View Poll Results: What would you do with the S2000 gearing if you had your choice?
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll
Is the S2000 geared too high or too low?
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: Chesterfield VA
Graft on an old MG (MGB?) overdrive unit to the tail of the transmission. I think it could be engaged in any gear and provided an 8-speed box. Local dealer back then refused to order cars with it though as he was tired of fixing them all the time.
-- Chuck
-- Chuck
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Canton, MA
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From: Queen City, NC
I wouldn't need a whole new gear, just a taller cog in the six slot to make it a true highway gear.
Japan doesn't really have the same roads as we do, so I can see why the gearing is as it is.
Japan doesn't really have the same roads as we do, so I can see why the gearing is as it is.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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I would have liked to see an overdrive gear for the highway. But really the car was made for the country twisty roads. I only use the highway when I need to arrive at a destination in a reasonable amount of time, otherwise I stay on country roads.
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Sweden
On longer trips I like to cruise at 140km/h (87mph) and it gets very tiresome with an aftermarket exhaust and loud tires installed.
Those times I really whish I had another overdrive gear, I guess it would be tempting to go even faster then though
Those times I really whish I had another overdrive gear, I guess it would be tempting to go even faster then though
Joined: Jun 2008
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Well, the gearing is perfect for track use for the stock power level of the engine. Max speed is near max rpm in 6th gear. Cars like the all previous gen Corvette and Viper, 6th gear is an overdrive for fuel economy and top speed is achieved in 5th. So yeah, the S2000 is optimized for track use and not daily driver fuel economy.
Now if you add a lot of torque and power through forced induction, you could go to a lower final drive to bring down the cruise rpms. I always said if I went turbo, I'd want a 3.10 rear end.
Now if you add a lot of torque and power through forced induction, you could go to a lower final drive to bring down the cruise rpms. I always said if I went turbo, I'd want a 3.10 rear end.
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Joined: Nov 2014
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I voted for a 7th gear but that's not what I really want. I think the car would be perfect if we could just adjust the ratio of 6th gear so we could cruise on a highway at 3,000 rather than 4,000 rpm. It's not like I ever use 6th for anything except relaxed highway cruising anyway.
Joined: Jul 2013
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Originally Posted by Apex1.0' timestamp='1462987654' post='23963707
I have played with gear ratios on many cars, mostly Vettes and Mustangs. However considering the relatively peaky F20, I have a hard time complaining about the gear ratios. I wouldn't go lower, because already there is a lot of shifting and the engine cruises at a fairly high RPM. I wouldn't go higher because the tq multiplication makes the F20 more responsive. The spacing is also pretty good. On the street and track it will stay on the cam fairy easily.
At first I thought the F22 transmission may be more ideal. Once I started doing track work, being able to carry 3rd and 4th a little longer is a big help. The roll out is a little slower, but its not a drag car or a stop light racer. For a purely street car I could see the advantage of the F22 trans with a F20 engine. For track work and overall, I think the factory AP1 trans works well.
At first I thought the F22 transmission may be more ideal. Once I started doing track work, being able to carry 3rd and 4th a little longer is a big help. The roll out is a little slower, but its not a drag car or a stop light racer. For a purely street car I could see the advantage of the F22 trans with a F20 engine. For track work and overall, I think the factory AP1 trans works well.
Two seater with performance and great highway cruising with some luxury = Corvette.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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What I find rather fascinating, especially regarding the ap1, is how broad the power band is, especially for a 4 cylinder. You can feasibly be in top gear at 45mph/2500rpm and pull that same gear to 160mph/9000rpm. That's a hell of a spread. 4k rpm cruising is still roughly only 1/3 the cars powerband so its relative, and when putting that in context, it actually got a lower cruising rpm relative to the powerband then most cars.