As a new S2000 owner, I want to say this car is fun to drive. For new S2000 owners, I want to say that if you are to shift early on the S2000, you will not get the quoted milage. You will maximize your gas milage by following the recommanded shift points in the Owner's Manual. If you are shifting below/at 3,000 RPM, you are killing your gas milage. People tend to think that if you shift early, you will save more gas, but this is not the case on this car. It's the opposite.

These are the results from testing.

Additional information:
I weight 170lbs. During the 2 tests, I didn't not carry a passenger.

Test #1:
I emptied my tank with a syphon, and put in 3 gallons. I drove until bond dry and I got 48.7 miles. City milage with semi-light traffic.

Shift points:
1st-2nd -> 15mph
2nd-3rd -> 25mph
3rd-4th -> 30mph
4th-5th -> 40mph
5th-6th -> 50mph

Test #2:
Same as test one. The only difference was the shift points. I got 61.5 milage.

Shift points:
1st-2nd -> 15mph
2nd-3rd -> 25mph
3rd-4th -> 40mph
4th-5th -> 47mph
5th-6th -> 50mph

I hope it helps

 

hard to judge as a definitive answer... traffic conditions are always varying and that plays a huge factor in MPG.

 

Did you count how many stop-and-go you made?

 

Test done in ap1 or ap2?

 

is shifting at lower rpm worse because you need to open the throttle more down low with stock gearing? and that more frequent WOT position pulls more fuel regardless of rpm? or am i totally wrong about that and the amount of fuel pulled only depends on rpm, not throttle position?

 

I would agree with him. Short shifting the s2000 to "save gas" will cause you get worse milage. This engine is rev happy for a reason lol.

I tried shifting at 2k -2.5k and got terrible milage.

I found that between 3.5k and 4k give the best results. Plus you can actually keep up with traffic lol.


I did my tests over an entire several tanks of gas in a month on my way to and from work.

 

SpeedxRacer, you are absolutely right. I would do another test with traffic hour when I have some free time and cash for gas and see how much it varies.

Vik2000, unfortunately, I did not. But it was city milage so there were some stop-and-go.

 

negcamber, it was done on ap2.

nightcrawler7188, i'm not sure, but from my tests, i'd say shifting at lower rpm, below the recommemded, is worst. I would guess, that gas is being pour into the engine, but since you are in a higher gear, it takes more time for it to get up to speed which translates into more gas being used.

 

Both those mileages are horrible... 20.5mpg? I get 23 on a bad week, and that includes hitting VTEC a few times

 

3 gear changes to go 10 mph ? Thats more trouble then its worth. I could see doing that if i wasnt in stop and go traffic, but from light to light no way.