s2k vs. NSX

Let my dad drive my NSX the week I bought it, said "it was like a S2000 on steroids", he currently does not like his s2k anymore lol :rolleyes:
 
TURN OFF your TC, S2000's have no TC (early ones) and don't be so scared, believe me, I know what you are saying.

Or get a proper suspension on you NSX, after that is no way the S2000 can be better :)

:scratching head: Turn off the Traction Control on my NSX? Bilsteins on it aren't "proper suspension"? BTW, I recently put Bilsteins on my '05 S2000 also, the coil over PSS9 ones, with adjustable settings, however the ones I put on my NSX aren't adjustable.
 
:scratching head: Turn off the Traction Control on my NSX? Bilsteins on it aren't "proper suspension"? BTW, I recently put Bilsteins on my '05 S2000 also, the coil over PSS9 ones, with adjustable settings, however the ones I put on my NSX aren't adjustable.

I thought for some reason you had both stock suspensions on your nsx/S2k

IMHO she stock suspension on the S2k is more aggressive and firm vs the stock nsx suspension -which is more GT like, softer and travels a lot comparing to the S2k oem setup- ...

So I assumed that you thought the S2k was better for cornering b/c of that.

After I installed a set of TEIN-RA's on my NSX the difference was night vs day, took the NSX handling to a new level, much higher than on my S2k (better cornering), about the TC off on the NSX, please, forget about it.

Perhaps you feel more confident with the S2000, which is a great car anyways :) , more power to the S2k!

Oscar
 
Toy car? With the exception of heated seats it has everything most other cars have. I've been driving S2K's as my DD since 02. Now that they have VSA they're even good in snow with snow tires.

What is VSA? what does it stand for?
 
Perhaps you feel more confident with the S2000, which is a great car anyways :) , more power to the S2k!

Oscar

The S2K is a couple hundred pounds lighter and so more agile. She also got comfortable on the old looser quick snap S2K ( AP1 ) so she was apparently pushing hard.

What I've always said is these aren't good cars to compare because they are apples and oranges design wise. I still prefer my S2K to my NSX because it's more agile and lighter. I have the CR version now and man it takes a lot to choose the NSX over that when I head out to the track.

My NSX is on Todas which is stiffer than even the NSX-R suspension and even with weight savings is still two hundred pounds heavier than my CR. Of course on the flipside is that the NSX engine is sooooo syrupy smooth. The sound of it the engine is ..lusty to say the least. S2K engine sound is "eh".

Next while adding an exhaust to the NSX is a wonderful experience exhaust on the S2K it is either A. annoying as hell loud and rattling or B. Civic quiet. No in between:frown:

What is VSA? what does it stand for?

Vehicle
Stability
Assist

Great system that can be completely switched off. It lets you go sideways but engages ( cuts power ) before you spin. Great system for winter driving. Noobs can use it at the track to get a feel for the car then of course ..shut it off:biggrin:
 
Hey Kyras,

I really appreciate your perspective on these cars - nice to see you post and it sounds to me like you are a real DRIVER! Someone that really understands driving! Nice to hear your experiences with these cars! Keep on posting! Glad that you are enjoying your car. So tell me about your bilsteens I am eager to hear what you find different about them with the stock dampers. I'm thinking of doing something different. I have late model springs and shock from an 05 and they are surely more stiff than my original shocks but the ride height is up about a 1/2 inch - and I don't like that feel. It seems a bit diconnected - I bet you know what I mean. My coupe is lighter than your car and it really pushed mine up in the air - it feels a bit funny to me. I am thinking of either bilsteens on the lower perch to lower my car or Swift springs. I just am looking for a more "seated" feel. I'm not sure how to describe it - I'm hoping you can fill in some blanks for me.

Sorry for the high jack but then we've all read plenty of S2000 vs NSX threads - anyway looking forward to hearing back.

Thanks ,
Tim

try the zanardi set up if u want oem but more sportier
 
Next while adding an exhaust to the NSX is a wonderful experience exhaust on the S2K it is either A. annoying as hell loud and rattling or B. Civic quiet. No in between:frown:

I agree. The a/m exhausts on the 2sk tend to drone and baby I mean DRONE.
I'm surprised no one makes a nice exhaust that captures that early British sports car sound, a nice "burble". With the 4 cyl motor they should be able to pull it off but what they get is a really deep WHOOOAAAA. Very ricey.

A nice sound like the Abarth exhaust made back in the day is what I'd like.
 
