The s2k is definitely the second best car honda has ever made. People always bring up how slow it is in a straight line, but Honda has never cared about straight line performance. It's all about those lap times and real driver skill
This car is limited to the smallest percentage of drivers. Experiencing the "limited domain" that is the S2000 is, one could say. The privilege of a handful of drivers blessed with great skill. -Takahashi, Ryosuke.
The 9/10 10/10 driving limit is really for the highest skilled drivers Becuase the suspension, pw ratios and all the other stuff is formula after F1 spec. As much as possible. Wonder how F1 Champs like it
I love my AP1, all stock except cat-back exhaust. Less than 90K miles. Berlina black, all red interior. She sits in my garage, but when I get her out, I drive it as Honda intended. I love my S2K. Such a raw experience, pure dichotomy comparing it to a contemporary electronic equipped sport cars, numb all the feedback of the road and you simply occupy a predestined seat. In the cockpit of the AP1, the driver feels the soul of the machine and the nuances of the road. Gives me cold chills thinking about it. A communicative mechanical steed. That looks great too!
Same. I love my AP1 too, also all stock except catback. New Formula Red black interior and an OEM hardtop. I daily drive it. But I kind of wish I had a beater car so I don’t rack up miles because I’m at 88k
The AP1 S2000 has a very stiff rear anti roll bar compared to the front, and the rear spring rate is far higher than the front. They reduced this ratio over time, and the AP2 was known to be a little "softer", although it was still highly sprung. The short wheelbase combined with the sharp unloading of the rear suspension is one of the main reasons they're snappy off the throttle. Also, they suffer from rear bump steer quite a bit, due to the position of the rear toe arm pickup point on the hubs, which is fun. Not to mention tyre sizes, AP1s came with 205 front and 225 rears, whereas the AP2 had far wider tyres, 215 front and 245 rear, on 17 inch rims opposed to the 15 or 16 inch rims available on the AP1 I'm going to be buying one in 4 months from now, I've been looking forward to it for years now and I'm *this* close to finally getting my claws on one :) Nice video!
@@DanielRamirez-ju4tk yeah, they look much better with the 17s too! Here, both the AP1 and AP2 came with the F20c, so I don't have a preference between the two. But ideally I'd get an AP2, that way it already has the 17"rims :)
I have an AP1 with at one time had the most miles in the U.S. It had over 366,000 miles!!! I got it in November of 1999. I gave it to my son & it still is in my family!! It sits more now ... however it runs better than ever & still pretty much stock!!! Hard to believe but true!!
I flipped a '00 S2000 in 2010, same scenario David described. I got overzealous in a mountain curve and lifted, rear end came around and refused to return to its rightful place. We rolled 3 times into a field at ~60 mph, with the top down, and both of us crawled out and walked away. Well built car, even upside down!
I had two spin outs over 6 years. One being my fault just lifting off the gas not understanding snap oversteer at 19 years old. Second time i actually hit a pothole on the interstate and let off after the scrape the car did a full 360 going in a straight line. Luckily both times car was fine also.
@@mazda_miata_ As an S2k Ap1 owner myself, I don't see the hype behind the s2k. It irritates me every time I watch an s2k jiggling the wheel to barely keep up with a turbo miata or FRS. It all comes down to the fact that s2k owners bought into the hype or don't want to be referred to as a hair dresser. Don't get me wrong, my car is appreciating while many cars out there are depreciating so the rarity factor, 240 hp, and vtec raw feeling I get when I drive my car keeps me pouring my money into it. But just wanted to write this comment to say that if you want a car to be fast at the track, just save the dough and buy a miata. I got lucky, and picked mine up for 6k btw.
@@idontdrift0fficer43 if you don't know why people like and craze over s2000s and you have one...get rid of it. Let someone else actually appreciate it for the masterpiece it is
AP2: Shorter gearing 1-4, more torque (12lbs), heavier flywheel, heavier car, less revs, no dynamic toe in the rear suspension, and some comfort + safety items added. A clutch delay valve 04+ and traction+stability control 06+. AP1: Longer gears, more revs, lighter, less safety/usability, and tail happy when you lift throttle. This AP1 in the video has a AP2 cupholder as well which is a easy upgrade to have 2 cupholders instead of 1 and an aftermarket cupholder as well to the side.
I’ve owned two AP1s and two AP2s and will be purchasing my 5th S2000 soon. You are correct about inexperienced drivers letting off the throttle in a corner. An engine torque damper, coilovers and a squared wheel setup pretty much eliminated snap over-steer on the AP1 though.
What's the debate about the squared or staggered wheel setup? I wanna run the squared setup on my s2k. I was told not to since it's staggered from the factory, but no reason was given.
245/35(40)/18 squared is the ideal If the car is lowered, put piece of metal to raise the steering rack 3 cm a bit more if the muffler scratch sometimes You can keep the stock diff if you put circle rounded platines beetween the driveshafts and the diff and balance your driveshaft If you find your s2k too nimble after that just switch to AP1.5 or AP2 🤷🏽♂️
@@alexnguyen9741 I run 255 SQ on my S2K. Best choice I ever made. The car doesn't feel as nimble anymore but the snap oversteer is gone and the amount of pure grip outweighs any type of steering input.
