Discussion
john57 said:
One thing I have noticed though is that once in Vtec the S2K will stay there through gear changes whereas the CTR seems to drop out for a second or two on each gearchange.
I've noticed this in mine too. You really have to take it to the rev limter and change up smartly to avoid dropping out of VTEC. Only just managable
Other than that, wonderful car, get one now
S2000's engine is a slightly older design, hence the more on/off nature...but surely the sound at 9000rpm compensates?!? (OK, no speed-6, I know, I know).
Both very good, very well screwed-together cars, with peaches of engines. But very different in concept.
As for pace...the S2k is deceptive...it'll stick close to a Boxster-S if driven well, for 60% of the price! But it'll take learning, and a bit of respect in the wet (he says talking to a guy coming from a Tuscan!!
- I'll get me' coat!)
Both very good, very well screwed-together cars, with peaches of engines. But very different in concept.
As for pace...the S2k is deceptive...it'll stick close to a Boxster-S if driven well, for 60% of the price! But it'll take learning, and a bit of respect in the wet (he says talking to a guy coming from a Tuscan!!
- I'll get me' coat!)
All great stuff, and all of what you have written accurately captures my thoughts about both cars...
I am a great fan of RWD but also a "sucker" for a good hot hatch...I hardly noticed the lag on the CTR. The reason? I never changed gear before hitting the rev limiter...I even downshifted to 4th a couple of times and hit the rev limiter immediately...you know you are driving a car that can manage its "horses" when you are going faster than you actually think -OK the light steering and short gear ratio may have had something to do with it-. I just couldn't stop driving the car to its limits!
I also observed that the CTR goes up to 8K rpm and the S2000 up to 9K...I realise that even though the CTR feels "perkier" (that is the exact word I would use, thanks) the S2000 has a wider V-tec band...
I must admit that I was not intimidated by either...and I did not want to either...I had enough adventure to last a life time in the Tuscan...having said that, I did question how you could maintain the oversteer in the S2000, without missing the "zone"...or pull out of an uphill tight bend in the CTR...
This is turning into an interesting little "comparison" forum, and I don't think it is as unlikely as some might feel...I know one is a RWD roadster and the other a FWD hot-hatch but they are very evenly matched in terms of performance and thrills I feel...
Maybe I will get a CTR for 6 months and then part exchange with an S2000...or vice versa!
I am a great fan of RWD but also a "sucker" for a good hot hatch...I hardly noticed the lag on the CTR. The reason? I never changed gear before hitting the rev limiter...I even downshifted to 4th a couple of times and hit the rev limiter immediately...you know you are driving a car that can manage its "horses" when you are going faster than you actually think -OK the light steering and short gear ratio may have had something to do with it-. I just couldn't stop driving the car to its limits!
I also observed that the CTR goes up to 8K rpm and the S2000 up to 9K...I realise that even though the CTR feels "perkier" (that is the exact word I would use, thanks) the S2000 has a wider V-tec band...
I must admit that I was not intimidated by either...and I did not want to either...I had enough adventure to last a life time in the Tuscan...having said that, I did question how you could maintain the oversteer in the S2000, without missing the "zone"...or pull out of an uphill tight bend in the CTR...
This is turning into an interesting little "comparison" forum, and I don't think it is as unlikely as some might feel...I know one is a RWD roadster and the other a FWD hot-hatch but they are very evenly matched in terms of performance and thrills I feel...
Maybe I will get a CTR for 6 months and then part exchange with an S2000...or vice versa!
the reason you think the CTR feels as quick as the S2000 is because it has more torque. You get more of a shove in the back with the CTR and coming from a TVR that is what you will have been used to.
I went from a MR2 turbo to a S2000. The first time i drove it i was disappointed that it didn't feel as quick as my MR2. I bought one anyway because i loved everything else about the car, particularly the handling. Within about 2 weeks of ownership i realised how far off the mark i had been. The S2000 IS a very quick car, but because of its relatively low torque it is deceptive how quickly it gathers speed. I still find myself putting my foot down in vtec in 2nd or third and being suprised at how fast the car gathers speed, and then look at the speedo and find myself going even faster.
