Did you get the car new or used? Conventional or synthetic oil? How many miles?

 

I've noticed the same thing. I've owned 2 s2k's, and neither had a particularly jolting vtec engagement. Seems pretty smooth to me.

 

Guys, mabey this is just semantics, but VTEC is NOT just about the x-over. VTEC is the technology that allows the car to have 240HP. Without it, well, think Miatia. Variable timing is, IMHO, VERY cool. I really like having a high horsepower sports car. I was driving this weekend with a buddy of mine. He has a '75 914. I almost bought that car from him. It has about 100 HP. He has ALWAYS had faster cars than me, so it was fun to just walk away from him at will.

Perhaps the VTEC engagement is not that impressive to you. Do you ht it at WOT or just partial accelleration? It is MUCH more pronunced at WOT. Pop on a CAI, and the x-over is unmistakable. Also, I noticed that if there is a lot of heat I was getting heat-soak that bogged down the x-over, also with another person in the car it is much less pronoucned as the car is working hard to push that extra weight.

 

Personally, I think the S2000's VTEC engagement is pretty pronounced, at least more so than other VTEC cars. It's definitely a much more pronounced difference in power than can be felt in most other N/A motors. I run synthetic oil and can always noticeably feel when VTEC engages.

I think it's true, however, that the VTEC difference is somewhat overrated. People sometimes say it's like a low-boost turbo or supercharger, but it feels nothing like it to me. A turbo or supercharger just coming on feels far more pronounced than any VTEC engine I've ever felt. If someone expects VTEC to feel like forced induction, then they'll probably find it to fall below expections.

In my opinion, the rush I get from getting into the VTEC range comes more from the sound of the engine than from the kick or anything else.

 

if you really want to feel the second set of cams kick in, drive a celica GTS. that thing is ridiculous --- border line scary (in terms of engine safety). it feels like the whole engine shuts down from a rev limiter, then comes back STRONG up until redline.

maybe you are expecting the experience to be like that of a turbo, where you are thrown back into your seat. VTEC is more subtle than that (depending on the motor), but it pulls up to abnormally high rpms without losing strength (unlike most cars).

one key point is that the point of VTEC is not only the unique experience of high revs, but it allows for a smaller engine and higher mpg. the fact that the s2000 gets almost the same mpg as my miata but has 100 more horses speaks volumes for VTEC... (not to mention that the S is 400 more lbs)

 

You know what reminds me of VTEC is when all four barrels kick in on my old GTO!

 

REV IT,
I also came to the s2000 from the CL-S. I think that VTEC engagement is much more noticeable in the S as compared to the CL-S. Not to mention the extra 2.5k/rpm that is on tap from the S. But you are also comparing the low-torque S to the fairly matched CL. My CL-S always felt smooth all the way through the RPM's where as the S I feel that I have to keep the RPM's up to get that same power-response feeling. Please don't take that as a complaint, cause I will take the S any day over the CL-S. It's apples to oranges! I do have to say though that it is quite a good feeling to hear that VTEC engage especially with the top down!
-j

 

Mine is pretty noticeable. The whole pitch/sound of the engine changes and my Comptech exhaust comes to life.

 

It really depends on how you use the throttle.

If you stomp on the gas there is more of a gradual engagement of VTEC.

If you slowly feed the engine with only as much gas as it requires, you will notice a much more pronounced engagement of VTEC.

Keep in mind it is not a supercharger.

 

Other people on this forum has posted the exact opposite to what you stated. I've tried it both ways, and on my car it seems like a smooth uneventful transition no matter how you do it.