Many of us did have that choice, not that one exactly but the same for your intents (MY03 or MY04). I located a new yellow '03 that was available just before I purchased the '04, I still purchased the '04 even considering the '03 would have been considerably cheaper (it was deep into the '04 model year, closing in on the '05 releases so they were willing to deal ).

For me it was for the most part decided on styling, I think the MY04+ cars just look more aggressive, particularly the front end. I hope the pre-04 owners do not take this the wrong way, but everytime I see a front shot/view of the AP1 the Del Sol pops into my head. The car looks just a touch "happier" than it should.

I had free access to an AP1 (father's) anytime I'd like to drive it, so I wasn't coming into the the AP1 vs. AP2 decision ignorant of the differences. In truth, much of the reason I was considering the MY03 was because from reading some of the stuff posted in these forums by the AP1 nazis I was scared to death Honda had "destroyed the soul" of the car and it wouldn't be as exciting to drive as the '03 of my father's I had fallen in love with. As luck would have it, the dealer which I ended up purchasing mine from had just gotten in a used silverstone '04 with ~6000 miles....perfect for a decisive test drive! Thus the story ends with me having an AP2.

IMO...The differences between the two are minute enough that styling preferences (as small as they are) can be a deciding factor. Would I like to have a 9K redline? You bet I would. Would I like to give up the additional grunt I have between 3 and 6K? Not a chance. Most generalize and say the AP2 suspension is "softer", well it's softer in the rear. Which brings up, how many times have you read on these forums about snap oversteer getting someone in trouble? The softer rear alleviated some of this. The S2K, no matter what model is not "soft". The one legitimate gripe I've heard against the AP2 is the slower steering ratio. I can say in day to day driving it's not enough that I would notice it as a "problem", I can see it maybe as a valid complaint from someone intending to use their S as a frequent autocrosser. It's my understanding that the RE050's are a bit less tacky than the S02's but more versatile, I wonder if an AP2 shod with properly sized S02's would correct some of the differences AP1 owners complain about? When raining or it's cold out and there is even a hint of snow falling I'll bet those S02's aren't so confidence inspiring are they? It's all about trade-offs in the end, and for the most part (when talking about AP1 vs. AP2) they are all minor. Would I purchase a new AP1 over a new AP2? Nope. Would I trade in my good condition, low mileage AP1 for a new AP2? Not a chance in hell.

 

Many people keep on metioning the fact that they prefer the 9,000 redline. Do these people truly understand the engine spec measurements?? Just because you're able to rev higher, doesn't make the engine any better. You have to take into account, at a particular RPM, what torque/output is the engine able to generate?

AP2 reaches
its peak torque of 162lbs/ft @ 6500rpm.
its peak output of 240PS @ 7800rpm.

AP1 reaches
its peak torque of 153lbs/ft @ 7500rpm.
its peak output of 240PS @ 8300rpm.

Because of the displacement difference, AP2 is able to reach its peak torque/output at lower RPM.

Just because you can rev the engine higher, it doesn't mean that its more powerful. Not to say that the 2.2L of AP2 is more powerful. (It does have higher torque)

Either way it boils down to the skill that utilizes the engines true potential. Do you have enough skills to immediately rev up the engine, quick-shift between gears, when your out there on the tracks.

So as I mentioned earlier, 04~ AP2's are more amateur friendly. Its one of the considerations that Honda took into, because they were seeing some problems with some of the owners freezing up the valve from not rev'ing high enough on the road. Which is understandable if you're just an everyday commute driver. VTEC engines are designed so that you have to ignite it once in a while. This valve freeze problem (if you wanna call it a problem) has been seen in Civics, etc as well. Many people have brought their VTEC Civics, etc into shops saying that they have an engine trouble, and have found that they weren't rev'ing the engine high enough for too long.

 

For the 100th time. Look.

I had an 01 (almost 3 years) and now 04.
I had both dyno'ed. I can pull faster STOCK TO STOCK.

BC

 

Thanks!

Do you have comparison graphs for the earlier car? (Or is one of the colors for the pre-'04? - seems unlikely since there isn't that much difference in torque or RPM....)

 

this topic is funny. it will never end. too many haters of the ap2. sorry guys its a better car. just because steve C is an ap1 advocate means nothing. hes smoked so much crack his brain is fried. lets see, when i drag race my AP2, vs ap1, i destroy it with ease. when we go through hard turns, in any situation, i stay wide open, and they all have to let off because they can barely keep the ass end planted. yeah, ill take an ap2 thanks. faster, handles better, looks better. sorry haters. keep runnin your mouths. you cant change the truth.

p.s take a look at the list of ap1 people who have spun out just driving down the road, and see if there is even a list of ap2 complaints to compare.

lates dave

 

Japan is the only country I was aware of that taxed on engine displacement. I'm not being an ass here, I'm genuinely curious...who else does it?

I heard that Toyota and Mitsubishi build their Camry (3.0L) and Magna (3.5L) sedans here to avoid being taxed.

As for the whole 00-03 Vs 04 argument, who cares? I think there is a lot of immaturity being displayed in this thread alone. We're not a Civic or Neon board, we're an s2k board damnit!

 

damn this thread again, someone should close these as soon as they start its the same arguments back and forth back and forth every single thread. No one wins. Of course everyone will think there car is better and defend theres and bash the other. Alot of you guys are getting a lil to heated over this stupid argument. WE ARE ALL S2K OWNERS!!

I have a modded s2k and I love it. (espicially with the amuse lip) thats all that matters to me!

 

No S2000NVegas, you say it is a better car (that's your impression and you are welcome to it)......But hey, by now we all know you got a rare factory freak that just hauls ass like no other S made, so your reality is skewed.
The point that I and many others are trying to make is, the NA market is hung up on torque, luxury and room. So to meet these discerning taste Honda decided to (the same as GM, Ford and Chrysler have done for years) dumb down the S. This they accomplished by increasing minutely the interior room, softening the suspension making it more comfy (and in the process losing much of it's sporting nature), then increasing torque by a whopping 8 lbs because if your NA you gotta have torque!
Sorry, but the reason many of us purchased the S in the first place was we liked the minimalistic nature of the car. Therefore from our point of view it's not the same now and by that I mean not better.

 

[QUOTE=Back-cracker,Jan 16 2005, 12:20 AM] For the 100th time. Look.

 

It's the same in Ireland. I don't know what the rules are now, but 15 years ago a 1.3 liter cost less than a 1.6 liter, and a 2.0 liter of higher was prohibitively expensive to register.

I remember seeing a Mustang GT convertible owned by one of the embassy staff, and figuring out that it would cost at least $1000/year to register.