We never got the AP2 in the UK, for which we'll be forever grateful. My 2005 AP1 can't ever be sold because you can't buy cars like this any more. It's a gem from a bygone age :-(
Also a big part of the snap oversteer in the Ap1 is the rear toe arms. The wheels toe out a lot off load and helps flick it around. They fixed that issue in the ap2 with stiffer toe arms. I miss my s2k and need another one for sure.
In europe we didnt get F22C so it was still AP1 but with all other improvements and early facelift S2ks had still cable throttle. So 9k RPM with new looks, new transmission and suspension setup.
I drive my 03 AP1 weekends. With a good set of tires - I recommend carefully reading TireRack's reviews - the AP1 S2000 is a blast in the curvy stuff and has predictable over-steer. That means the rear end can get away from you, but if you practice where it's safe, and stay away from tires that break loose without any warning (read the reviews and get ones won't surprise you as much) you can learn your S2000's road manners and quickly come to enjoy it. I love letting the back end get a little loose once in a while because I can control it. It's sort of like drifting, just not as extreme. Of course, I learned to drive sports cars a long time ago when I bought an Alfa GTV, which has a light rear end that can get away from you if you're not used to it, and I've been on race tracks a bunch of times, where you can make mistakes and learn from them without as much chance of really getting into trouble.
It was the year 2000. I was hanging out with friends and someone rolled up with one of these in yellow. It was at night and I had this thought. Its a 4 banger what can it do. I the owner took me on a twister road at over 100 mph. The car stuck to the road and sounded great. I was shocked and humbled at the same time. Every car I owned up to that point was a V-8, and if it was not an eight it was nothing. I was only 20 and was learning. I wish I could have owned one of these cars. But I probably would have been the one to have the rear end come around. Now I know. Now I am ready. :) great video with a great car.
I've owned both the ap1 and ap2, you really can't go wrong with either honestly. The lack of torque is noticeable in the ap1, but the quicker steering and 9k redline make it a blast to drive. The only reason I kept the ap2 over the ap1 is that is consistently faster on track, and it is a bit more reliable(diff,trans,engine). Buy whichever you can find at a reasonable price, you won't be disappointed.
Used to own an AP1 myself, watching videos cause I was missing it...this is one of the best s2000 videos I’ve seen really hit the nail on the head with everything you said, I got my s2k at 17 and never had a problem with oversteer (save a few times I was asking for trouble) but what I’ve always said is the people that wrecked the AP1 are the same people that buy boats with no boating experience....the AP1 is the true drivers car, there is no way around it!
Just bought a black 00 s2k w/32k miles. It's all original. I've driven both the extra torque in ap2 is definitely noticeable. Love the car it WASNT cheap! But it's almost showroom condition minus a few small dings, dents and a little drivers seat bolster wear. Also this car has an amazing community! The local and s2ki forums are very friendly and helpful.
S2k is the ultimate drivers car, no Traction control to save you on ap1s , this cars capability far exceeds most people’s driving talent. Learning to safely push this car to its limits is a challenge to say the least. I’ve had mine for 5 years now and my skills are still catching up to the cars true capability. As hard as it is to get one in the first place, keeping it long term is even harder. Most drivers won’t even experience 9/10ths of the true capability of this car, hitch a ride with a seasoned vet - it will blow your mind
I've my AP1. It's turbo'ed, but I bought it for that reason. My logic was if the engine can rev that high then it should have no problem taking boost. It got over 100K on the odometer and still runs as great. I call mine the widow maker for the reasons talked about earlier; snap over steer, but once you get to know the car it is an absolute blast to drive. It only makes around 350 to the wheels but for a stock drive train I think that's perfect.
Videos and commentary like this make me REALLY miss my 03 S2k. It was white with tan leather. Not sure there's another car I'll ever own that will provide as much fun while also being somewhat practical (never had a problem practicality wise until the first kid came along. . .in fact while I was still autocrossing I'd carry my race wheels in the car, 1 in the trunk and 3 on the passenger side). Shifter is second to none and if you know how to drive it's not as unruly as many believe. Just an absolute pleasure of a car to drive and experience.
@@petrolhead8851 rofl ... Ugly ? Go check them out with bodykits - different for sure ( they don`t look the typical hondas tho) ... Still the interior is really nice (compared to my previously owned civics, crx`s etc. ).
I think what they changed in the AP2 (aside for the engine) is the rear suspension geometry and alignment. I think there is an old Best-Motoring video with a comparison, taking both cars to their limits and viewing the suspension changes at the rear of the chassis. I'm old... i need to dig that video up...
I’m on my third ap1 (here in Aus we never got the ap2 with 2.2l motor). There’s just something about driving a s2000 that no other car I’ve had has come close to replicating.
Had an 01 ap1 f20c. Daily driver, Just exhaust and lowered. Loved it! Replaced one motor and one rear end. Only looped it once in Chicago winter on summer rubber. Lived by pikes peak with it for a while. Great canyon car. Gonna get another one someday! 150mph all day solid as a rock. Sold it for a Hawkeye cuz kids.
