I've been reading this amazing forum for over a decade now (should be commenting more, but I learn so much) and I picked up a 2002 AP1 4 years ago. A few months ago I got a SOS Stage 1 Supercharger kit for it - already addressed handling with bigger wheels and tires (255 rears) and Ohlins R&T lowered 1 inch and some underbody bracing.

I read a lot of the very informative threads here and on Reddit about supercharging a S2k. But I didn't get a change to drive one so I was hesitant. I was also considering swapping the S2k for a 2016 GT4 or Boxster Spyder, as given the cost of supercharging (~$10k), I could put that amount and what I'd get for selling the S2k realistically toward one of the Porsches. Then I drove a GT4, and while I loved it (everything is just about perfect like most Porsche sports cars) it wasn't as raw, nimble and exciting as an S2k. So I decided to supercharge vs trading up, and keep my S2k.

Was it worth it? In one word: YES!! In more words, it solves the one shortcoming of the S2k vs higher end (or more modern) sports cars, the fact that many modern daily drivers are faster than a 20+ year old roadster. The other day I felt even better about my decision when I did a few 20mph to relatively high mph runs against a 718 Boxster Spyder. The stage 1 supercharged S2k ran pretty much even consistently, maybe half a car length down, on the Boxster Spyder which was PDK btw.

I'm coming from a tuned 2016 C63s AMG so have done the torque thing. That's not the S2K - even with probably a stage 2 supercharger it won't push you back in your seats with gobs of torque. But, if you want a fast, for the street at least, very balanced and engaging car, that I personally chose over a GT4, I would recommend supercharging. Also, for me, for mostly street driving the Stage 1 is more than enough, for an engaging, balanced and most importantly reliable car. Just wanted to share these thoughts with you all. Attaching a couple of photos of the engine bay and my car here to make this post a bit more visually interesting.

 

That’s awesome bro!
im in the same situation as you but mine is a 2004 AP2 drive by cable and I’m trying to decide between the Stage 1 and Stage 2.
What’s got me more concerned is many people I’m reading have issues with the Link G4x from SOS that comes with the kit.
Did you have any issues with getting your car tuned before or after the supercharger install?

 

Thanks! I'm pretty sure, but others on here can correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the Link G4x comes with the Stage 2 kit. For me, I'm running a canned tune with the Stage 1 kit on my stock AP1 ECU and I'm also on stock cat and exhaust currently. The afr is running a little rich but I am OK with leaning more towards reliability than maxing out the system. Not sure if that helps but hope so.

 

Awesome!

I’ve been considering the same thing. You can go back and see my posts about the Porsche’s I’ve considered. Crazy that you have to jump that far to find something you would consider giving up the S for.

did you install the sc or did you have a shop do it?

 

Went back and read some of your posts. 100% with you brother! I know they say S2ks are getting expensive but it's still a massive value IMHO. To your point maybe a supercharged Elise or an Exige is just as engaging, or more, with similar levels of performance as a FI S2k, but those are also more expensive and less reliable. I've driven a lot of cars that might compete but would take an S2k vs most of them (it's a really nice blend, and super engaging!).

From Miatas and BRZs to Supras and M2s to GT4s and Emira, all great cars in their own right. But I'd personally take my S2k, if I had to choose.

I had a shop install it (not super mechanically savvy myself). GT Peace for those in the DMV - great team and they know the S2k.

 

b4hoops, I was looking at the dyno graphs from SOS and I noticed that all of the gains are in the top of the rpm range. My assumption is that because of the cam profile in VTEC, that s where all the power is made. Does this make the car feel very stock in the lower rpm range? You said your exhaust is still stock, how does the kit sound on the engine?

I still track drive my car on occasion, 3-5 events a year (I'd do more if I could). I like the idea that the stage 1 SOS kit still remains a lot of "street-ability", but gives you more power when you want it.

I'll do some searching but I'm curious what the dyno sheets look like for stage 2 and 3 SOS kits. I'm assuming you give up some street manners? The stage 1 kit has a pretty steep curve already.


I know the Stage 1 kit is an untuned kit. I am wondering what would it take to smooth out the torque curve on the AP1?

 

That power being up top is a function of the type of supercharger used in all the redily available kits for the car, a centrifugal supercharger. Centrifugal superchargers are basically turbos but with belt drive instead of an exhaust turbine. This means that the faster the engine spins, the faster the supercharger spins, and thus more boost. Because of this, the boost builds linearly from idle to redline with peak boost being at the rev limiter. So, theoretically a setup that makes a peak boost of 9PSI with a rev limiter at 9000RPM, will make 1psi at 1000rpm, 2psi at 2000RPM, so on and so forth to 9psi at 9000. Other quirks of physics surrounding compressor efficiency mean that it isn't quite that perfectly linear in reality but you get the point.

To make midrange power you either need a Turbo which can spool much sooner, or a positive displacement supercharger like a roots or twin screw that makes near constant boost at all RPM. The positive displacement superchargers are exceedingly rare for this platform so what in boils down to is if you want the S2000 feel and character as it comes, but faster, go supercharger. If you want to get that more modern torquey low/midrange to address the lack thereof in the stock S2000 and are willing to change the character of the car and deal with a little turbo lag, go turbo. There are other considerations like cost, heat management, and reliability that vary between the options but this is about power delivery.

 

Bronx stated it all perfectly. Listen and learn

 

Awesome summary by bronxbomber252. I considered both types of FI but went supercharged because I wanted to retain the character of the S2k where it rewards you for keeping your foot in it and revving all the way up to the redline until you hit the limiter. My friend has a tuned Evo 9 (similar power to weight as my S2k) which is a very fun car but also very different than my S2k. With the Evo you step on it at any speed (particularly lower speeds) and the torque puts you back in your seat. Which is fun at most speeds. But at the high end as you continue to accelerate it just doesn't have anywhere close to the noise and the rush of my S2k. Needless to say I personally prefer the latter but can totally understand how the easy torque shove of the Evo can be addictive in a different way.

To your question, all things being equal the car isnt much faster or very fast in the lower revs even with the Stage 1 supercharger. But the stock AP1 flywheel is lighter stock and it revs very fast in 1st gear so your pretty quickly in the higher revs where it really takes off, significantly faster than stock, and then you just stay in vtec for the next several gears. So, its still not a 0-60 car but its faster to 60 than stock by a noticeable margin (granted I havent timed it yet). Some minivans and Camry might have been faster at the light when it was stock. But thats not a bother anymore.

In fact, another story about a benchmark to share. Yesterday I tried to keep up with a tri-motor Rivian R1S. It does 0-60 in about 3 seconds which is way faster. But from a 30 roll to a high number it was neck and neck until I started pulling on it a bit, because EV...

 

@bronxbomber252 Thanks for your post regarding S2000 superchargers! The lineal boost is so obvious I never fully understood it until this morning. Duh (on my part)!

My Ford 3.5 EcoBoost responds quicker if I can get the turbos (there are two) to spool up even a little before hammering it. The torque converter makes this easier than a mechanical clutch.

Problem with 0-60 times in the S2000 is the AP2 gearbox requires two (2) gear changes and the AP1 box has to be pushed to the rev limiter in both 1st and 2d. Great for making YouTube videos but not the best thing for the engine.

-- Chuck