When I bought my 91, I thought the suspension was too soft as well. But it was the 19 year old worn out shocks! I too just installed the Bilsteins and they feel pretty nice. Now, if I want my fillings to fall out, I'll put in some H&R lowering springs :biggrin:

H&R's won't make your fillings fall out the initial spring rate is not much higher than stock. They will give you a slight adrenaline rush just by looking at bumps in the road though:wink:

If you want your fillings to fall out look at the comptech pro springs. :eek:
 
Agree with you Pbassjo - haven't heard an a/f exhaust for the S2000 that I'd want to buy. Strange :confused: Would think that would be a decent market for someone. Had the Abarth exhausts in the past for a Fiat X 1/9 and TR6, and they sounded great. Recently purchased the Angus exhaust for my NSX and it is the sound I was looking for. So gonna stick with the oem exhaust for the S2000. For now. Jay
 
In my opinion, the S2000 has a perfect stock exhaust. My '01 and '05 sounded/sound fine. It was my '05 NSX that sounded surprisingly weak. I put the Taitec GT lightweight exhaust on it and I'm very happy with it now.
 
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I guess i'm the minority here but I enjoy driving my NA1 so much more than my former AP1. I hear the AP2 is a noticeable improvement over the AP1 but I have nothing to compare personally. I don't regret selling my AP1. Though seeing Kyras & SocalX's AP2s this past weekend made me want an S2k again.

On my NSX I have the Bilsteins on stock springs. No fancy coilovers yet. On AP1 I had the Konis on stock springs. Both setups are comparable to each other I think. I've tracked both cars and I still prefer the NSX so much more.

If the difference between the AP1 vs. AP2 is as significant as i'm hearing it to be perhaps this discussion should be between the NA1 vs. AP1 vs. NA2 vs. AP2.
 
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I agree. The a/m exhausts on the 2sk tend to drone and baby I mean DRONE.
I'm surprised no one makes a nice exhaust that captures that early British sports car sound, a nice "burble". With the 4 cyl motor they should be able to pull it off but what they get is a really deep WHOOOAAAA. Very ricey.

A nice sound like the Abarth exhaust made back in the day is what I'd like.

I really think there is such an exhaust,at least when i had my s2000 it was the mugen Ti.
 
Handling and cornering wise the S2000 CR is a better comparison to the NSX, especially the NA2. The CR was only made for two years 2008-2009, and consists of 699 total examples. The CR, with it's stiffer factory tuned suspension, larger sway bars handles far better than a stock base S2000. The NSX is smoother, more comfortable which makes it a great highway cruiser or refined track car. The CR, especially the lighter delete model (no a/c or radio) is a raw, great handling track car which can hold it's own with cars that are far more expensive. Shigeru Uehara, the lead designer of the NSX and the CR meant the CR to be his fair well offering. it's obvious he loved both cars, they are special to their owners and in Honda history.
I like both cars for their unique differences. One is a sword, while the other is a stiletto.
 
some folks have said the ap2 became too soft over the years and the cr was tuned to handle like the ap1 of yor.....since you have owned them is this true? Or does the cr out corner the ap1 as well.
 
Having driven both, and being a biased owner of a stock AP2, I would say they handle better (more predictably) than the AP1. That being said from somebody (me) who is certainly not capable of taking the car to the limit. The improved handling could be, in part, from the better tire set up on the AP2.

I have yet to drive a CR, but when somebody says they handle far better than the base S2K, that is saying a lot. A base S2K is simply phenomenal in it is own right in terms of handling.

So far the main reason I have not moved to an NSX is that I just cannot bring myself to part with my S2000 yet.

H1.jpg
 
I wouldn't go as far to say a CR handles "far better" than a standard AP2. Slightly stiffer springs, sway bars, and RE070 tires make a difference, but it wasn't a world of a difference from my "base" AP2. Most of the advantage probably comes from the RE070 tires and weight savings (removed soft top, spare tire.)

That being said, I've owned a modified AP1, a stock AP2, and the handling of the S2000 is arguably more fun than the NSX. The car is easier to drive at the limit and has the best shifting feel of any car I've driven.
 
I guess there are two ways to look at handling - the performance numbers (i.e, how fast does it complete a windy course), and then, my favorite - the "unquantifiable" aspects of handling, like feel, response, communication with the road and chassis, etc.

I can't speak for the hard #s side, but for the feel and connection, I have to echo the things said here previously. I had the pleasure of owning an AP2 MY06 S2000 (which I regret selling and still miss). I don't know how much of it has to do with the steering rack (power assisted vs. manual), but it felt infinitely more "tossable" than my 91 NSX does. Whereas the NSX feels solid, heavy, planted and sure footed, the S2000 felt light, flickable, and eager to respond to the smallest, low-effort inputs provided. Maybe like a hummingbird, vs. a falcon.

Both are fantastic cars, but they are decidedly very different in terms of feel and experience.
 
I wouldn't go as far to say a CR handles "far better" than a standard AP2. Slightly stiffer springs, sway bars, and RE070 tires make a difference, but it wasn't a world of a difference from my "base" AP2. Most of the advantage probably comes from the RE070 tires and weight savings (removed soft top, spare tire.)

