I know most of you cringe on the thought of just the name, but I think it could be a true contender. Even though it only has a 4 banger, at least it develops 240 bhp and is even rear wheel drive. Has anyone driven or raced one of them? I have not seen them since they came out back in 2000.

 

I personally have driven one before, a friend of mine works for a car dealership, and we got to take one out.............I can vouch for their quickness.........Cruising in second gear then dropping it into first which allows it to get into the V-TEC powerband...........

Although they are piece of crap cars that are cramped for space, made of poor quality parts.........

They are said to go 13.8@100mph in Motor Trend......STOCK.....

They have 240 HP(flywheel) and they are ridiculously light compared to 3rd gens....

They are slow if they are kept out of the V-TEC powerband...........figures.......

 

I do not know about 13.8. Not saying it is not possible, but mid-low 14's is what most ppl would run. The thing about the S2000 is that you have to rev into the heavens, 8+ RPM to really touch the power. You would just have to dump the clutch at about 5-6 RPMS and you are in the powerband. But you also notice that the 2002 ZR-1 get 1 more mile to the gallon than the S2000. That is sad.

 

Please no one hate me for this but I honestly have to object the "poor quality" statement. American cars are alot tougher than imports but imports have better quality work and/or parts. It's not that I don't like American, far from it, it's just that it's the truth whether you like it or not that imports are less likely to develop problems than American cars.

As for what car would win in a street race however... American has my money.

 

I was referring to the interior of the car, it's made from what looks and feels like cheap plastic, also the stuff on the inside breaks way to damn easy.........***** and such....

Just the parts on the interior, nothing about the engine, which i'm sure is in good shape......

 

yeah you have to rev the crap of it to get it to go!

one of the faster in the line of honda's though..

 

At least it's not a civic...

-edit-
BTW, FLYNLOW92rs, I absolutly love that drawing of your camaro in your signiture! If you have the same pic but better resolution, can you please email it to me at SYPHON556@aol.com? :hail: I want it for my wallpaper!

 

What if Honda started taking their V8 Indy engines and making them for the street and put them in a rear wheel drive model, would Hondas gain more credibility from us die hard muscle car fans?

 

I have driven an S2000 and thoroghly enjoyed the experiance (aside for the fact that it was obviously designed for the japanese market, and thus a much shorter audience. So my eye level was about even with the top of the wind shield.). They are roadsters, not strip cars like the camaro. They are quick and nimble. Absolutly a blast to get into the twisties were you can really work the amazingly small 6spd shift pattern. Even babying it (a friends car) they still are a blast to drive. Just wish i had the chance to really find that redline. They aren't the same kind of car as an F-body so please stop comparing them, its kind of like compareing a hemi cuda to a Dodge minivan.

 

i drove one as well. overall its a very well balanced car. Kinda lacking in straight line performance but its way more fun than my z in the twisties. They have the most incredible shifters i've felt in my life too, rediculously short throws and very precise. just wish it had SOME kind of ummph down low.

Eric

 

the torque numbers are depressing on it............

153 TQ

It does 0-60 in about 6 seconds......

The ol' 305 TBI has more torque then that.........

 

My 2.8 had more than that!!

 

Sorry, I couldn't think of a better word at the time. I'm no English major you know.

 

I agree with the fact that it is a fun car to ride in, probally funner to drive. My uncle woulnt let me drive it.

But on the idea of them(Honda) brining in their Indy V8's and putting them in a car, I hope you would be prepared probally over a million for one.

 

Those Indy egines don't cost that much, the price of the car is included in that million. They have sets of engines that can cost up to $700,000 with extra parts and such.

 

I have personally raced one and I must give them a bit of credability. He beat me, However he was the only one in the car and I had 3 people with me, we started from about 30-40 mph and he barely pulled on me.

I think they look very cool, I read in a review on them and they do mark points down for thier cramped interior.

 

I also drove one of these cars...but left with a completely different impression than most.

