Hey guys! I drive a 1.8T volkswagen, and whilst i love the car - i'm very interested in a roadster and the s2000 really looks like the car that i loved but never had. I've spent a couple of hours so far researching the aftermarket and i've gathered a good bit of information. Some key things that are missing that i hope you folks can help with though:

1) how much power are the stock internals good for (many FI kits put this car at 290 whp)

2) where are the ecu tuners!? I checked hondata and others, and all i can come up with is an AEM standalone situation. Are there no tuned ecus out there for the s2000?

3) any information on engine codes/model codes that i may need to know before buying and problems that may have been fixed from one year to the other.

4) any good resources you could send me too for info on the s2000 aftermarket.

Thanks guys, i really appreciate it. I look forward to this scene!

 

2) correct no tuned ECUs that a are worthwhile. I don't count Powerchip as being worthwhile.

3) Pre 04 is the F20C engine. Post 04 in US is F22C engine. No problems as such but there was a TSB on the banjo bolts on early models.

4) There are many vendors of aftermarket s2000 parts. As I am stock, I cannot refer any.

 

The thing many VW owners have to realize when moving to the S2000 is that it is a highly tuned car from teh factory...and has quite a marvel of an ECU stock, which is why the AEM unit is pretty much your best bet. The VW's on the other hand, for the most part, come to you fairly detuned, which is why you can really bump power up with those small inexpensive modifications.

 

Thanks for all the input gentleman (and ladies if any of you are)!

I spent a good amount of time after posting last night - reading a bit more about tuning the s2000 and i'm a bit confused. It seems most people go to a 'tuner' to get things working correctly. I'm a bit of an old fashioned guy - I wrench my car myself - I do my own work and don't like it when other people touch my engine bay. depending on which mode of FI i go - i'd do that myself for sure. So if i shell out 1500 for a standalone kind of unit for the car i'd want to learn and know everything about it myself. So the question boils down to, with a wideband, a dyno, and these standalone engine management units can *I* myself find enough resources on how to tune the s2000? I'm quite familiar with timing maps, fuel map, in boosted cars, but what can i expect out of the aem ems? Any guides out there for s2k beginners trying to get into the real meat of the tuning? Thanks again for the replies!

EDIT - Also, as i asked in the initial post. How much can the stock internals deal with? the 1.8T was good to about 350 WHP and then rods became a problem.


Modified by bobkat at 7:59 AM 9/19/2005

 

Some on HT have seen 400+whp...turbo'ed. It just depends on which route you go...

As far as self modifying and tuning, many people do that as well...but you have the mind state that many civic and integra owners do...given you drive a Jetta i could understand, you are working with what is essentially a simple compact car and honestly, a much easier platform to do your own work with...not that you CANT with the S2000, but just that this is a sports car, and a car engineered to be naturally aspirated...it responds well to turbo's and superchargers, but the foundation of the car is essentially N/A. And not only that, but this car (while quite popular) is no where near as common as a civic, integra or even your own Jetta...whcih means you have alot less people out there tuning them, which means the ones that DO tune them are usually focused on that car, or maybe the S2000 and a one other...meaning, their pretty much experts on just what you need to properly build it n/a, turbo it or supercharge it...saving you time, headache and broken motor componants...with just a simple program they spent years putting together.

Nothing about it really is taking away from the fact that you want to tune your own car, it just boils down to the fact that this is an engineered street race car...and though you want to do your own work on it, you have to kind of think of it like a Ferrari, would you go from a GTi to a 360 Modena, and because of the work you did on the GTi was your own, just start ripping into the 360 motor without much experience or technical/mechanical equipment to properly do so? Not that the S2000 is comparible to a Ferrari but you get the point.

Yes you can do your own work, but most people allow the shops and car experts to do their ECU work and tuning with the AEM unit simply to avoid possibly damaging such a great motor/tranny combo.

 

If you're interested in tracking the car, get the S2k. If you're interested in a car with decent power and excellent handling for weekend back-country-roads fun, get the S.

BUT, seems like from your interest in FI applications, you're looking for more of a 1/4 mile dragster or a "street-light" warrior. I personally wouldn't waste my money on an S, if I were looking for the same. There are plenty of other cars that will net you better results from [FI] mods than the S2k.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P Nut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If you're interested in tracking the car, get the S2k. If you're interested in a car with decent power and excellent handling for weekend back-country-roads fun, get the S.

BUT, seems like from your interest in FI applications, you're looking for more of a 1/4 mile dragster or a "street-light" warrior. I personally wouldn't waste my money on an S, if I were looking for the same. There are plenty of other cars that will net you better results from [FI] mods than the S2k.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What S are you talking about?

 

straight like a rainbow!!!

HAHAHHA ohh im just too funny

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Y2K_S2K &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">straight like a rainbow!!!

HAHAHHA ohh im just too funny </TD></TR></TABLE>



chirp chirp...

ha ha


Modified by P Nut at 12:48 PM 9/19/2005

 

Hey guys.

Thanks for all the information and advice. It's much appreciated, and while i disagree with a lot of what you said hypnosis - i can see where you are coming from.

Bottom line - went and took a close look at the s2k and took a long 20 mile road test. As sure as i was last night that I wanted to go with this car - i don't think it fills my needs. It's a beautiful car - but i think that a miata may be more what i'm looking for (which i drove today as well). Thanks again - and if i do decide to consider the s2k some more - i'll be back with a whole bunch more questions (that i don't find via search). Thanks again!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by P Nut &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">



chirp chirp...

ha ha


Modified by P Nut at 12:48 PM 9/19/2005</TD></TR></TABLE>


LOL! i like the cricket

 

A miata might be a better bet. For the price of a stock, used S2000, you can have a 400whp Miata that would put vettes to shame.

 

yea the miata fulfills both what i want from FI and also from a chasis stand point. the s2000 seemed a bit more disconnected and less tight than the miata.

 

I wouldnt go as far as saying its "less tight".

 

If you areally trying to go Fi while not spending an arm, a leg, and some more body parts, i'd say get the Miata. If you want a very fun roadster thats really good from factory, get the S2K and go do some hpde's

 

I am looking at a Miata as well, cause I ain't got $24,000 lol.

 

well it's not so much a matter of price - that really is no object up until about 30,000. The point is which car is tighter on the track and from the research i've done - there s2000 falls a good bit short of the miata - track wise.

 

They're both great track cars, but overall the S2K is in a totally different league. No offense, but I would be embarassed to be seen in a Miata. The S2000 gets so much more respect than a Miata. If you plan to have a track only car, then you can do more with a Miata, they have been around longer and there is alot more support for them. But if you are looking for a fun to drive car for the street and the occasional track day, something that you would enjoy taking out on a Saturday night, I would definitely go with the S2000. If you are still considering one, and you would like to take another look at one, hit me up. I am in sales at Jim Coleman Honda in Clarksville, not far from baltimore at all.