Dude I've always loved S2000s awesome cars. N I've said it once and I'll say it again, you've got the best taste in edm music when you intro the cars. You've gotta make a spotify playlist or something dude lol
I've been a mechanic for a while. Once upon a time about 15 years ago, we had a regular customer who drove a 2001 AP1 and they would regularly bring in aftermarket parts for us to install. After about a year of working on the car, he brought it in complaining about a "shudder" in the drive-train when downshifting at high speeds (like into a corner or taking an off-ramp.) Poor me, I had to take this car on a well known 8 mile country road loop to diagnose and confirm the issue.. Couldn't replicate the customers complaint after the 1st loop, was told "Your not driving it hard enough" and had to do the loop again. Eventually we traced the problem down to the Clutch Disk thru TSB's (Tech Service Bulletin) and it was a good reason to upgrade the Clutch n Flywheel in the car. After 20 years of working in shops and the hundreds, no thousands of test drives Ive done. The S2000 is the greatest car I've ever driven. I've driven everything from old big block 60's Corvette Stingrays to 12cyl SL500 MCB, I've driven everything from Miata's to g37's and FRS's. The 99-03 AP1 is my dream car and will be my "mid life crisis" car when I get there. (or i'll build a Shelby Daytona Coupe replica kit car.. and put a turbo K-motor in it.)
For the record I actually track mine and I love the handling I would just say you have to be on the ball when driving it, wouldnt class it as dangerous.
The oversteer is due to the geometry of the rear suspension. When the rear of the car goes up when you release the throttle in a curve the toe goes from being toe in to toe out and that leads to oversteer.
One thing over looked on ap1 is the rpm tach. As the numbers increase, the space between numbers increase.. never have I seen that in any other vehicle
AP1s are "dangerous" because the rear geometry has a lot of toe change from positive to negative toe through the range of suspension travel. The results are similar to the SW20, which has a rear suspension that behaves the same way. Coincidentally, or not, both of these cars have the same wheel base. Go figurine! The wheelbase length is less of an issue. For reference, the MX-5 has a much shorter wheelbase and has a far more docile handling characteristics at the limit, even with a big stupid LS7 V8.
Snap oversteer is nasty. On my Ap1 I went from Ap1V1 to Ap1V2 with better tires and it was a huge improvement. Ap1’s also very sensitive to air pressure. After some experimentation with different air pressures I think I can almost get rid of snap oversteer. But I do not think I can get rid of it completely without suspension modifications.
The snap oversteer is definitely a thing in the AP1 I had mine doing a 360 degree drift at 80mph on a back road😂😂. Side note the F20c held the highest hp per liter record for 10 years at 120 hp per liter until it was broken by the Ferrari 458.
Awesome vid... But definately hit a sour spot when you mentioned S2000 was supposed to compete against Miatas... The rivals of the AP1 were the Porshe Boxter and BMW Z3, not the Miata.
i've always loved them especially the styling but they always seemed so slow if i were to ever get one it would probably be the ap2 since i'm no lewis hamilton and i'm not trying to be one with the trees
I have a ap2, and it's definitely not 'fast', but it is so rewarding when you rev match, downshift and let the vtec scream out of the corners... especially on mountain roads
The ap1 having that kick when off throttle makes sense. My cousin crashed his ap1 when taking a turn to hard and I would guess he let off throttle and it kicked out and he spun and jumped the curb
I love mine I have a 2001 soft top, still drives like a dreammm, totally agree she likes it when you let her loose, it just feels more natural for the whole car when you are just going faster
@@waynepantry7023 we talkin the new Fireblade? Because in talkin dangerous not fast. That bike is smooth, has amazing brakes, TC, ABS, etc not to mention was made for the power. The CBX is basically a frame made for the 60hp 750 but with a 1100cc i6 instead without really bothering to upgrade brakes or suspension. Literally would twist the chassis under full power. Called the Widowmaker for a reason. I would reckon a V65 Magna is more dangerous than a Fireblade as well lol.
Recently purchased mine about a month ago after lusting after one for years and years. It's a silver with the read/black interior and 140,000kms. I absolutely love the car and drive it every day. The whole "snap oversteer" is a myth. Just be smooth , stay on the throttle gently through the corner and when it does start to oversteer, just correct and keep your foot down and you'll be fine! :)
ive actually got an ap2 s2000 with the cable throttle 9000rpm engine, in my oppinion the absolut best version that was sold. it combines the best from ap1 and ap2
S2000 is the kind of car I would love to have for the weekend and give it back. It sounds so fun on paper but I used to have a 2ZZ-GE 1.8 and revving to the moon in every day traffic gets old. Especially when you get jumped by minivans.
Wrong! The s2k didn't compete with the Miata when released. It's competition was the BMW Z3 and Porsche Boxter. The s2000 was drastically faster than both. BMW and Porsche eventually had to step up their game.
The engine was a main difference but the AP1 had much thicker rear sway bars and thinner front bars, eventually the ratio from the front and back flipped by the last production year 08’. This is a large reason why the earlier ones were more oversteer prone
No, you're right about the small wheelbase and rotation. When I first got mine like 5 years ago I spun out because of the situation you just described. No injury, or damages lucky me!
I own both. Two of the best drivers cars ever made and timeless designs. You should definitely get one while they are still somewhat affordable. It took me two years to find a clean stock example. Good luck in your search.
Dead on with the gas lift and spinning out. I bought a S2000 to track and the thing scares the living daylights out of me. I think at every track event I've been to I've spun the car out two three times because of this lifting habit. Got to be smooth.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
IT'S OVER 9000
lmao
Love your videos dude
I hope I can build a car that you might want to review one day.
