^it even has a little hole for exhaust just like Kim.

But for real this would absolutely get rid of that twitch for sure.

 

I hate the V1 and V2 AP2 shit. Starting in 2006 it should have been the AP3.

 

Piecing together what has already been said above ^^^:

1. Most owners don't actually modify their stock suspension, the car is very well equipped from the factory. Hardcore racers, sure, but the difference isn't so big that AP1's suck and AP2's are awesome.

2. The biggest difference (stock) is the traction control they added in '06 ("VSA"). Stick around, you'll see a "spun/totaled my S" thread every couple of weeks from the pre-'06 crowd. Blame the driver, blame the conditions, do whatever you want but these cars are getting wrecked at numbers that the '06+'s are not.

If you already have the AP1 and wonder what you're missing, don't. You own a fantastic car, the AP2 is not so different. If you're about to buy and want to know which one to look at, my vote goes to '06-'07. Post drive-by-wire so you get the traction control, but pre-TPMS.

 

I think '07s were the first year for TPMS. Can I ask why having TPMS is not ideal?

 

TPMS was legally mandated for '08+ cars, Honda may have added it in '07 (some cars already had it as a feature, my '07 LS460 for example) but I'm not sure.

I've always viewed TPMS to be a hassle that isn't worth dealing with. The tire store guys hate it, and the sensors do fail eventually (requiring replacement).

The cost/hassle isn't high though (OEM replacement sensors are ~$25), so it's not a big deal to some people. The '08+ cars are more expensive because they're newer, so you save a little money bumping back two years. The AP2V3 wheels (on the right, CR's on the left) are my favorite of the OEM wheels for the S, but you can buy those second-hand.



Any '06+ car is fine though, what we buy the car for (engine/handling etc) stopped changing after that point. The traction control is nice, but being able to re-flash the ECU for tuning purposes is the best part about the '06+'s. I dropped VTEC down to 5100 and that entire transition is so much smoother, there's no big power jump anymore.

 

My opinion won't be very popular but here it goes: The stock AP1 suspension and tire setup has tons of hours of track testing on it. Tons. I'm not sure if you've read about the development of the S2000 and all of it's track testing against the Porsche Boxster, but there's literally about 5 years in between the launch of the concept and introduction to market. I've got quite a few track days on my stock AP1. I run a little wider tires in the rear to match the stock S02's (225 S02's are about 235-245 in orther tire brands) and the car is biased towards oversteer but is very predictable. You can use the throttle (lift off and roll on) to tighten the radius in the corners and set the car for the exit. The car handles great as is.

The idea that you can mix and match some random sway bars, springs and coilovers and not introduce some gremlins into the car's handling is ludicrous. I would even go so far as to say that most of the stories of people looping their S2000's are probably running aftermarket suspensions, wheels or tires.

 

Certainly has nothing to do with almost 4 times as many pre-'06 cars being sold as '06+ cars in the US alone.

Simplistic analysis with too many variables in that equation to say it's because someone modified their stock suspension; far too broad a brush there. I'd sooner blame the driver over the suspension modifications.

 

That's a factor too, sure. Most of the S2000's that exist don't have traction control. The question I was trying to answer was, if you're buying new which one do you get. Most people buy on price, and I get that. The nice thing is that this car changed roughly every 2 years in ways that most people don't see, but that make a difference to the people who are picky.

'00-'01, plastic rear window.
'03(?), valve retaining clips were fixed.
'04-'05, AP2 engine minus the drive-by-wire and traction control.
'06+, DBW and VSA.
And then the CR.

Great example, SavageGeese reviewed the S2000 vs the FR-S and picked the '05 as the best year because it has the AP2 motor without drive-by-wire:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwPW0iWYTNk&t=9m33s

And then they showed video of a passenger getting killed on a track in a spinout.

 

Well, there really wasn't any major changes.
AP2 got a facelift compared to AP1, but AP2 V2 got VSA, different seats with no hole, and if I'm not mistaken, a larger intake manifold.

Why is V2 shit?

 

Well, there really wasn't any major changes.
AP2 got a facelift compared to AP1, but AP2 V2 got VSA, different seats with no hole, and if I'm not mistaken, a larger intake manifold.

Why is V2 shit?
[/quote]

Before I start, you neglected to mention the engine difference between AP1 and AP2 so it is way more than a face lift. You need to do some homework.
V2 changes are not shit, the fact there is a V2 is shit. I have found a lot of little things that fit AP2 but do not fit V2 or 06+. Seems like you cannot buy just a AP2 part if you have a 06+ you have to buy a AP2 06+ part. Just saying the changes of DBW and VSA were good enough to warrant a AP3.(intake as you mentioned, when I got BBK it had to be for 06+, SOS supercharger is 06+, radiator temp sensor is different, the fuel system is different, there in no fuel return line and no fuel pressure regulator, the emissions systems are different, electronically fuses and relays are not the same or are in different places, and the list goes on).

And again I have to mention the clutch differences between AP1 and AP2.

TPMS sucks when you change wheels. At least $100 for sensors, on my Honda Fit they were $52 a piece and no one could get them programed. I had to go to the Honda dealer and he charged me $100 to do it. Do not believe the stuff about letting the air out your tires and flashing your head lights twice with the radio off BS, none of that shit works. Or you have a flashing amber light on your dash, on some cars ABS and traction control will not work if your TPMS is in alarm.

Oh and if you look at 0 to 60 times the 06 is the fastest model year.