Thread: Calling AP1 S2000 owners

Yeah I might go and trim it now to think about it, put less stress on the whole system.
Yeap, your snorkel is on trademe, though kinda reserving my money atm unless it's a crazy deal

NZKW Carbon air intake for Honda S2000 | Trade Me

Copied J's Tsuchinoko?

yeah, that looks mighty similar to the J's

Ive still got my pwjdm carbon intake snorkel for sale for $300 if anyones interested, check out trademe for pics and more info.

They did improve the S as each year passed. After around 2002/2003, anything scary was sorted, and by 2004, it is about as good as it gets. 2002 or 2003 seem to be the best on a budget.

Comment complaints of the earlier ones are mainly about the plastic rear window becoming yellow. There are other things to watch (check honda-tech.com and s2ki.com) out for, but given that it's going to be around 13 years old, you'll want to give it a thorough mechanical check anyway. Also on both of those sites there is a thread detailing the differences between the years.

Whichever year you get, you will love it.

Originally Posted by bigmacnfries

Whichever year you get, you will love it.

This the thread you want, thank SoL for it.
S2000 JDM Model Year Info

Can't agree more.
I spent months trying to find the "right" s2k.
I really wanted the '02 s2k, had all the little great features cosmetic wise. White with half red/black interior was my "dream" one.

Ended up with an '99 Black on black. Very well priced, great condition, couldn't pass it up.
Sure, some of those features on the newer ones are great, wouldn't mind swapping some stuff if there was a chance, but at the end of the day, top down "touge" style, oh so nimble and agile but so planted, you'll wish you spent the extra few thousand on some sticky tyres alongside minor mods instead of buying the newer s2k's.

I was lucky with my 99 S it came with the glass rear window and I added the facelift 17" Ap2 rims and oem front & rear spoiler which really finished off the appearance. If I had to get another S I would go for the 02+ model due the revised transmission (smoother quieter syncro operation), revised suspension geometry (more neutral handling with less unpredictable oversteer as well as revised engine oil jet bolts (improved piston lubrication). In saying that I still love my 99 JDM Ap1!

Can quite honestly say that people who have trouble driving the s2000 have not had much experience in driving much. Yes it is twitchy, it is very responsive to weight shift, throttle control becomes a whole new level. My previous ride was an MR2 Gen3 turbo. It was a joke in terms of handling. That car was all over the show, really hard to grasp on to the driving characteristic of the mr2.

The s2000 is much more controllable and predictable. Grips so much more, much stiffer, and about 9000x more fun. Do have a read through s2ki.com though, plenty of info! Oh and also, if you want the s2000 to be more 'tame' in the rear, unbolt the rear sway bar.

I personally haven't had any really hairy moments in my 99 Ap1 on the street or at the track, it handles very well IMO in stock trim so responsive! I've added some swift sport springs to it now on oem shocks (which are very good btw for a oem shock even have their own oil reservoirs!) and the car feels even more planted with a stiffer ride and slightly lower ride height. I do however recommend all Ap1 owners upgrade to the revised euro spec wheel alignment specs which improve the handling characterists to make it more of a neutral bias and reduces the tendency to provoke unpredictable over steer.

S2000 cruise coming soon, surely!

Too keen!

Lol ive heard that before! but keen all the same

yeah, i'm the worst for not turning up! But, it would be pretty cool to see a few of these together..

Wow, I got to drive my first S2000 yesterday. Well technically its my second but I wont count my first experience of driving the first NZ new S2000 around the car park as a child before my father and I delivered it to the new owner!!

It really was great. Inside was a little cramped initially but I got used to it, didn't get a chance to fully open it up but I've got a fair idea of what they go like after helping some guys with driver training at Pukekohe once.

It once was a tough choice between an S2000 and a +2008 Civic 2.0 Sport but now its definetly S2000 all the way. The only problem will be finding a good one as there are a few available but they're now +10 years old and becoming an OLD car - things like the soft top are a bit of a worry.

I test drove an 02 which was great having the glass rear screen. Only downside for the car was that it was a UK import - not sure how it will be with rust and damage underneath.

But yeah, overall the S2000 was awesome. It felt like a GENUINE sports car, all the type R's i've driven are just 'sporty' cars but the S2000 is truely unique.

Cant wait to get into one!!

Nice! Get one, get one, get one, get one, get one..

Where is Touge?

Originally Posted by tysonzane

...but now its definetly S2000 all the way

Cant wait to get into one!!

Was choosing between a STi V6 Type-R and an S2k.
To be honest I had no idea what I was thinking. Jumping back into the S2k again just felt so right.

All this "no torque" bs is just BS. Yeah fair enough it's a 2.0L with 9krpm, but the drive-able torque is so good!
I shift at 2.8-3.5k rpm on a daily basis for daily driving. There is a "flat" spot, where the torque curve is pretty flat between 3.5k and 5.5krpm which you have to get used to though.

BTW, in terms of fuel economy, I easily get 11-12km/L mixed driving hitting VTEC whenever I feel like it. That's about 470km per tank (40.
The other day I went up north with 120km already clocked prior to leaving, should've filled it up to check for the real fuel eco!
Anyways, I managed to drive up to Paihia (Bay of Islands) and back to Auckland just before the toll gate (didn't want to risk it). Ended up at 500km with a bar left on the fuel gauge.
Reaching into the 13km/L area! This is of course, with a tonne of overtaking and well, there's 9krpm so you'd know what I did.


My '99 AP1's soft-top with plastic window is in excellent condition. The soft-top has no rips, nor is showing signs of wear. A bit of 303 Aerospace on the soft-top and it's new and black again.
The window can be cleaned and cleared real well with Meguiars PlastX and some elbow grease.

Top's always down anyways (unless it's the current storm that's happening in Auckland right now!) so it's not a biggie for me.

BTW bicmacnfries, I hate how sexy your S looks. I can't get my hands on an OEM lip

eBay sell some ok replica lips for cheap! I think the seller 'bayson r' is pretty good.

I got my OEM lip (second hand), OEM strakes (second hand, main part only) and OEM replica spoiler (new) from the US - including shipping, i think it was around $700NZ.

I know a guy..

I got my OEM lip (second hand), OEM strakes (second hand, main part only) and OEM replica spoiler (new) from the US - including shipping, i think it was around $700NZ.

I know a guy..

This had me a bit pissed off haha.

I went and saw this at auction and the reserve was $14k - Nek Minnit:

Honda S2000 Convertible 6SPD SOFT TOP 2002 | Trade Me