For those of you who've driven both the S2000 and Integra Type R, how do they compare in performance... handling, acceleration, road feel, etc.?

 

I gave up my Type R in order to drive the S2000. They are both great cars, but they are also very different. I drove them both several times a week before I finally let the Type R go and got a chance to make some comparisons.
They're both fun, there's no doubt about that! The Type R is front-wheel drive, but is the only Integra with a LSD. In the really hard corners the Type R was better than the S2000. That may sound surprising, but the S2000 is way more refined and softer than the Type R. The R is a true racer, but at the price of comfort. The R is much louder and rides rougher than the S2000. The S2000 is quicker, but the R is on it's heals with a 8500 rpm redline. Also, if you've driven a GS-R, it's got very little in common with the Type R with the exception of the body style.
I've always wanted to put the top down, so as a VTEC crazed fool the S2000 was a must have.

 

I think the comparisons to ITRs usually come to the ITR being easier to drive at the limits and therefore people say that the ITR is faster around autox and short road courses.

I believe that with a real driver (no offense to anyone here) that the S2000 would beat the ITR is almost any situation (except snow). The ITR is inherently easier to drive at its limits due to FWD. You will also hear lots of people saying that the S2000 is tail-happy. My opinion is that this comes from people who have grown up on FWD cars and don't know the physics of driving a RWD car.

Both the ITR and and S2000 are great cars, but their purpose is different, completely different.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by meat:
[B]I believe that with a real driver (no offense to anyone here) that the S2000 would beat the ITR is almost any situation (except snow).

 

I've owned 2 Type R's and am now on my second S2K

The Type R is not faster for autocross, but is easier to drive for autocross - it is inherently a much more forgiving car. Damn fun, though. I do miss both of mine...

The S2K is MORE fun... you add more power with rear drive and topless... and a powerplant that makes the other VTEC cars cringe, and you can't beat it.

When I picked up my 2001, I got a chance to drive a pure stock S2K again (my 2000 was modified with JRZ race shocks, a more agressive alignment, Comptech exhaust, and thanks to Steve Suscy a Mugen front bar). I have to admit the car is impressively stable and controllable under most normal driving circumstances in stock form.

However, the S2K IS very tail-happy in stock SCCA Solo II class prep, when compared to other developed Solo II cars. This gives it the POTENTIAL of being more tail happy in any situation. Just something to keep in the back of your mind. For all you who are grumbling on how the car just ain't tail happy and what's this darn girl talking about, see my comments above about how controllable it seems to be for normal driving (in stock form).

Overall, they're both an absolute blast...

Annie

 

kcopp - I have a '96 GSR with the usual mods, I/H/E, brake work, clutch, etc... This is my second GSR and between the two I have put 160,000 miles. So i am one of those people that may not know what they are talking about regarding the ITR.

For every article like the one you describe there are others praising the handling of the S2k. Just because guys write for mags doesn't make them real drivers.

 

I agree. Also, I'm a little jealous because you've still got your Integra and the S2000. Two great cars are always better than one!

 

kcopp

It is nice having the Teg as my daily driver. The car is getting old at 115,000 miles, but I still hit 100 everyday on the expressway.

I wasn't barking at you either, I just grow tired of all the handling-bashing of the S2000 by car mags.

 

I've never heard of handling-bashing from car mags regarding the s2000.

So i guess i'm not sure what you guys are saying. i'm not planning on touching either car (type R / S2000). I really am not into modding perfectly good cars. i don't have time to go autocrossing or whatever. the only thing i want to consider is real world fun. is the s2000 much faster than the itr? does it feel noticeably faster? more agile?

also, it seems like honda did a lot of racing-inspired stuff to the ITR. is the technology and research done in the s2000 and itr comparable?

thanks, peoples.

 

I would have to say that the ITR is probably easier to drive fast than the S2000.

The S2000 is a convertible, which is awesome in its own right.

S2000 costs $10K more.

S2000 is a Honda (Honda service and warranty).

Both great cars, different though. You need to decide if you want FWD vs RWD, hatchback vs top-down, $35k vs $25k, etc...