ok, well i still have a few more questions (soz),

if i bought the car form a private seller, do i still end up paying the $2500 or so tax when i register it? i assume so but i'm not sure if the procedure is the same as buying from a dealer.

also, do the AP1's have a glass rear windshield, or plastic one? i dont know where i heard this, but i read somewhere that the AP1's had a plastic rear windshield.

my budget is currently around $20-22 thousand, i know for an AP1, i won't have any probs finding a decent one nearby, but i was looking on autotrader, and for that amount.... it's near impossible, and the handful i do find, after emailing them, i just get these vibes telling me SCAMMER, SCAMMER.... so i don't know what todo.
I'll have to test drive both i guess to see where the difference lies...

Alex

 

2000-2001 = plastic rear window

 

if u buy private seller u jus pay the tax amount for that state i believe... but NO its def. not $2500, all that is dealer fees and other bullshit... but if ur deciding factor is the rear windshield then go AP1 and get a 04+ softop.. b alot cheaper than AP2. my choice would b AP1

 

get a 2002 and up..glass rear

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IheartHondas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but if ur deciding factor is the rear windshield then go AP1 and get a 04+ softop </TD></TR></TABLE>

you would still have to hook up the interior harness/dash/dash harness to get the defroster. 02-03 has the bugs worked out, at the price of 60lbs or so of added weight.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rudeS2k &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get a 2002 and up..glass rear </TD></TR></TABLE>

the price alone isnt worth it for basically just a glass rear window.

When I went to buy my second s2000 when i sold my 01. They had a 00 s2000 white, and a 02 white s2000.

These were at a honda dealership in ga.
20 for my 00
25 for the 02

The 02 had the all red interior which is nasty IMO, The 00 had the black and red which looks sweet.

The top alone only cost what 900? im personally gonna try to put it on my self with some patience and alloing myself time. The defrost circuit is very easy to construct yourself, or get the whole wiring from one.

So im looking at about 1000 for the top, the switch, and the necessairy wires to hook the defrost up. It surely was NOT worth the price tag of that 02 spite the smaller interior differences.

on the plus side i got to keep the black and red interior combo...

So please dont let a soft top Sway you to spend more money for a car you can pickup for cheaper with the plastic rear window....

 

Your not gonna get an AP2 for $20,000-$22,000. Even with higher mileage their still averaging $23,000-$25,000 (and im talking 20k+ on the odometer). Go out and find yourself a nice 2002 model with the glass rear window, you should find one in your budget easily and should have a fairly large selection to choose from. If your looking to buy in the next 6 months, i think the AP2 is just out of your range for right now unfortunately.

 

so do engine parts from the ap1 fit on the ap2...exhaust, header, intake etc?

 

exhaust, headers, intake, all fit the the same. OEM intake/exhaust manifolds are the same.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MyWayIsSideways &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">exhaust, headers, intake, all fit the the same. OEM intake/exhaust manifolds are the same.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Correct me if I am wrong but AP2 exhaust are a little different than AP1, I think the AP2 is a touch longer.

 

You might be right, but I didnt see a difference when I laid them side by side.

 

If I would have known i would have not purchased the 01...plastic rear window sucks ***!!!!

I say get the AP2...it has been proven 2 have a lil more power than the ap1...only downside is the lower 8k redline

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Project SSAP1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">If I would have known i would have not purchased the 01...plastic rear window sucks ***!!!!

I say get the AP2...it has been proven 2 have a lil more power than the ap1...only downside is the lower 8k redline</TD></TR></TABLE>

That's a significant downside.

 

To be quite honest...its not really a downside at all, just a different option when you look to get an S2000. Some people might prefer the AP2's tranny and gearing setup compared to the AP1...like some people prefer a tip tronic to a manual...its just about preference. I personally kind of like the power response and gearing that our AP2 has over my friends AP1.

As for this...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I say get the AP2...it has been proven 2 have a lil more power than the ap1...only downside is the lower 8k redline</TD></TR></TABLE>

...look at his budget and then realize why this wont happen.

 

That's fine. I just stated my opinion.

The ideal S2000 is the '05 JDM/Euro versions. Gotta have the F20C.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hypnosisracing &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">To be quite honest...its not really a downside at all, just a different option when you look to get an S2000. Some people might prefer the AP2's tranny and gearing setup compared to the AP1...like some people prefer a tip tronic to a manual...its just about preference. I personally kind of like the power response and gearing that our AP2 has over my friends AP1.

As for this...

...look at his budget and then realize why this wont happen.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

The F22 just gives you that longer stroke everyone's going for anyways. Revving that stroker to 9000 hasn't been a problem, its already been done. That eliminates the VTEC fall-out on the 1-2 shift, sometimes the 2-3 shift.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That's fine. I just stated my opinion.
The ideal S2000 is the '05 JDM/Euro versions. Gotta have the F20C.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You referred to it as a downside, perhaps to you the more optimal setup is the peak F20C, but i'd hardly call the F22C's lower redline and different gearing a "downside", just not favored by some, like yourself.

Downside makes it seem like a bad thing, like something negative they did to the AP2 that the AP1 did better, when that is not at all true, even from technical specs.

 

Im still failing to understand why Someone would buy a 02 for a few grand more, than buy a 01 And spend 8-900 and put a nice new top on it to get the main thing your after.

