I owned a MY00 s2k for about 7 years/100k miles and ended up getting rid of it because I felt bored with it being my DD for so long. I regretted the decision shortly after it was gone and tried to live with the decision but decided I really want another so I'm going to be in the market soon for a new one.

I realize the chance of finding a clean and unabused stock low miles AP1 is out of the question so I decided to look at AP2 instead. I've never driven one but read that they are a bit more refined with a softer ride, plus no 9k redline which to me is more of a novelty than anything so its not a big deal.

Is there a dramatic difference to the point where I'll be wishing I bought an AP1? I don't go to the track or anything, this is strictly a weekend/summer car which will occasionally be beat on a bit. I think AP2 might be a nice choice since they look a bit nicer plus I thought it would be nice to have owned another flavor of s2k. My wife always used to complain about the harsh ride in the AP1 as well, that isn't a deciding factor, though.

Just wanted to get an opinion from those who have owned both.

 

If you got bored with an S2000 once, won't you get bored with an S2000 again?

 

I knew that was coming. No I won't, I wasnt necessarily bored with the car entirely, just during the winter which is when I made the dumb decision to get rid of it. Spring and summer I loved the car, I still don't know what I was thinking when I decided to get rid of it. I have a daily driver/winter car now so the s2k will be a treat to drive.

 

I've owned 3 S2000s so far. The first being a stock suspension AP2, and the second being an AP1 with K-sport coilovers (bought it that way, so no idea how stock feels) and the current being a lowered AP2 on skunk2 springs. IMO, the 9k redline is purely aural, and the quicker steering ratio gives it a more "tossable" feeling, which isn't really desirable if all you'll be doing is a weekend car. I've daily'd all 3 of them, and the harshest was the AP1 (again, stiff coilovers though). The AP2 is a bit easier to live with, and perfectly fine for a weekend car.

 

Or, if he got bored with 9,000 rpm's, how will he ever stay interested in only 8,000





TO THE OP
There ARE clean used AP1's out there
You just have to be willing to look

 

my thoughts exactly about the redline. i am currently on my second ap1 and i have driven an ap2, the car wants to rev but it seems like the 8k redlines holds it down.

i was in your situation when i sold my first ap1, i regretted it soon after selling it. after my wrx, i knew i had to have another ap1 and the search began. i found a clean 03 silverstone with only 14k miles on it and it came with a oem hardtop. just keep looking bro, you just have to be patient.

 

I take it you own an AP1? Do AP1 owners constantly have pissing contests with AP2 owners over the redline? I haven't been on an s2k forum in a long time.

@mecjoo

How long ago did you buy it and where did you find it? Everything I find on cars.com and autotrader have high miles and/or are riced out.

 

I take it you own an AP1? Do AP1 owners constantly have pissing contests with AP2 owners over the redline? I haven't been on an s2k forum in a long time.

@mecjoo

How long ago did you buy it and where did you find it? Everything I find on cars.com and autotrader have high miles and/or are riced out.
[/quote]


why yes we do..

 

If you want an AP1, clean, unmolested, you have to be patient, you will indeed have to look for a while, if you have faith and are willing to invest the time in looking, you will find one. Often though most people don't have the patience and they end up with a newer S because finding an older clean one is indeed hard work, but, worth it.

You need to also start using - http://www.searchtempest.com/
This will allow you to search Craig's List without having to do separate searches for different regional areas. As an example, last year I bought a mint 2000 Honda VFR800Fi, it took me 3-months of searching, but I got it! As far as my 2002 AP1, well I ordered mine new in October of 2001...

And yes, I do own an AP1, and yes, I'm biased as hell. And yes, AP1 and AP2 owners are always pissing all over each other regarding the differences in our car. I like the 9k motor, to me that is one of a few key things that makes this car so special. I see the extra 8-ft-lbs as no big deal, I see the loss of 1,000 rpms as a catastrophic step backwards in technology. By the way, AP1's are typically a bit firmer in suspension, the steering ratio is indeed quicker which is very important to me, it's a simpler car, devoid of such technologies some of us hate like TPMS and VSA. Sure the AP2 has some nice interior upgrades, but to me they are not deal breakers.

Here is mine, 2002, dropped on Eibachs, complete custom rollbar of my design, and the CR wheels are new this spring, I'm still getting used to seeing it on 17's.

 

Awesome reply