Just had a chance to drive an '02 S the other day in Orlando..
very rough car...some dents..lots of scrubbing on the underbody..
paint completely faded out in some areas..the mileage is
around 110K..its silver with the red interior..great
combo but the interior has a LOT of wear..not to mention
the usual top tears!
BUT.
it just seemed to be ready TO GO!
The throttle response was way better than my "eye-candy" '06
Rio Yellow S..
the car just seemed to have much better low end...the handling was a
lot better than my AP2..the car to me seemed to be lighter as well.

It was just lighter..tighter..and quicker(I wouldn't say faster though).
I looked under the hood..everything looked OEM..I saw nothing to suggest
it had any after market work...but the wheel well gap was reduced I'm
guessing maybe Eibachs.
Why the differences?
could it be DBW in my '06?
could it be the 16" wheels quicker to roll?
could it be the AP1 is lighter?

Any ideas in how to make my AP2 handle like this car?
It justfelt tighter...maybe Koni yellows set on the lower
perch to lower 1/2"..
maybe the Eibach pro-kits..while I really don't want to lower my car
this car wasnt slammed..to have that handling and just the feel was
what I liked!
My car is GORGEOUS..this car looks bad..but it was much motre fun
to drive..

 

Hahaha AP1 FTW!! What can I say AP1 is better overall car

 

It may just be from driving a "different" car, you are so use to yours that you have become complacent to the feel. I have a SCed AP1 and I have driven AP2's that feel faster but they aren't, mainly because I rarely get to drive an AP2.

Another example, not the same tho, is when I drive cars with more TQ, but not faster, they always seem to be faster lol.

The wheels may have a factor in that too, for some reason when I switch from my 17's to my 16's for the winter, I feel it accelerates faster with the 16's than with the 17's, but then again, it could be the same thing, that I'm so use to having the 17s on most of the year.

 

From what I can remember, AP1s ARE lighter. The 16 inch wheels MIGHT make it feel like it revs a little quicker, but I have my doubts, since the gearing is a bit longer. I think you were probably feeling the inherent "sharpness" and "rawness" of the AP1 (not that AP2s are dull...). Again, if I remember, the AP1 suspensions are a little more biased towards oversteer than the AP2s. That, coupled with the lowering springs (lower center of gravity, maybe stiffer?) probably made it feel a little more "quick" than your AP2. This is why I always think the AP1 vs. AP2 arguments are so funny. The differences are so subtle, you really only notice them when you can compare them almost side-by-side....

Someone else (with an AP2) can speak more about "tightening" up your AP2, but I would assume the typical suspension mods would put you in the right direction. From what I've heard, eibachs aren't really any stiffer than stock, just lower, so I don't know how much the would do for you, considering your goals. I know the ratio between the front and rear swaybars has been changed multiple times since the car's release.

There's a thread comparing the oem suspension setups. It should help point you in the right direction.

- James

 

I believe smaller wheels = shorter gear ratio = better acceleration. I think that's one of the reasons lots of auto-x-ers (not just s2000s) use them. That said. I wouldn't change to 16" wheels for the acceleration. Your tire selection at 17" seems to be much better. Though the demand for 16" Hankook RS3s seems to be lower...

 

Keep in mind an AP1 has as MUCH lighter flywheel than an AP2 which will make it rev quicker.

 

who give me the thumbs down!!!

com on you and I both know that AP1>>AP2 just read the original post!

 

could be the culmination of a lot of things. Lighter flywheel, DBW, lighter car, different transmission, stiffer suspension etc.

I wouldn't say one is better than the other either. Just different.

 

To be perfectly fair, it's the diameter of the tire that effects gearing, not the diameter of the wheel. Big wheels tend to be heavy though, which definitely hurts acceleration.

 

To more address the OP... The AP1s are a bit lighter, but they also make less HP and torque. I believe the overall power to weight ratios are similar. The wheels on the AP2 are 1" larger in diameter, but the overall weight of the wheel/tire package is similar.

The suspension is a bit softer on AP2s than on AP1s. My guess is that the feeling you were experiencing was this, plus that of an F20 + 14lb flywheel being more eager to rev than an F22 + 22lb flywheel. Unless one car in particular is a "ringer", then straightline performance differences should be very minor.