imo, the s2k stock and esp with gears or SC is plenty of speed for reality. Reality meaning public roads, the twisties, canyons, freeways, city streets. this isn't about the track or drag strip. people complain that honda is just standing still and letting it's sports car rot. while i agree with that feeling, rationally it doesn't make sense.

my friend is about to buy a sub-12 second evo and i'm all excited until i think when will we ever get to stretch those legs.

with minivans pushing 300 hp+ and 700 hp not being abnormal. is there any point to all the power besides "keeping up" and marketing? is anyone using that power and if so, how do they hide from the cops?

after all that, maybe the s2k isn't lacking in power. maybe it's just right.

 

I think "keeping up" is the correct answer. Look, even the most basic cars of today have more luxury content than the best "luxury" cars of 20 years ago (to the point now that companies like Lexus are getting ridiculous with things like "parking assist"). You practically can't buy a car anymore that doesn't have 1,200 airbags, antilock brakes, or stability control.

So, if you can't do it in terms of luxury features or safety, how are you, the car maker, going to sell your next model of car? It appears that the answer most car manufacturers have come up with is Big Power. That, and making cars ever bigger (have you seen a new Golf compared with the first generation?).

Numbers help sell cars. I think that's really it.

 

HP is the ONLY way you can stretch legally on public roads.

It ain't about top speed or twisties on the daily commute.

If you don't have 0 to 45 faster than the minvan or truck or Chrysler K car, then you better get used to letting them cut you off on merge lanes.

That's what HP gets you.

Otherwise, you have a pretty sports car, but are afraid to punch it on the light because that 10k cheaper car on one side of you, or that minivan on the other side of you, will eat your lunch, flip you a bird, laugh and pelt you with rocks and garbage while smoothly taking you on the merge.

And they will know you tried to beat them to it. And they will know you know you lost. And they will laugh at how you paid deniro for a sporty car that leaves you flappin in the wind.

So knowing all this, you are now afraid to drive with spirit anywhere other than the track, because you know the shame will come.

 

HP means nothing unless you have the torque at the rear to back it up.
A meaning van with 300 hp also has several doors, seats, windows, amenities and usually several people so weight becomes an issue.
just something to consider. you want to compare apples to apples.

 

Hence the rationale for a nice V8, high hp, AWD daily driver.

Add some stealth to reduce the number of haters... Voila! Nice commute.

I want enough power and traction to get around cell-phone-yapping debutantes in 3-class BMWs loafing in the left lane.

Getting trapped behind inconsiderate people cheeses me off.

These days, my commute doesn't have much traffic so I'm content to enjoy life driving near the speed limit in the Rover. It's like a sun-room with a comfy couch and a nice sound system....

I do think that the hp wars are getting a little ridiculous, though. Especially for the street.

 

And at the current price point, I'm happier and happier with the S2000.

If I traded in my Honda, I'd probably get ~$15,000 for it. What else could I get that makes me so happy? Used, it's quite a bargain... and with increasing gas prices decreasing the obesity of the vehicles on the road (hopefully), it continues to make more and more sense.

 

While you don't need more than 400 hp on the street imo, the S2000 can definitely benefit from an extra 30 ponies.

 

I find that I can flog the S2000 on city streets and highway onramps without much issue, and while I usually end up at an illegal speed (like 50mph after a light, or 90 on the highway) I can back down from it quickly, and still get a rush out of full-on acceleration for a few seconds.

My motorcycle is another matter. An '07 CBR600RR, it's good for 100mph in second gear, and takes VERY little time to get there. While full throttle is a definite rush, it's just stupidly irresponsible to do it on the street. So I just ride around reasonably, but doing part-throttle, short-shift acceleration runs, even if they're as fast or faster than what the S2000 can do, aren't very exciting. In other words, all that HP is wasted on the streets, although I still enjoy the riding experience itself. (On the track is another matter - wowee, what a blast!)

So in my opinion, the S2000's horsepower is perfectly suited for street driving. While it can handle some more HP (I like Saki's suggestion of an extra 30, and would imagine that up to an extra 50 would work well) I think if it were to get much more than that, the car would become LESS enjoyable for daily driving.

Ideally, I think a 10-to-1 pounds-per-hp setup would be just about ideal. 250 hp and 2400 lbs would be, IMO, about the most fun you could get. (An Elise with me driving would be about 11.7. The S2000 with me driving is about 12.4.)

 

I agree there is no point with crazy hp instead companies should be focusing on doing what cars can do now but making them super efficient. I think if the S had the nsx motor it would be absolute perfection...I don't understand those who want 400hp on up but I congratulate them when they get there

 

imo the s2000 is a good car performance wise. but i would want more than 250hp but def less then 400. 300-350 would be ideal. i'm a little on the heavier side so i'd need the extra hp but if i was skinny as hell then about 275 i guess would feel the same. i don't track my car but i do enjoy finding that open stretch and let loose. in all reality 130 is fast enough for even the highway but how quickly you can get there and back down would be what i'm looking at. there are few roads that you can get up to 150+ and if you get caught then you are done. so i do agree that the car is good the way it is for now but i do feel that it should be closer to the 300 range.