I thought it felt UNDERPOWERED through 90% of operating range (1000-7500rpm). Sure it pulled at the top of each gear...but you really have to work it for the car to feel fast overall.

I agree that it is more of a handling car than a dragstrip terror...however the lack of midrange power has to be depressing when exiting a corner at the track.

-Doug

 

I guess that's what a 4 banger will do for you. I wonder if Honda will put an Acura V6 in there, then the little roadster would have some bark. I would rather have my thirdgen though.

 

the only reason that the honda are decent once moving is because V-tec, what V-tec does is change the timing depending on the air/fuel, percentage of gas pedal being applied and so one, it figures all this crap out then changes the timing curve for more power,

but i always say, put a stock any year honda or acura again a bone stock F-body, see who wins that one, even my good ol LG4 i had would murder stock imports on highway, corners, and form the light, that was back when i had stock intake air bod with 1 snorkel.

those cars are just pitifal, they werent ever made for power or spped, just economy, and see how much more work people have to do to make them decently fast or corner ability.

 

The S2000 was not made for economy. My friend ran his at the track and pulled down a 14.8 on first pass and 14.38 when the night was over, they are a credible car, but you do have to drive them all the way to the 8900RPM redline. I am not sure if it will go any faster than the 14.38 unless he does mods. man that night I only beat him by a fender length on the last run.

 

It kind of sounds like my 6. I have to be in the 4000 rpm range to feel the maximum power of my little engine.

 

Keep your eyes peeled for the s2000r.. It supposedly will be an inline 6, redlining at around 9000 rpms... Somewhere around the 380hp range.. Will cost around $50,000, though.. For those of you low end torque guys, that car should suffice..


As for the not making power until 7500 rpms, that is done basically on purpose.. You can cruise below that and get great gas mileage, and then when you open it up, with the close ratio transmission they have, you land back at the top of the powerband after each shift.. It's very similar to my car... Rev to 8100, shift, lands at 6000, rev to 8100.. shift.. Some people only want ALL the power certain times...

 

If Honda makes a S2000 R, I doubt it will ever make it to the U.S., to this date, no true type R Honda has made it over here legally because they can't pass the certaing government regulations, same as the Silvias, Skylines, and other potential leathal imports from Japan.


That's true about the revs. Who will drive in the 8100 rpm range to pick up some dry cleaning in stop and go traffic?

 

I raced a bone stock one a while back in my IROC. Absolutely destroyed him off the line. I'm sure if we raced to 130 or so he may have started to catch up.

They are kinda quick, and with some work they have some potential.

I was leaving Universal Studios with my friend a couple months ago. We were in his '96 rustang gt vert. Pulled up next to a very nice looking s2000. It actually sounded kind of good for a 4 banger (had some kind of aftermarket exhaust). Well, my friend, being the ignorant fool, laughed and said those cars were slow. I didn't really say anything. So they raced. He got spanked, and he swore that the s2000 must have been running "naawwwsss." I finally convinced him that the s2000s are quick. Now if I could just convince him that his stock gt is slow...

 

i eat those things for breakfast....some jackass in my town used to have an integra type R, he ran it into a poll trying to race me. i kicked his *** about 200 times prior to that too....ricers just dont learn. so last spring when i finsihed building the car to the state its in now, the kid sees me at party and starts talking ****, hes like ya i got ma s2000 boooyyyyeee. im like wow this kid is a sh*t snake. so i left the party and there he was waiting for me, well to make a long story short i kicked the snot out of that damn egg roll.

is it impressive that the car revs to 9000rpm? yes, but it only have 240 hp....and a ridiculously narrow power band (thats why it revs that high in the first place) and its a moot point cause the damn things run 14's all night long up at NED and get worked like a job by everyone including me hehe

 

For an all around car, what would you rather have though? And reliablility? S2000 or a camaro RS?