It was another great video thanks mate
@@TinyTurboVW he'd interview your car. But idk if he'd interview, some creepy dude
@@youngnboosted3847 that's actually pretty funny
The S2000 is the only convertible that doesn't look weird with a giant wing.
Its because we all grew up modding it in video games and it just looks right to us with a big ol wing.
@@Jakalwarrior it's because the s2 was designed as a roadster. it's not a coupe that has a roadster brother
AGREED MY WING IS HUUGE
*Corvette c5 would like to know your location*
Usually cars with a long hood like the S2000, will look good with a big wing.
12:38 the s2000 actually held the power to displacement record until the Ferrari 458 came out in 2010. Pretty impressive!
And the b16 before that Honda is always killing it
I literally mention that every time I'm talking about the s2k. I love it lol
Nissan still has the most powerful 1.6L been 20 years
@@randomactsofriding4850 actually the Nissan SR16VE was the superior 1.6 at the time of the B16A
@@That-guy0801 You mean NA only right? If turbo's count there's way more powerful 1.6's out there
I dont care how dangerous it is, I still want one lol
Get one I’ve had mine for like 6 months are they are a blast
Just make sure you don’t buy a cheap one, it’s a nightmare
I have one it's great!
I just bought one 4 months ago best purchased ever.
@@WhatZitTooYaaa brother where I’m from (Ontario Canada) there’s no such thing as a cheap s2000 lol they all $15k+
The best car Honda ever made alongside the 1st-gen NSX.
Period.
Forgot the RSX... It happens. I've burned a lot of S2000 tail with an RSX
YES
@@kboutdoors4599 straight line isn't everything.
@@kboutdoors4599 and from a dig ive still never been beat by a RSX. Rolls tho max effort one will pull me cause im only intake/catback/flashpro
The s2k is definitely the second best car honda has ever made. People always bring up how slow it is in a straight line, but Honda has never cared about straight line performance. It's all about those lap times and real driver skill
This car is limited to the smallest percentage of drivers.
Experiencing the "limited domain" that is the S2000 is, one could say. The privilege of a handful of drivers blessed with great skill.
-Takahashi, Ryosuke.
The 9/10 10/10 driving limit is really for the highest skilled drivers Becuase the suspension, pw ratios and all the other stuff is formula after F1 spec. As much as possible. Wonder how F1 Champs like it
Love mine,
I love my AP1, all stock except cat-back exhaust. Less than 90K miles. Berlina black, all red interior. She sits in my garage, but when I get her out, I drive it as Honda intended. I love my S2K. Such a raw experience, pure dichotomy comparing it to a contemporary electronic equipped sport cars, numb all the feedback of the road and you simply occupy a predestined seat. In the cockpit of the AP1, the driver feels the soul of the machine and the nuances of the road. Gives me cold chills thinking about it. A communicative mechanical steed. That looks great too!
True that!
Same. I love my AP1 too, also all stock except catback. New Formula Red black interior and an OEM hardtop. I daily drive it. But I kind of wish I had a beater car so I don’t rack up miles because I’m at 88k
The AP1 S2000 has a very stiff rear anti roll bar compared to the front, and the rear spring rate is far higher than the front. They reduced this ratio over time, and the AP2 was known to be a little "softer", although it was still highly sprung. The short wheelbase combined with the sharp unloading of the rear suspension is one of the main reasons they're snappy off the throttle. Also, they suffer from rear bump steer quite a bit, due to the position of the rear toe arm pickup point on the hubs, which is fun.
Not to mention tyre sizes, AP1s came with 205 front and 225 rears, whereas the AP2 had far wider tyres, 215 front and 245 rear, on 17 inch rims opposed to the 15 or 16 inch rims available on the AP1
I'm going to be buying one in 4 months from now, I've been looking forward to it for years now and I'm *this* close to finally getting my claws on one :)
Nice video!
Your going to love it! I have an ap1 with ap2 wheels and it makes a big difference. I’ve never had an issue driving hard in the mountains
Good luck finding one.
@@Frenchyk here in the UK there are plenty for sale, and I have enough saved, so I'm confident I'll find one :)
@@DanielRamirez-ju4tk yeah, they look much better with the 17s too!
Here, both the AP1 and AP2 came with the F20c, so I don't have a preference between the two. But ideally I'd get an AP2, that way it already has the 17"rims :)
Update: I bought a 2001 S2000 on Saturday- a little rusty, but amazing in every other way!
I have an AP1 with at one time had the most miles in the U.S. It had over 366,000 miles!!! I got it in November of 1999. I gave it to my son & it still is in my family!! It sits more now ... however it runs better than ever & still pretty much stock!!! Hard to believe but true!!
I flipped a '00 S2000 in 2010, same scenario David described. I got overzealous in a mountain curve and lifted, rear end came around and refused to return to its rightful place. We rolled 3 times into a field at ~60 mph, with the top down, and both of us crawled out and walked away. Well built car, even upside down!
That's an incredible story man. GLad everyone was safe.
Holy shit
I had two spin outs over 6 years. One being my fault just lifting off the gas not understanding snap oversteer at 19 years old. Second time i actually hit a pothole on the interstate and let off after the scrape the car did a full 360 going in a straight line. Luckily both times car was fine also.
