10 years ago when I first bought my S2000 I posed the same question and was advised to not up-shift until 4300rpm. Despite being certain this was sending the New Guy for a left-handed monkey wrench I tried it. Darned if it didn't work!

-- Chuck

 

I’ll give this a try. I’ve got a small notchy feeling when upshifting into 2nd and 3rd also

 

I have not really noticed much difference due to RPM, but also pretty much never shift below that RPM anyways. I think I always shift upwards of 6000 rpm even if not driving it hard. Below 4300 is extremely doggy in this car. So certainly wont hurt to move your shift points higher.

I notice a small amount of notchiness when it is cooler outside for the first few minutes of driving I guess. But nothing to write home about.

 

I'm with you, bruv. The S2000 is notchy, but its also the most direct feeling linkage I've ever come across. So for me, it's always just made sense for it to feel how it does.

I think people who find the shift feel notable must come from articially rubberized linkages like the ones on BMW's or something. Feels like rowing an oar through mud.

 

I seem to recall Billman chiming in that the magic shift number was 5500 rpm. Whenever I do just that, it really is smooth.

 

I've never worked on the S2000 clutch, but my AP1 eventually started having trouble shifting into 1st. Turns out that the hydraulic clutch (bearing?) was leaking. I didn't even realize that the S2000 has an automatically adjusting clutch, so I just took it to the dealer and let them replace the old parts. Shifts fine now, and I crossed the 100,000 mark on the odometer later in the year after they fixed the clutch.

 

I assume they meant the clutch master cylinder or slave cylinder or both. anything else involved would have required pulling the transmission. But if the master or slave was bad, it would make it hard or impossible to shift into gear with the engine running, but would go into gear with the engine off.