Infinity

I am seriously thinking of purchasing an S2000, but have a couple of questions I need some clarification on from existing owners.

What is power delivery like below 4,000 rpm?
Do you really have to rev the engine high to turn the power on?
Whats fuel consumption like?
Does the engine rev quite easily & freely to 8-9,000 revs?

Any comments (or links to audio samples) on the engine noise would be appreciated also!

Thanks.

N-a-$-t-Y

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Infinity
[B]I am seriously thinking of purchasing an S2000, but have a couple of questions I need some clarification on from existing owners.
do get one.. you won't regret it !!

Tonky

Na$Y has summed it up pretty well. I've heard the engine noise in VTEC described as a mechanical banshee howl!! It will make the hair stand up on the back of your neck the first time you hit 9000 revs in 2nd gear. You'll be doing just under 70 mph. with 4 gear changes to go With regard to non VTEC use which is up to 6000 revs, I've heard it described as an MX5 on steroids, and I would agree with that. VTEC involkes a total manic personality change in the engine..... and the driver

I don't hesitate to recommend this incredible car to you, but do go for a test drive. The car is a little too raw for some peoples tastes.

Paul(UK)

What is power delivery like below 4,000 rpm?
Progressive is the word that best describes it. Friends with turbo charged cars say it feels slow, but one look at the speedo confirms that it is fast. There is around 115 BHP (dyno result) available at 4000 rpm.

Do you really have to rev the engine high to turn the power on?

Yes. On the first set of cams upto around 5750 rpm there is only around 135BHp. Then the second set kicks in (by 6100 rpm there is approx 150BHP) - this has a steeper power/rpm curve & a boost in torque (25 lbft jump in just 500 rpm from 5750 to 6250), and this leads to a small knee in the back - not as brutal as on the Integra R.
What is impressive is the way the power keeps coming until the redline (rev limiter)

Whats fuel consumption like?
My 5000 mile average is just over 30mpg. Worst around 14mpg (track day).

Does the engine rev quite easily & freely to 8-9,000 revs?
Yes. It has a very small inertia making it rev very freely. One of the reasons it can be difficult to get a good start (the engine will sometimes bog down when you release (side step) the clutch with the revs screaming - exactly what Tony Jardine did at Goodwood and one of the many reasons for his poor time).

Infinity,
You MUST drive one as this is a "love it!" or "indifferent about it" car. If you don't hit the rev limiter at least once, you haven't driven it hard enough (but mind your head when it meets with the dash).

Tonky

Re. engine sound... Have a look at this but turn your volume up

http://128.200.136.49/steveuci/MOV00682.MPG.

Sorry it doesn't work do a search for the thread by steveUCI entitled 'S2K and general car related videos' It's the second link in his post. It's a short vid but it really kicks ass!

steve_the_greek

The power below 4k is like any other non-turbo hot hatch. The difference is that the power in the S2k just keeps coming way past the 6k redline on 'ordinary' cars.

The reason reviewers complain about lack of low end torque is probably because the only cars with the same power output are turbos which have different characteristics - the Impreza for example has lots of low end urge, but it's given up by 5.5k - meanwhile we're just getting going. It depends on how you like to drive - me, I'm a VTEC addict.

For fuel consumption - I get high 20's except on track days (13 is my best), but I VTEC it pretty much whenever I can.

The sound is the best 4 cylinder sound I've heard, and to hear it screaming to 9k is brilliance. Sorry, no samples, but if you'd have been at Rutland ...

If you're serious about buying one, go for a test drive. Be warned, after you've driven it, you'll be addicted too.

Steve

N-a-$-t-Y

yep, just visit steveuci's site: hes got a load more movies.

here:
http://www.motive-force.com
or here:
http://128.200.136.49/steveuci/

they should be the same site.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Cedric Tomkinson
[B]Re. engine sound... Have a look at this but turn your volume up

Infinity

Thanks everyone, great comments!

Whats the typical UK delivery time?

UK Paul

It should also be noted that by 10,000 miles the car is bedding in nicely and you will have more power at your disposal!!!

Below 4000 rpm I feel mine is much, much quicker than when it had 1000 miles on the clock, above 6000 rpm it is only MUCH quicker

On a motorway run you could expect mid 30's no problem, but when you start hitting 150 mph beating off Escort Cosworths the mpg can drop a bit, also the lads mustn't be trying, at Bedford I estimate I got about 8 mpg!!! Brilliant fun holding off, even losing a new Porsche Carrera around the twisties until the long straight

If you want to beat 3 month UK delivery times PM me. Its nice weather, it would be a shame to miss it

Tonky

[QUOTE]Originally posted by UK Paul
[B]It should also be noted that by 10,000 miles the car is bedding in nicely and you will have more power at your disposal!!!

Below 4000 rpm I feel mine is much, much quicker than when it had 1000 miles on the clock, above 6000 rpm it is only MUCH quicker