Last time I was this early the BlueJZ was on it's first engine
S2000: Miatas for men
Source: own a miata
Toxic masculinity is a hell of a drug.
As a Miata owner myself
yeah :(
@@mazda_miata_ As an S2k Ap1 owner myself, I don't see the hype behind the s2k. It irritates me every time I watch an s2k jiggling the wheel to barely keep up with a turbo miata or FRS. It all comes down to the fact that s2k owners bought into the hype or don't want to be referred to as a hair dresser. Don't get me wrong, my car is appreciating while many cars out there are depreciating so the rarity factor, 240 hp, and vtec raw feeling I get when I drive my car keeps me pouring my money into it. But just wanted to write this comment to say that if you want a car to be fast at the track, just save the dough and buy a miata. I got lucky, and picked mine up for 6k btw.
@@Vivi2372 huh lol
@@idontdrift0fficer43 if you don't know why people like and craze over s2000s and you have one...get rid of it. Let someone else actually appreciate it for the masterpiece it is
I will never let go of my S2000. It’s family
Ok vin diesel
Family 🧑🏽🦲
Same. Rocking my 02. 400 at the wheels in such a tiny car never gets old
Same. Owned it for 12years now. 615whp it was my dream car growing up
That's crazy. I'm on my 13th year of ownership. 05 AP2 100% stock.
AP2: Shorter gearing 1-4, more torque (12lbs), heavier flywheel, heavier car, less revs, no dynamic toe in the rear suspension, and some comfort + safety items added. A clutch delay valve 04+ and traction+stability control 06+.
AP1: Longer gears, more revs, lighter, less safety/usability, and tail happy when you lift throttle.
This AP1 in the video has a AP2 cupholder as well which is a easy upgrade to have 2 cupholders instead of 1 and an aftermarket cupholder as well to the side.
Huh I didn't know they were so different
I’ve owned two AP1s and two AP2s and will be purchasing my 5th S2000 soon. You are correct about inexperienced drivers letting off the throttle in a corner. An engine torque damper, coilovers and a squared wheel setup pretty much eliminated snap over-steer on the AP1 though.
What's the debate about the squared or staggered wheel setup? I wanna run the squared setup on my s2k. I was told not to since it's staggered from the factory, but no reason was given.
Dude run squared. I’m not the familiar if the front and wheel widths are the same. But if they are bump up that front tire width.
245/35(40)/18 squared is the ideal
If the car is lowered, put piece of metal to raise the steering rack 3 cm a bit more if the muffler scratch sometimes
You can keep the stock diff if you put circle rounded platines beetween the driveshafts and the diff and balance your driveshaft
If you find your s2k too nimble after that just switch to AP1.5 or AP2 🤷🏽♂️
@@apashe974Thanks, bro! I have an AP2. I never had any intention of lowering the car. There are a lot of potholes and big ass speedbumps in Houston.
@@alexnguyen9741 I run 255 SQ on my S2K. Best choice I ever made. The car doesn't feel as nimble anymore but the snap oversteer is gone and the amount of pure grip outweighs any type of steering input.
We never got the AP2 in the UK, for which we'll be forever grateful.
My 2005 AP1 can't ever be sold because you can't buy cars like this any more. It's a gem from a bygone age :-(
I came so fast, vtec hadn't even kicked in yet
You might want to rephrase that a little bit. :)
@@quarthmeat1884 Nope, I know what I meant :~~)
Bro what
Hmm
Bro?
Putting EK9 fenders on was an absolute stroke of genius and it looks perfect 👌and the fact they come from another Honda is a bonus lol
is that the rear fender?
Also a big part of the snap oversteer in the Ap1 is the rear toe arms. The wheels toe out a lot off load and helps flick it around. They fixed that issue in the ap2 with stiffer toe arms. I miss my s2k and need another one for sure.
In europe we didnt get F22C so it was still AP1 but with all other improvements and early facelift S2ks had still cable throttle. So 9k RPM with new looks, new transmission and suspension setup.
I drive my 03 AP1 weekends. With a good set of tires - I recommend carefully reading TireRack's reviews - the AP1 S2000 is a blast in the curvy stuff and has predictable over-steer. That means the rear end can get away from you, but if you practice where it's safe, and stay away from tires that break loose without any warning (read the reviews and get ones won't surprise you as much) you can learn your S2000's road manners and quickly come to enjoy it. I love letting the back end get a little loose once in a while because I can control it. It's sort of like drifting, just not as extreme. Of course, I learned to drive sports cars a long time ago when I bought an Alfa GTV, which has a light rear end that can get away from you if you're not used to it, and I've been on race tracks a bunch of times, where you can make mistakes and learn from them without as much chance of really getting into trouble.
It was the year 2000. I was hanging out with friends and someone rolled up with one of these in yellow. It was at night and I had this thought. Its a 4 banger what can it do. I the owner took me on a twister road at over 100 mph. The car stuck to the road and sounded great. I was shocked and humbled at the same time. Every car I owned up to that point was a V-8, and if it was not an eight it was nothing. I was only 20 and was learning. I wish I could have owned one of these cars. But I probably would have been the one to have the rear end come around. Now I know. Now I am ready. :) great video with a great car.