That being said, I've owned a modified AP1, a stock AP2, and the handling of the S2000 is arguably more fun than the NSX. The car is easier to drive at the limit and has the best shifting feel of any car I've driven.

Directly from Hondas CR press release.

PERFORMANCE FEATURES:

* Skidpad pulls .95G
* Slalom speed 71mph
* Coefficient of lift reduced approximately 70% over original S2000
* Over 2-seconds per lap faster around Japan’s Tsukuba Raceway than the original S2000


CRs spring specs are:

Front 391 in/lbs or 7.0 kg/mm (Base S2000 4.75 kg/mm)
Rear 346 in/lbs or 6.2 kg/mm (Base S2000 4.88 kg/mm)

In addition, shock damping rates are increased from Base: Front Increased 65%, Rear increased 40%.
________________________________________

Besides owning the CR's I also have a base '07 S2000. The '07 is a wonderful handling car, and even with RE-11 tires (225/255) it cannot corner or handle as well as the CR. That's not to fault the '07 at all, the CR is a modified street legal race car as Honda intended it to be. Is the CR more fun than a NSX, yes and no. They truly are different drivers cars in intent, disposition and execution. Truthfully I've only had my NSX for a very short time so I cannot speak fully on the NSX's attributes vs. the CR. I will try to post a better comparison in the near future.
 
All this talk about S2K's makes me pretty much certain I am going to have to buy "the wife" one come spring in conjunction with my NSX. Guess the racecar is getting stored inside the trailer instead of the garage!
 
I'm fortunate to own both an '02 NSX and an '04 S2K. The S2K is my every day good weather car and the NSX is the weekend good weather car. I drive a CRV when the weather gets sloppy. If I couldn't own an NSX I'd definitely have an S2K. I love the way it sounds, how smooth it shifts (best shifter there is IMO) and how you can throw the rear end around with great control. The car is so well balanced and the steering is tight with great feeling. Just a fun drive. Especially with the top down. On the down side, it is a bit cramped inside, could use more low end torque and like most convertibles it's noisy. But even that doesn't make me want to sell it. IMO it's the best roadster for the buck.
 
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That's a nice looking S2K. I had one on deposit once but bought a Boxster S. Different car but very fun to drive a also. The low end power is definitely a drawback on the S2K. I drove a supercharged one which was a little better. My biggest issue with the S2K (and Boxster) is that they are really not nice cars to drive (IMO) with the top up. You can't see anything and it's noisy. That is my biggest gripe. In the nice weather, I love them both. I have an NSX-T and have been pleasantly surprised how much I like that targa top (vs my previous 92).

All that said, I always say to each their own and frankly for 1/2 the price tag (or lower) it's a great great car...
 
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That's a nice looking S2K. I had one on deposit once but bought a Boxster S. Different car but very fun to drive a also. The low end power is definitely a drawback on the S2K. I drove a supercharged one which was a little better. My biggest issue with the S2K (and Boxster) is that they are really not nice cars to drive (IMO) with the top up. You can't see anything and it's noisy. That is my biggest gripe. In the nice weather, I love them both. I have an NSX-T and have been pleasantly surprised how much I like that targa top (vs my previous 92).

All that said, I always say to each their own and frankly for 1/2 the price tag (or lower) it's a great great car...

Thanks. Yeah I forgot to mention the poor visibility of convertibles. I've driven 18 wheelers with a 45ft trailer that have better visibility. Living in SoTx I love to drive with the top off of both the NSX and the S2K. Though I'm considering a hard top for the S2K so it's a little quieter on those 100+ degree days when AC is important. I do miss the stiffness of my old 91 NSX and have had to spend $$$$ to make the 02 almost as stiff as the 91. But it's well worth it.
 
Just realized the last time I posted here was in 2009 ~ gosh time flies!

Well not much has changed, my garage stable has increased in size and some cars have come and go but we now have three s2000's and same NSX. Love both cars and neither has broken down on me.

Lost count how many s2k's we've owned over the years but each one was memorable and had a neat story behind the car. This car has created more memories than any other car I've owned and we seriously debated if it was the s2000 or NSX that served to be our wedding car years ago :)

here's a few fun photos from my memorable ownership thus far:



GPW family:


Still my favorite Rio:


Back when I first got my NSX:


My first s2000 that started it all and old bike:
 
I wouldn't go as far to say a CR handles "far better" than a standard AP2. Slightly stiffer springs, sway bars, and RE070 tires make a difference, but it wasn't a world of a difference from my "base" AP2. Most of the advantage probably comes from the RE070 tires and weight savings (removed soft top, spare tire.).
The CR is quite a bit faster and the rear wing plays a big role in that performance gain over a standard ap2
 
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