S2000 Talk Discussions related to the S2000, its ownership and enthusiasm for it.

what are the early models like to drive compared?

Thread Tools
 
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:07 PM
  #1  
user 192245235243's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Default what are the early models like to drive compared?

...to the later models?


i'm looking to get myself an s2000, always wanted one, so its time to get one, i've been looking at 2000 ish age ones (got about £6k to spend), i've read about the revisions in the later ones (revised suspension, cosmetic differences etc). are the early models still a good drive? i'm not too bothered about stiff suspension as i've had a vx220 previously so i'm used to it other than the suspension is there anything else that's "bad" compared to the later models?

regarding the cosmetic differences, do all the new parts fit the earlier models? for example, if i bought a centre console from a new model, would it fit on an earlier one? so i could update the look if i wanted to? is that the same with the bumpers, lights etc?
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:09 PM
  #2  
TheMuffinMan's Avatar
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,831
Likes: 11
Default

I mean I hate to sound like an ass, but you've been a member/lurker for years and haven't bothered going through the FAQ stuff yet?

There is a crap ton of information in there (New Owners/MY differences/etc)

Primarily:

Note: S2K Talk FAQ & other useful info

Note: What to look for when buying a used S2000
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:14 PM
  #3  
hrpfg2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,510
Likes: 1
From: Jacksonville
Default

cosmetic parts are pretty much all exchangeable. the later model has the 2.2 and has more torque but each has it own liking.

edit: but yes do check out the FAQ and other posts as all this are covered.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:18 PM
  #4  
user 192245235243's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Default

sorry guys, i know i've been a member for years, but as you can see, i havent used this site before, signed up years ago when i got the s2000 bug, but didnt get a car so havent visited the site since.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:18 PM
  #5  
JLUDE's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,648
Likes: 1
From: Culpeper Virginia
Default

search!

in Summary:

Early models (AP1) drive harsh but many say that is how a true sport car should feel. Later models (AP2) are tamed down a bit with smoother suspension and a powertrain that is more efficient at mid-range rpms and therefor easier to drive as a daily driver and also later models are more forgiving about driver errors.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:33 PM
  #6  
suzuka-blue-s2k's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,783
Likes: 3
From: Liberal Kansas
Default

Originally Posted by JLUDE,Jan 10 2011, 03:18 PM
search!

in Summary:

Early models (AP1) drive harsh but many say that is how a true sport car should feel. Later models (AP2) are tamed down a bit with smoother suspension and a powertrain that is more efficient at mid-range rpms and therefor easier to drive as a daily driver and also later models are more forgiving about driver errors.
with everything he said.


I do daily drive my 02 ap1 and love it, but its pretty unpredictable in the snow if you don't have the right tires. Snow tires on this car helps a ton if you drive all year long like I do.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:46 PM
  #7  
user 192245235243's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
Default

yeah i'll be using it as my daily driver too. like i said, i dont mind the stiff suspension as i'm used to that.

just had a read through the faq's, didnt see anything about earlier/later model parts being interchangeable...

i used the search function to try and find some pics to show the differences between the different models (cosmetically) but didnt have any luck. anyone got any side of side pics of the interior/exterior differences?
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:52 PM
  #8  
FluKy15's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 14,697
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Default

If you google s2000 AP1 then s2000 AP2, put the 2 pictures side by side.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 12:56 PM
  #9  
suzuka-blue-s2k's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,783
Likes: 3
From: Liberal Kansas
Default

Well the main differences between ap1's and ap2's are: front bumper, rear bumper, headlights, taillights, wheels (there are 3 different versions for ap2 wheels, v1(04-05), v2(06-07), and v3(08-09)) Engine is an f22c instead of f20c, center console is different, ap2's have a black cluster trim and dash controls, where ap1's come with silver. Ap1's have a plain plastic radio door, ap2's have nice silver ones, and CR radio doors look like carbon fiber in a way.

If you just search and find some pics, you can see how different they are. I have almost all ap2 parts on my ap1, and mostly everything is interchangable, but some require modding the car. Such as the taillights, they are not a direct bolt in. I did this and you have to cut some metal of the car out from behind the tails, and I soldered in the ap2 wire harness so its all plug and play. You can mod your ap1 harness, but I wanted to do it right. Headlights are direct plug and play only if you have the ap2 ballast and ignitors with them. The ap2 wheels of course will go on an ap1, but they are 17's instead of the ap1 16" wheels. The bumpers go right on, but the front bumper you will have to grind off the edges of the front crash bar so you dont have pressure points on it. If you don't do this, you will get spider cracks in your paint in that location. Also the front splash shields do not line up perfectly, but people just use zip ties to hold them together. The rear bumper goes right on also, but the center of the ap1 rear sits lower than an ap1 bumper, so the bracket in the middle is to short. You can easily make a bracket for this. You don't have to do it, but it will make the bumper a lot more sturdy. The center console is a direct swap over, no modding needed.

Hope that helps.
Reply
Old Jan 10, 2011 | 01:05 PM
  #10  
FluKy15's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 14,697
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
Default

Max, can I ignore your long post and just look at your avatar picture?
Reply



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:29 PM.