I've owned both the ap1 and ap2, you really can't go wrong with either honestly. The lack of torque is noticeable in the ap1, but the quicker steering and 9k redline make it a blast to drive. The only reason I kept the ap2 over the ap1 is that is consistently faster on track, and it is a bit more reliable(diff,trans,engine). Buy whichever you can find at a reasonable price, you won't be disappointed.
Used to own an AP1 myself, watching videos cause I was missing it...this is one of the best s2000 videos I’ve seen really hit the nail on the head with everything you said, I got my s2k at 17 and never had a problem with oversteer (save a few times I was asking for trouble) but what I’ve always said is the people that wrecked the AP1 are the same people that buy boats with no boating experience....the AP1 is the true drivers car, there is no way around it!
Just bought a black 00 s2k w/32k miles. It's all original. I've driven both the extra torque in ap2 is definitely noticeable. Love the car it WASNT cheap! But it's almost showroom condition minus a few small dings, dents and a little drivers seat bolster wear. Also this car has an amazing community! The local and s2ki forums are very friendly and helpful.
Congrats and welcome to the s2k community.
@@Frenchyk thank you!
How much?
Never been a fan of modified Honda’s but I’ve always liked the S2000, they’re just fun
Modified s2000’s?
This guys a meme^^
Modified Honda is what set the tone for modified cars. It used to be the largest tuner eco-system for tuning and racing
Youd be a fan if you felt an integra type r at 9500rpm, going around a track
@@christiandevos9280 only the very few lucky individuals could experience that
Yessss who doesn’t love S2K
Me
Its over rated
@@aggrontube2345 Bone stock yes they are 100%
@@hyns4983 you got a Altima and saying a stock s2000 is overrated... interesting haha
@@aggrontube2345 have you driven them?
S2k is the ultimate drivers car, no Traction control to save you on ap1s , this cars capability far exceeds most people’s driving talent. Learning to safely push this car to its limits is a challenge to say the least. I’ve had mine for 5 years now and my skills are still catching up to the cars true capability. As hard as it is to get one in the first place, keeping it long term is even harder. Most drivers won’t even experience 9/10ths of the true capability of this car, hitch a ride with a seasoned vet - it will blow your mind
I got mine 3 months ago (ap1 105k miles running very well) and I definitely have to hop in with a vet to truly feel the full capability of our cars
I've my AP1. It's turbo'ed, but I bought it for that reason. My logic was if the engine can rev that high then it should have no problem taking boost. It got over 100K on the odometer and still runs as great. I call mine the widow maker for the reasons talked about earlier; snap over steer, but once you get to know the car it is an absolute blast to drive. It only makes around 350 to the wheels but for a stock drive train I think that's perfect.
I want to see a Lotus elise review next. s2000 are legends
Oh man, this is one of the coolest cars you've done in a long time! Please do more canyon carvers/track setups like this!
It’s the perfect drivers car. Only dangerous if you can’t drive...
Hey I’m in the central Virginia area and have a sequential supercharged s2k if you wanna review it.
U have to e mail him
pls email him would love to see that
Tell us he's doing this.
@Jeff Adams yes
Videos and commentary like this make me REALLY miss my 03 S2k. It was white with tan leather. Not sure there's another car I'll ever own that will provide as much fun while also being somewhat practical (never had a problem practicality wise until the first kid came along. . .in fact while I was still autocrossing I'd carry my race wheels in the car, 1 in the trunk and 3 on the passenger side). Shifter is second to none and if you know how to drive it's not as unruly as many believe. Just an absolute pleasure of a car to drive and experience.
Perfect timing! I just picked up one of these 😍
Welcome to the club!
I got a prelude sh, Wish they were rwd 😩🙌🏽
I wish my Accord cg2 v6 Coupe was rwd... Kinda the R34 Frontend and the NSX backend :)
@@aleksandarpishev8934 those are the ugliest accords ever made
@@petrolhead8851 😂😂😂😂
Convert it with a lot of fab work use the s2k chassis and drive train for it lol, jk I don’t know shit I’m talking out my ass rn 😂
@@petrolhead8851 rofl ... Ugly ? Go check them out with bodykits - different for sure ( they don`t look the typical hondas tho) ... Still the interior is really nice (compared to my previously owned civics, crx`s etc. ).
I think what they changed in the AP2 (aside for the engine) is the rear suspension geometry and alignment. I think there is an old Best-Motoring video with a comparison, taking both cars to their limits and viewing the suspension changes at the rear of the chassis. I'm old... i need to dig that video up...
it sounds so beautiful, giving me goosebumps
I’m on my third ap1 (here in Aus we never got the ap2 with 2.2l motor). There’s just something about driving a s2000 that no other car I’ve had has come close to replicating.
AP2 guys: My AP2 has more tq.
AP1 guys: so does a tractor trailer.
AP2: our version is faster.
@@1HeatWalkin a straight line. Because that’s what the S2000 is made for, right?
Had an 01 ap1 f20c. Daily driver, Just exhaust and lowered. Loved it! Replaced one motor and one rear end. Only looped it once in Chicago winter on summer rubber. Lived by pikes peak with it for a while. Great canyon car. Gonna get another one someday! 150mph all day solid as a rock. Sold it for a Hawkeye cuz kids.
Lets all appreciate this whole build😁
This video did the s2000 so much justice. Love this man!