 

It is a downside as I do not favor it.

Driven back-to-back, the F22C still feels like a small 4-cyl engine which it is just like the F20C. So from that you'd want as much revs as possible and that ~8K --&gt; ~9K redline difference is a lot of VTEC time.

If you're going to drive a high strung 4-banger, lets continue to play niche mode. Give me the highest production redline so I can play up top. With the F22C, you're still just another 4 cyl under VTEC. Up top, you're still no better than an E46 M3. No better than the RSX-S.

So again, my point is, the ideal S2000 is a euro spec/jdm spec '04+ S2000 which has the F20C engine with freshened up body/interior.

So it's all relative here... THe S2000 F22C or F20C is still a fantastic car. and if someone told me new F22C or lightly used F20C, i'd say go with the F22C and get the newest deal, enjoy it, get the longest warranty, done. cuz it's splitting hairs. but if you're into the discussion on what's more fun, what's better, what's more true.... F20C for life. this is the legend.

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

You referred to it as a downside, perhaps to you the more optimal setup is the peak F20C, but i'd hardly call the F22C's lower redline and different gearing a "downside", just not favored by some, like yourself.

Downside makes it seem like a bad thing, like something negative they did to the AP2 that the AP1 did better, when that is not at all true, even from technical specs.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but if you're into the discussion on what's more fun, what's better, what's more true....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dont forget to add "In my opinion" to that...

And just to make a comment on one portion of your post (since i see where youre coming from and dont feel like debating the better of the 2 cars between the AP1 and AP2 since really, there is no "better"), the M3 is not in the same class as this car, the E46 anyways...i would argue to say that all around it is a better car since performance wise it can out accelerate the S2000 and handling wise its about the same or just slightly lesser...and comfort wise, you cant even begin to compare, luxury wise...lol, i'll just leave it at no comparison what so ever. Its not that i personally like the M3 better than the S2000, but you gotta give credit where its due.

 

I find the whole IMO thing redundant.

Fair enough. The AP1/AP2 debate is one that will never cease. It is splitting hairs when it comes right down to it, but then so is 99.9% of the BS talk that goes on in car boards.

I've given extensive thought to purchasing an E46 M3 as of late. It is faster. All around. But is it as much fun? Because there's always much faster, but a truly fun car is much more rare.

My conclusion is, it is not as much fun as the S2000. The only car that I've driven that is in the same price range that is clearly more fun is a modern-day 911. It just meets my needs all around in getting out of the import boy image, pretty boy car to a Gmbh ride that just goes and makes sweet noises doing it.

Where my disappointments lie after having owned two S2000s spread over four years is this: I want more straightline speed. So instead of cashing out for another new car, I'm just going to spend the $6K or so and install the Comptech SCS and be done with it. Then think about buying an Escalade EXT and dropping a bit on 24" MOMO Storms.

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

Dont forget to add "In my opinion" to that...

And just to make a comment on one portion of your post (since i see where youre coming from and dont feel like debating the better of the 2 cars between the AP1 and AP2 since really, there is no "better"), the M3 is not in the same class as this car, the E46 anyways...i would argue to say that all around it is a better car since performance wise it can out accelerate the S2000 and handling wise its about the same or just slightly lesser...and comfort wise, you cant even begin to compare, luxury wise...lol, i'll just leave it at no comparison what so ever. Its not that i personally like the M3 better than the S2000, but you gotta give credit where its due.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

It is redundant, but fair none the less.

As far as the M3 being fun...i would say it depends on which you look at. The E46 M3 is a fast car and is very comfortable and nice to drive...is it as fun as the S2000? Nah, i would have to agree with you that it is not as fun to drive at all (though i find the SMG transmission in some of them to be something of a marvel, and quite fun to drive since it duplicates the plus side of having a manual, and eliminates the down side, which would be the time it takes to shift from one gear to another and misshifting...since it does it both for you electronically, and flawlessly). But all in all, the S2000 IS a more fun car to drive...(for short distances in my case because im rather tall and about 230lbs).

Now the E36 M3, thats a different story...go out and find yourself a 1998 or 1999 with the sport package seats and beefed up sways, and you have a car that i can honestly say is JUST as fun as the S2000 is to drive, but it has something the S2000 doesnt have which gives it a sort of edge in some ways...Torque. A simple $400 Dinan stage ECU tune and your pushing close to 300ftlbs of torque, with all the handling characteristics that gave the car the title of "Best Handling Car in Any Dollar Bracket" back in 1998 (check road and track, car & driver). Surely it can be outed, but it has amazing character, and it has that peaky zippy fun the S2000 has, but it adds the element of high torque #'s to the formula, which basically turns it into a beast in a straight line, AND on the twisties.

 

3.2L, 240hp is not very peaky. Again its all preference. I got tired of driving torqueless wonders like the F20C, the AP2's gearing made it less of a drag.

 

I am a closet E36 M3 fan. It is fun to drive, but still not a raw as the S2000. So the S2000 still takes the cake with the 9K redline. M3 is torquier. Feels a lot like the Nissan 350Z/G35 Coupe engine.

For me to want to spend money on a cool car, I need it to have some floss. E36 looks way too dated for my taste. I'm not a wannabe racer. Don't care to track. Don't care to auto-x.

911 or nothing for me at this point in my life.

 

Carrera GT or bust!