I've driven many turbocharged cars, and to me the VTEC kick in felt like... nothing.

I felt no VTEC kick whatsoever; what I did notice is that the car pulled strongly from when I put my foot on the gas all the way through to redline, an amazing feat and something that caused the numbers on the dash to rise markedly quickly.

There was no kick, no sudden "thrusters on" boost as I've experienced in the turbocharged cars I own, rather just a nice strong pull throughout the RPM range and a really nifty sounding engine...

 

Have to agree with the turbo owners here who say VTEC is not like a turbo. To me (admittedly, a non-owner, but have driven a few VTEC's] this is a bit of hyperbole.

Look at the physics/math:
When a turbo kicks in, an engine goes from an underperformer (compression ratio is usually reduced from a NA engine to 8-9:1), to an engine which can take in maybe 50-100% more air (7-15 psi boost) than when non-turbo. So, torque and hp go up 50-100%. Takes a little time for the turbo to spool up.

Look at the torque/hp curve of an S2000. I can post the one from the SAE article if someone can tell me how. Torque goes from 135 at 5500 (low-to-average for a 2.0) to as high as 153 @ 7500 rpm. That's a 13% increase in torque (and hp at the given rpm). Noticeable, but nowhere near as marked.

You'll actually feel a bit of an increase in your acceleration. Whereas with a flat torque curve would result in constant accel (actually, a slight decrease due to increased opposing forces). And any car will have a decrease in torque at rpm's above the torque peak (duh). So accel will decrease, though hp still builds.

Why do people go on about VTEC so much? Well, I think part is the intoxicating sound. It sure sounds like it is going faster. But its main benefit is that it lets the engine maintain performance at stratospheric rpm (thus high hp and wheel torque), while still allowing excellent driveability at normal, low and idle rpm.

Last, as I believe others may have pointed out:

You need a heavy throttle foot to feel the increase in torque, not just the rpm.

You can get it in any gear. If it transitions at 6000 rpm, than you'll see it at speeds above 2/3 of the max in that gear which are (from R&T):
1st: 42mph (so you'll see it >28mph)
2nd: 64
3rd: 89
4th: 114
5th: 136
6th: 163 (est, and hp-limited to less)

 

Simply put, anyone with an S2K who doesn't feel a "kick" in power at 6000 RPM, especially in lower gears, with WOT, has something wrong with their car.

The S2K has the strongest VTEC surge I've ever felt, it is unmistakable.

 

Surge perhaps; rocket launch nature of a turbo kicking in, no, so in my very brief test drive experience if you didn't know it was coming you wouldn't even notice it had...

(Besides, I thought someone else here said the VTEC kick is stronger in the Prelude?)

 

I got to 72mph in 2nd gear once!! I'm sure it can get to 100mph in the 3rd gear!! come on guys... we got 9000RPM aite!!


Eddie

 

If you'll pardon the R-rated analogy, VTECing for the first time is a bit like having sex for the first time: you kind of know you've done it, but you are not exactly sure how to describe the experience. Somehow, the vehicle does break in with time and with repeated exercising of the camshaft change-over. There should be, in due course, a distinct 'step' felt at about 6000 rpm. If you want to be technical, the VTEC solenoid pulls over the device which locks up the second cam follower at 5850 rpm at wide open throttle, and at that point, the torque suddenly steps up from about 135 lb-ft to about 150 lb-ft.
Be patient, and let the car continue to break in, and repeat the high rpms at wide open throttle judiciously. The experience will become more and more enjoyable, I promise.

 

ambient air pressure also has an effect on the VTEC torque change differential.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by djohnston
[B]Simply put, anyone with an S2K who doesn't feel a "kick" in power at 6000 RPM, especially in lower gears, with WOT, has something wrong with their car.

 

I'm starting to get a better sense of the 'VTEC surge' that I initially thought I was missing out on. First, I took the advice of those who recommended that I stomp the accelerator when nearing 6000 rpms. I am feeling the surge, and with the top down, it definitely sounds like the VTEC components are doing their thing under the hood. I've only put about 800 miles on the car, so I'm expecting better VTEC experiences as the car get more 'broken in'.

Thanks for all the advice guys!

 

This is probably not the problem. Going in the VTWC range with you engine temp low IS a memorable experience. The first time I did it I nearly cried.. it's like hitting a brick wall. I had no idea there was a rev limiter there.

Wait until you are at 3 bars of heat... find a nice stretch of road and gun it in first. You will find the accelaration "nice" as the revs move up toward 6000. At about 30 mph *it* happens. The engine *does* sound different. Don't expect too much but it sort goes from "Ooooohhmmm" to "AAAAAhhmmm". If that's dumb please forgive me... the keyboard doesn't have engine noises.

Shifting to 2nd at 45 will nearly redline and then drop the revs to about 6000... still in VTECLand. Shifts go roughly:
1st shift at 45
2nd shift at 60
3rd shift at 95
4th shift at 115
5th ... I don't know.. do you think I'm nuts?