Correction: second most dangerous, after yellow crx's, because those literally gave you radiation sickness
Id rather have radiation sickness than be dead
@@smokeybear390 I meannn, one certainly leads to the other
@@johnxina2140 you'd have to lick the paint off a y49 to get radiation poisioning, and no it certainly doesn't, in serious cases, not all
LOL
I have an AP1 2003 Silverstone Grey which I bought at 33.... I'm now 47 and I still love it. I've always had it as a daily driver.
This man just said they yeet themselves off of mountains 🤣 I’m done
Dude I've always loved S2000s awesome cars. N I've said it once and I'll say it again, you've got the best taste in edm music when you intro the cars. You've gotta make a spotify playlist or something dude lol
Totally agree!
MR2's were still more tricky to drive with snap oversteer.. I've owned all three gen mr2's.. now i want an s2000 honestly don't care which ap1 or 2.
Seen that car 2 or 3 times here in Richmond..Very good quality car...Nice Driving too David and explaining a short wheel base caution point..🏁👍
Honda has made such a good work with the looks of the car that any modification related to asthetics make it look worse than the stock one ..
I've been a mechanic for a while. Once upon a time about 15 years ago, we had a regular customer who drove a 2001 AP1 and they would regularly bring in aftermarket parts for us to install. After about a year of working on the car, he brought it in complaining about a "shudder" in the drive-train when downshifting at high speeds (like into a corner or taking an off-ramp.) Poor me, I had to take this car on a well known 8 mile country road loop to diagnose and confirm the issue.. Couldn't replicate the customers complaint after the 1st loop, was told "Your not driving it hard enough" and had to do the loop again. Eventually we traced the problem down to the Clutch Disk thru TSB's (Tech Service Bulletin) and it was a good reason to upgrade the Clutch n Flywheel in the car.
After 20 years of working in shops and the hundreds, no thousands of test drives Ive done. The S2000 is the greatest car I've ever driven. I've driven everything from old big block 60's Corvette Stingrays to 12cyl SL500 MCB, I've driven everything from Miata's to g37's and FRS's. The 99-03 AP1 is my dream car and will be my "mid life crisis" car when I get there. (or i'll build a Shelby Daytona Coupe replica kit car.. and put a turbo K-motor in it.)
pfft its not that dangerous, just be a good driver... I've only came close to having a head on collision with someone else once :/
No the s2000 can be dangerous only if she has a bad chassis geometry and other adjustments which is often the case
@@apashe974 well said if you set it up well it actually handles beautifully.
@@apashe974 Bad tires, poor alignment can make this car unforgiving
For the record I actually track mine and I love the handling I would just say you have to be on the ball when driving it, wouldnt class it as dangerous.
@@Frenchyk thx for da info i like it even more now
The oversteer is due to the geometry of the rear suspension. When the rear of the car goes up when you release the throttle in a curve the toe goes from being toe in to toe out and that leads to oversteer.
“If you let off throttle, the whole rear end unload”
So basically, drive it like a Porsche 911… slow in fast out.
I used to not like Hondas until I got my current daily, just a civic sedan with the 5mt. I’m kinda hooked now
Hey I own a 5th gen Prelude and I feel like they dont get enough of attention. If you ever find a clean one you should do a review on it
One thing over looked on ap1 is the rpm tach. As the numbers increase, the space between numbers increase.. never have I seen that in any other vehicle
AP1s are "dangerous" because the rear geometry has a lot of toe change from positive to negative toe through the range of suspension travel. The results are similar to the SW20, which has a rear suspension that behaves the same way. Coincidentally, or not, both of these cars have the same wheel base. Go figurine! The wheelbase length is less of an issue. For reference, the MX-5 has a much shorter wheelbase and has a far more docile handling characteristics at the limit, even with a big stupid LS7 V8.
Snap oversteer is nasty.
On my Ap1 I went from Ap1V1 to Ap1V2 with better tires and it was a huge improvement.
Ap1’s also very sensitive to air pressure. After some experimentation with different air pressures I think I can almost get rid of snap oversteer. But I do not think I can get rid of it completely without suspension modifications.
Man I think this S2000 looks incredible. I would love to get my hands on one
Got a 02 formula red 75k was driven in VT winter first two years. Told the 1st owner don't need the snow tires! Love it
The snap oversteer is definitely a thing in the AP1 I had mine doing a 360 degree drift at 80mph on a back road😂😂. Side note the F20c held the highest hp per liter record for 10 years at 120 hp per liter until it was broken by the Ferrari 458.
Love my S2000! Had an AP1 currently AP2 owner going on 11 yrs of ownership!
Don't ever sell this one! I'm on my third...1 AP2 and 2 AP1s. Sure, there are faster cars out there, but man, there's nothing like an S2K!
Always loved the S2K. Definitely my Favorite Honda car! It's aged sooo well... 😁👍
Awesome vid... But definately hit a sour spot when you mentioned S2000 was supposed to compete against Miatas... The rivals of the AP1 were the Porshe Boxter and BMW Z3, not the Miata.
I've always wanted an s2k
My boy's s2k made it. I'm happy for you
Let’s go ant!!!!
I love the Honda S2000! Definitely my dream import car
It's an amazing machine! Please more Honda videos, never get sick of em
S2000 gang. Join us already David.
