Buddy of mine just bought an '02 Honda S2000

[JeremyD]

I've been impressed with this car on the track more than a few times - yes you have to wring it out - but a very comfortable and capable car either way.

(BTW - I've instructed probably 4-5 S2000's - last one being a AP1 that I liked the most) Driven a few students cars - not torquey - but neither is a 2 - 3 liter porsche.

[cheeze]

The lack of torque is a pretty divisive issue for the F20c motor. But thankfully the Honda aftermarket is enormous; probably second to GM, and aftermarket ECU tuning is the way to go. Here, we can see the stock torque curve (blue) is not ideal for street driving at all:



but with tune and some bolt ons, it (pink) takes a relatively huge jump in torque in the high 2000 rpm range. And with a wideband AFR, monitoring the motors is much easier thus reducing risk of catastrophic failure.

Source

[J P Stein]

I think I made the right choice. An S2000 was on my list...but a Flying Miata turbo came on the market......low miles & excellent condition. The price as not low but better than a similar condition S2000......if you can find one....I didn't. I think the turbo makes up the performance difference. The other after market ad ons help also. Goes pretty good for a Miata, but no time/weather/place to push it.

Waiting for a nice day for an AX to find out.

[stuartj]

The early cars- like your friends- nasty choppy rear suspension behaviour on anything less than a perfect surface. Apparently this was much improved in later model years. What an engine/gbox se up.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by stuartj

The early cars- like your friends- nasty choppy rear suspension behaviour on anything less than a perfect surface. Apparently this was much improved in later model years. What an engine/gbox se up.

I haven't noticed. Not too much difference compared to an early car or Sc with Sports shocks with lower profile tires. I have 255/40 series tires on 17" rims on the S.

[Baz]

My buddy said he wound her up to around 6K RPM's the other day. He's pretty conservative so this was a huge deal for him. He said it almost sounded "turbo-like"....lol....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Baz

My buddy said he wound her up to around 6K RPM's the other day. He's pretty conservative so this was a huge deal for him. He said it almost sounded "turbo-like"....lol....

I normally shift at between 5-6000 rpm. If I really need a little more to get pass someone, I will keep the pedal down for another seconds, press a little harder and get her up to about 7. It will go. What turbo sound?

[look 171]

That second and third gear is a lot of fun. Yeah, I know, its not a torque monster, and it doesn't throw you to the back of the seat when the pedal is floored but if you look at the speedo, you are going at a pretty clip.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by look 171

That second and third gear is a lot of fun. Yeah, I know, its not a torque monster, and it doesn't throw you to the back of the seat when the pedal is floored but if you look at the speedo, you are going at a pretty clip.

Sounds like my 356C!

I bought her from a guy in south Florida - took a greyhound down to pick her up. Drove her back on I-95 and consistently was going 80+ and the tach wasn't any higher than 4K....this with a 4 speed. Now that's some impressive gearbox ratios!

[look 171]

Baz,

That sure sound like a heck of a little car.

Someone wrote that the S2000 is similar to the early cars with the 2.2 motor. They have to get the revs going to product any power.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by look 171

Baz,

That sure sound like a heck of a little car.

Someone wrote that the S2000 is similar to the early cars with the 2.2 motor. They have to get the revs going to product any power.

Sounds about right. I haven't driven it yet but my buddy wants me to at some point. Just been too busy with work lately.

And if you've never driven a 356.........you should. They are quite spirited and agile!

[look 171]

Originally Posted by Baz

Sounds about right. I haven't driven it yet but my buddy wants me to at some point. Just been too busy with work lately.

And if you've never driven a 356.........you should. They are quite spirited and agile!

I have driven a couple of SCs and 3.2L cars. They are similar, but less torque that you can actually feel. Once you get above 6k, then its a different animal. with 240hp on tap, its not too bad if its on the track. It sure handles better then the SCs I have driven. it is a car that's 20 years younger and designed to live on the track. A real go cart, if you will. I have not driven a 356. With the way pricing is going, I don't think I ever will and no one will trust this dirty contractor with their 250k toy. The 2500 rpm up top is somewhat violent getting there but smoothly. I think you will like the way it feels going around corners. Its very much like the early MR2s, if you have driven those.

[patz]

The drum brakes suck.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by patz

The drum brakes suck.

Yeah, wish the S2000 had disc breaks all the way around. Who needs brakes on a car like it?

[Schumi]

I have never been a fan.. and I have reasons.
I have known two people with s2000s:

One good friend who had an '06 and kept it stock. He paid about $17K for it in early 2011 I believe. My '00 Boxster S (which cost me about the same amount around that time) would walk away from it, in a straight line and especially in the canyons- Up on Lake Hughes Rd I would just walk away from him after a few corners. And he is a better driver than me.

One other guy who bought an early car and put about $7k into it in suspension and mods over the years. I later picked up my Lotus which... again... a little more money but would walk away from the car in the canyons. Even with my street tires and his on R-comps. After all that work it still couldn't hold a candle to a stock Elise. And again... I drive the car like a gorilla...


My 6' tall self just felt weird in the S2000, like the dash and steering wheel was placed wrong and the seat padding put my ass way too high. Meanwhile I fit into my Lotus like a glove ...


So, in conclusion, like many Hondas... it is a *very good* sportscar... but I never saw it as a truly *great* sportscar.

[aschen]

Yeah taking an earlyier s2k up to 6krpm is definatly not daredevil, that's where the poweband starts

[J P Stein]

I've never been shy about taking my cars to redline.
The Maita runs to 7k with little drama.......I think it's redline is around 7.5K. The 914 (2.7L) spent as much time bouncing off the limiter as required by circumstances. Normally set at 7100......some times set at 7300. The limiter was an MSD unit.....I think the Miata has a fuel shut off gizmo.......I really liked that MSD, but I think it can not be installed on the Miata....gotta check into that.....I think the ECU wouldn't like that.

Entirely too much "I think" at present, but we are supposed to have some nice weather coming up.

[Schumi]

Ap1 S2000's have to get wringed out to about 8600 before shifting, Peak power is at 8300! Shifting any sooner and the car is a dog. It is unnatural for lots of people and a big reason for Honda upping the displacement a small amount for the AP2 and completely changing the tune, so peak power was at 7800 and you shift at 8k.

It's like when I have people drive my Elise, I have to tell them "it's OK to keep going. Rev rev rev rev!" the power literally doesn't appear until 6500 and after that yout gotta zing it to 8400 so when you grab the next gear you are on that cam again at 6500 and up...

If you drive these cars like a normal car, it feels like driving a Geo Metro.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by speeder

I guess I don't understand this...it's front engine/RWD, no?

I thought he was referencing the fact that Honda engines run counter clockwise but I guess not

[berettafan]

did a full day autocross class years ago (some sort of driving school) and there was an S2000 piloted by a chick in the class. car looked very sharp on the course.