Your comments about the VTEC powerband being more noticeable on the S2000 is interesting. I thought the CTR had a much more noticeable 'step' in power delivery and the 1000 or so less VTEC revs made it much harder to keep in the VTEC zone compared to the S2000.
I went from a MR2 turbo to a S2000. The first time i drove it i was disappointed that it didn't feel as quick as my MR2. I bought one anyway because i loved everything else about the car, particularly the handling. Within about 2 weeks of ownership i realised how far off the mark i had been. The S2000 IS a very quick car, but because of its relatively low torque it is deceptive how quickly it gathers speed. I still find myself putting my foot down in vtec in 2nd or third and being suprised at how fast the car gathers speed, and then look at the speedo and find myself going even faster.
Your comments about the VTEC powerband being more noticeable on the S2000 is interesting. I thought the CTR had a much more noticeable 'step' in power delivery and the 1000 or so less VTEC revs made it much harder to keep in the VTEC zone compared to the S2000.
mercurius said:
She also did not seem to be up for "fun and games" but perhaps this is just me stepping out of a Tuscan...she felt too neutral, too sorted!
Depends how you try to access the fun and games.
In the Tuscan, you just plant your foot and the rears light up (as I found out last week at LeMans
) - in the S2000, you plant your foot and....well, not a lot really. There isn't the torque in the engine to do that, you have to be a bit more brutal and, unfortunately this can lead to the snappiness that the S2000 is (undeservedly IMO) renowned for. You can play with the S2000, but it's not as progressive as you're no doubt used to, it's a very balanced car, which in the warm weather, grips extremely well. You'll probably find yourself covering ground as quickly if not quicker than you were able to in the Tuscan simply because, under the right conditions and with a sensible driver, the car will not let go.
just to say on trackdays that i have had a few TVR's letting me go past in my s2000, on the straights they go, but on the twistes i was all over them. (and fair play to them moving over for me)
get the s2k.. it needs far more that a test drive to get used to it, get the most out of it..
get the s2k.. it needs far more that a test drive to get used to it, get the most out of it..
joe_90 said:
just to say on trackdays that i have had a few TVR's letting me go past in my s2000, on the straights they go, but on the twistes i was all over them.
Is it an easier drive than a TVR then? They look nice and tame but I saw some vids with scary driving and the car kept on going. The chassis seems enormous stiff and the car keeps on track whatever situation . . . It looks like a car with huge potential IF you can handle well.
"Is it an easier drive than a TVR then?"
Mate, pretty much anything is an easier drive than a TVR on the track...having said that of course, I would find it very hard to believe that an S2000 could keep anywhere near a Tuscan...
RE: TVR pulling over for S2000 to go past:
I have found the Tuscan faster than the S2 Exige, a match for 911 Turbos and by far faster than standard Evos and Subarus over several track days (dry conditions)...I am pretty much convinced that if a TVR let you through in an S2000 it was down to the driver...
Moving from a Tuscan to an S2000 I would love the opposite to be the case, but let's keep it real here!
Mate, pretty much anything is an easier drive than a TVR on the track...having said that of course, I would find it very hard to believe that an S2000 could keep anywhere near a Tuscan...
RE: TVR pulling over for S2000 to go past:
I have found the Tuscan faster than the S2 Exige, a match for 911 Turbos and by far faster than standard Evos and Subarus over several track days (dry conditions)...I am pretty much convinced that if a TVR let you through in an S2000 it was down to the driver...
Moving from a Tuscan to an S2000 I would love the opposite to be the case, but let's keep it real here!
if the Tuscan is so hard to drive on the track then i think you've answered your own question as to why the aforementioned poster said that he was being waved past by TVR's.
Who is fastest on a track very much comes down to driver ability and confidence rather than car speed. On my first trackday in the S2000 i was overtaken by a VW passat turbo diesel estate until i got used to the car, lifted my speed significantly and was relieved to start overtaking him. It turned out to be a hire car driven by a racing driver instructor!
