I've had the engine rattle the whole car on shutdown from Day one. I have an 05 and I just thought that this is pretty normal for a high performance motor. High performance motors are not very smooth at idle. I don't know if you guys notice but this engine idles at about 900-1000 rpm. That's because these high compression motors are not very smooth at lower rpm ranges. Hence it rattles like crazy when you shut it off.

 

mine does the same thing, 04' 7k miles. I had the same question..good to know it is a common occurance among other owners. I feel better.

 

As I understand it, four cylinder engines inherently vibrate due to the imbalance of the cylinders. When I first drove an S, I was surprised by how rough the engine was, but I've gotten use to it now.

 

Inline four cylinder engines are inherrently imbalanced. Large balance shafts can help, but just add inertia. Couple the imbalance with very high compression and you encounter lots of vibrations on shut down. Perfectly normal. If it's smoothness you are looking for, try a Mazda rotary engine or a Porsche flat-6. The only configuration I like better than the flat-6 is the flat-12.

 

no... not really, it should be a little fickle at idle but once underway it should be extremely smooth unless your chugging the engine in too high a gear. be careful with that, it'll get you a rod knock earlier on in the high mileage life of your engine.

 

My '01 with 60K miles has done this since the first day I got her. It increased a slight bit when I got my CAI and bolted the CAI to the frame of the car. But the CAI doesn't move by itself, it is the engine moving.

I think all engines have this shudder thing, just the S2000 engine it's a little more noticeable. It reminds me of riding in old carburated hot rods who would cut out at times at idle

 

My02 has had this "shake" ever since I bought it. I asked around, look at other S's. All the same. I bought a J's ETD and no more shakes So I am guess it has to do with the motor mounts.

 

Our engine is anything but smooth and civil. Thats one of the things I like about it. It is raw, uncompromising, and downright primal at 8000+ rpm. Drive a BMW 3 series and you will know what smooth is.

 

which model 3 series... you don't feel the engine with DBW throttle, so hell yeah it's smooth. when I think rough I think 350Z, GM, Ford. There isn't a Honda i've driven yet with a rough, coarse or "primal" rev characteristics so to speak... whatever, opinion is just that.... I think you're talking about what you're hearing.

 

Think primal, caffinated, angry chihuahua.