From owning one yeah, it’s the short wheel base letting off in corners will bring it around fast, it’s also stiffer than the ap2
Had my 06 for 12 years. Keep saying I'm getting rid of it as I'm too old at 52 years old. I drive it..."Nah, I will keep it another year."
i've always loved them especially the styling but they always seemed so slow if i were to ever get one it would probably be the ap2 since i'm no lewis hamilton and i'm not trying to be one with the trees
I have a ap2, and it's definitely not 'fast', but it is so rewarding when you rev match, downshift and let the vtec scream out of the corners... especially on mountain roads
The ap1 having that kick when off throttle makes sense. My cousin crashed his ap1 when taking a turn to hard and I would guess he let off throttle and it kicked out and he spun and jumped the curb
What’s his exhaust set up? Sounds amazing
Awesome review! I really want an S2000 and definitely going to be my next build! Just debating between the ap1 and ap2
Ill take my 93 Honda Accord EX over and 2020 Accord any day. I think 90's Hondas were the best.
Those are the most hooptie cars ever made
I love mine I have a 2001 soft top, still drives like a dreammm, totally agree she likes it when you let her loose, it just feels more natural for the whole car when you are just going faster
Man I wish these weren't consistently over 20k...
Felt , there just that good I’m guessing
Never liked modified honda’s, not a honda guy at all. But did buy a s2k 2 month’s ago, absolutely love it
People that say this is the most dangerous Honda ever made have just never looked into the motorcycle side of Honda *coughs in CBX*
For real. Or the old 2 stroke CR500 lol.
@@waynepantry7023 we talkin the new Fireblade? Because in talkin dangerous not fast. That bike is smooth, has amazing brakes, TC, ABS, etc not to mention was made for the power. The CBX is basically a frame made for the 60hp 750 but with a 1100cc i6 instead without really bothering to upgrade brakes or suspension. Literally would twist the chassis under full power. Called the Widowmaker for a reason. I would reckon a V65 Magna is more dangerous than a Fireblade as well lol.
You want dangerous, how about a Honda ATC 250R.
of course its a whole ass bike. risking your life everyday your on it
Recently purchased mine about a month ago after lusting after one for years and years. It's a silver with the read/black interior and 140,000kms. I absolutely love the car and drive it every day. The whole "snap oversteer" is a myth. Just be smooth , stay on the throttle gently through the corner and when it does start to oversteer, just correct and keep your foot down and you'll be fine! :)
ive actually got an ap2 s2000 with the cable throttle 9000rpm engine, in my oppinion the absolut best version that was sold. it combines the best from ap1 and ap2
I'm jealous. I wish we got that option in the US. You must be in EU.
S2000 is the kind of car I would love to have for the weekend and give it back. It sounds so fun on paper but I used to have a 2ZZ-GE 1.8 and revving to the moon in every day traffic gets old. Especially when you get jumped by minivans.
Wrong! The s2k didn't compete with the Miata when released. It's competition was the BMW Z3 and Porsche Boxter. The s2000 was drastically faster than both. BMW and Porsche eventually had to step up their game.
Definitely my achievable dream car. My 2zz MRS will do for now though
I offered my turbo ap1 but you didn’t respond to my email smh
Would be awesome to see him compare the 2
Personally We prefer reviews of the less modified cars.
@@AlCasa52 huhhhh? A v8 swap is definitely modified as well as the turbo ap2 and the supercharged ap2 that’s cap homie unsub. Wack af
@@AlCasa52 you can find those from magazine journalists who dont have a clue how to drive..
@@Josie238 what did you say? Lol
The engine was a main difference but the AP1 had much thicker rear sway bars and thinner front bars, eventually the ratio from the front and back flipped by the last production year 08’. This is a large reason why the earlier ones were more oversteer prone
"the most dangerous honda"
Mugen nsx: am I a joke to you
LMAO FRRRR
No, you're right about the small wheelbase and rotation. When I first got mine like 5 years ago I spun out because of the situation you just described. No injury, or damages lucky me!
S2k is legendary
3rd on my list of jdm royalty
Toyota supra 1
Nissan skyline gtr 2
Honda s2000 3
Sorry......just my personal opinion
Car that you’ll never get 🤣
The AP1 S2000 is one of my dream cars. A long ways off though being fresh out of college and broke lol
Damn gorgeous car. Maybe I’ll get one to sit alongside my Z32 TT someday. Love the high-revving AP1.
That would be a nice collection! Those z32 TT are part of the legendary 90’s cars
I own both. Two of the best drivers cars ever made and timeless designs. You should definitely get one while they are still somewhat affordable. It took me two years to find a clean stock example. Good luck in your search.
Dead on with the gas lift and spinning out. I bought a S2000 to track and the thing scares the living daylights out of me. I think at every track event I've been to I've spun the car out two three times because of this lifting habit. Got to be smooth.
Fun fact : no one has seen the end of the video yet.
People that skipped 6 minutes of it might have. "No one" is a bold claim.
Yes, I am precisely *zero* fun at parties.
@@danielnelson4881 ok
I’m about to... 1:22 to go
2nd fun fact : everyone went back up to see the end after reading this !
Pops used to have one, scared the shit out of me when I was a little kid.
Johnny tran owned an ap1 SO AP1 FTW!!!😏
Mine has 218k and looks brand new in the outside, inside and engine bay. Quality car!
It is sad I love Hondas but recently honda has let me down...
Is that a voltex sticker on a J's racing wing?