested on that particular s2k. The salesman kept using his [in]famous selling lines until the general manager came in and told him not to push me too much, that if i didnt wanted the car, then that i didnt want it. He politely told me that they would notify my etc etc.

So there ladies and gentlemen. That is my long yet superficial (not in depth) review of the s2k from my point of view.

Any questions ya may have, ask away.

I do have one from my behalf. When I went WOT (whole open throttle), I shifted at 8K rpms thinking that was the redline. But recently I was doing some browsing on YouTube on the S2k and saw a video where a dude was shifting at 9K rpms.

Where do you shift at WOT? (Have in mind I was driving an 04 S2k)

 

An 04 S2k is an Ap2 whose redline is at 8k. The 00-03 Ap1's redline at 9k. BUt that just brings up a whole 'nother pissin match which Im sure this will turn into eventually...

-Matt

 

where's the redline in the new ones (The 06+)?

 

8k.

-Matt

 

Everything '04+ is 8k redline with the 2.2L engine. '00-'03 is a 2.0L engine with 9k redline and just slightly less torque. V-Tec still kicks in around 6k on both models though.

 

Good to know. I wouldve wished it was 5K though...maybe even around 4K. That way is isnt so hard to get on VTEC at some speeds. I noticed that at 30mph you would have to rev-match the crap out of it in 1st gear (not desireble) in order to run.

also noticed the car sits at 3.1k or around that when going 60mph. My car sits in 2.3-2.5K at that speed. Im guessing thats why they call the Vtec cars high revved...i thought it was just the redline hehe.

what are your shifting points when cruising? I shifted around 3K and when I felt i needed to.

also, I saw a video of a guy launching in Vtec area. Wouldnt you spin out pretty bad? Or the lack of torque makes you grip? does it?

 

Shift when the tach flashes.

 

Please right click and save-as to view this video. The irritating beeping sound is my shift beeper, going nuts as the engine bounces off the rev limiter. Low end torque isn't a factor at all, because you're in VTEC in less than a second. HOWEVER, this is not the recommended way to launch, 'cause you really get going a lot quicker if you modulate the throttle a little and stay off the rev limiter. I was just playing around trying to get some heat in the back tires (and maybe showing off a little), and got carried away.

Does that answer your question?

 

yes it does. thank you.

 

If you want vtec to kick in sooner. You can reflash the 06-07s (I would imagine the 08s soon) with a hondata program, but it requires a toda header in order to work properly. Then vtec kicks in at 4200rpms, but only if you are over half throttle or so. Your looking at around $1700 for the toda header and reflash. I'm going to try the reflash with the berk header and hope it works.