Who is fastest on a track very much comes down to driver ability and confidence rather than car speed. On my first trackday in the S2000 i was overtaken by a VW passat turbo diesel estate until i got used to the car, lifted my speed significantly and was relieved to start overtaking him. It turned out to be a hire car driven by a racing driver instructor!
With regards to the TVR, you cannot put it on a track unless you have some confidence...it is simply not possible...you will lose it either under braking, whilst downshifting or upon entry -or even exit- at times...under no circumstances is it slow on the track though. It is happier on power tracks (Brands Hatch GP and Indy are all time favourites) however my observations also included tracks like Cadwell (originally a motor bike, tight track) Goodwood (a combined track) etc
With regards to the S2000, I have only ever had a chance to see one. It was the man's first track day, so we were in different groups (and I also felt it safer not to risk asking for a passenger ride). If this car is as fast as you guys think it is, then I am hoping to get my hands on this stealth rocket.
I promise to let you know once I get the chance to compare the pace.
With regards to the S2000, I have only ever had a chance to see one. It was the man's first track day, so we were in different groups (and I also felt it safer not to risk asking for a passenger ride). If this car is as fast as you guys think it is, then I am hoping to get my hands on this stealth rocket.
I promise to let you know once I get the chance to compare the pace.
I stayed out of this as I biased 
but would like to add my experiances going up against CTR's yep in a straight line theres not much in it ,though I for one have neverbeen that keen on traffic light GP's ,but get to the twistys and the S comes into its own. I have as yet never had a ctr stay anyway near me in the bends Im not the greatest driver in the world so can only put it down to the S being the better car
Point of interest you said it was a 04 S you test drove was this a face lifted version ? if so try an older model, apart from the handleing feeling quiet defferent the older model has a fair more prononced vetec kick in it
but would like to add my experiances going up against CTR's yep in a straight line theres not much in it ,though I for one have neverbeen that keen on traffic light GP's ,but get to the twistys and the S comes into its own. I have as yet never had a ctr stay anyway near me in the bends Im not the greatest driver in the world so can only put it down to the S being the better car Point of interest you said it was a 04 S you test drove was this a face lifted version ? if so try an older model, apart from the handleing feeling quiet defferent the older model has a fair more prononced vetec kick in it
I have taken all your comments and the general literature on board and have armed myself with a 2001 Honda S2000. I actually preferred the set up, driving position and engine characteristics to the 2004 I drove.
Silver with black leather and a black hood. Picture soon to go on profile and first impressions to be reported as soon as are recorded.
Thanks for all your comments and help. No doubt I will get to know some of you better.
Silver with black leather and a black hood. Picture soon to go on profile and first impressions to be reported as soon as are recorded.
Thanks for all your comments and help. No doubt I will get to know some of you better.
enjoy the car mate!
essential mods:
- spoon carbon fibre air intake (or "muz" replica one)
- oem front spoiler
- "muz" mats from australia
i would have recommended buying either an 02 or 03 plate car as these have some tweeks which i prefer (mine is an 03).
but the purists on s2ki.com say the original set-up is best in their opinion (only cause they don't have >02
essential mods:
- spoon carbon fibre air intake (or "muz" replica one)
- oem front spoiler
- "muz" mats from australia
i would have recommended buying either an 02 or 03 plate car as these have some tweeks which i prefer (mine is an 03).
but the purists on s2ki.com say the original set-up is best in their opinion (only cause they don't have >02
hondansx said:
Why have either when you can get an NSX for £15k?
The NSX is much more expensive to run, especially a £15k one I imagine. It's not unusual for an NSX service to cost thousands, particularly on higher mileage cars. A new clutch is about £2000 fitted, for example. An S2000 on the other hand, costs the same as a 'normal' car, my last 2 annual services were £160 and £300 respectively.
>> Edited by Neil_H on Wednesday 13th July 14:24
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