 

camaro RS, i'll choke on my own sh*t and die before i ever buy a foreign car the s2000 is a rag top, who wants to drive one of those every day?

honestly, if i cared about comfort and luxury, do you think i would have built this car in the first place? this car has never broken down on me in anyway on the street either. why? because its carbed and theres nothing to quit working on it.:rockon:

i dont want nice(or R*ce), i want to win therefore:

 

oh ya as far as im concerned its a camaro too, the RS thing was kinda dumb.....there isnt any part of the driveline in that car that was put there in the factory, in fact the only parts in the car that were originally there are the wipers, and the body, and the interior (well some of it)

so its not really an RS, read the sig....i think im gonna get rid of those badges

 

Well OK then, you obviously have the car you want already.

 

I wish I had the car I want (77 Aston Martin Vantage) or a TVR Tuscon or the old 350SE. I am very happy with my thirdgen though, even though it has a V6, and no t-tops. I can't wait to start making some money after college so I can afford to buy a car that is fast out of the box.

 

that part is a fairly simplistic answer

doesn't matter import or domestic they both can be fast

 

what do you have.... either way
I'm fairly stock... I'll take you on in the corners
or we can wait till I get my STOCK (I'm serious it is stock all the way through) turbo motor from japan and put that in my car


or I can hook you up with a 93 R1 that is stock

.99 on the skidpad
67.3 mph on the slolam
and I think he ran a best of a 13.7 at 104mph

all stock


just saying that to show you just b/c it is an import doesn't mean slow and can't do anything

 

cornering is nice, if thats what you want to do, but get anyplace near a stop light or on the highway and i'll take my torque monster any time. an f-body can be made to handle excellently if you want it to as well, and for pretty short money...due to its low center of gravity.

also, if you out power someone enough, you can make up enough time and speed in between the twisties and in the end your gonna be in front anyways.

 

by the way v-tec changes the valve timing not the ignition timing, im sure you knew that but it sounded like you were talking about the ignition timing the way it was worded

 

I like races that are not straight because it involves more than torque, and traction, it involves actually being able to turn a corner. I also like this because it's not always the biggest torque monster that will win on the twisties.

 

ya but what happens when the torque monster has adjustable shocks and corner carving suspension?

 

Yep,

There are two seperate cam profiles (or is it 4?). I am not sure if Vtech changes intake and exhaust valve timing...or just one or the other.

It really doesnt matter. From the drivers seat (where it matters) the car felt underpowered to me.

-Doug

 

The whole domestic VS import thing is rather general and really proves nothing at all.....

I believe it's called Muscle Cars Vs Economy Cars....

Dodge Neon (Domestic, American)
VS
Mclaren F1 (Import)


My smart money is on the import.......

 

it comes down to what is done to the car. not all import cars r trash... my dream car is pretty much " japan does mclaren f1", yes im talking about the skyline...i will have one w/ in the next 5 years. imports vs. american, im sick of the freak'n civics around here...to many. when i think of a import i think of japans GOOD cars, VR4's, supra, rx 7, to some point lancer evo and wrx...and the top two.. nsx and skyline. the last two cost more then a vette out of the show room...and for those of you who dont know. most r quick, i think both run 13's.. mid or low.. not too sure. have to look it up. but, just cuz i drool over a car that almost nobody has state side, i still love my american cars much more. **** and import r different. very different. everyone knows that it's possible to have a 8 second supra... well its not much different for rx7 and skylines have been sup up w/ over 1000 hp on the stock block. but im sure as hell still obsessed w/ tuning out my small block to kick everythings *** when im done. i hate these **** heads, they think add a fart can and ur a racer. most of them cant tell you half the **** under the hood. stupid kids need stupid cars...hence all the civics. i bet if i showed most of the kids around here a picture of a skyline they wouldnt know what it was. show them a picture of a lingenfelter vette and they would bet their soul they could beat it w/ a v tec civic + 1000$ exhaust. now that everyone thinks im an import loser (which im not, just like to know the competiton if it ever happens to me) i just cant wait to pull the front tires off the ground w/ my new engine.

 

I don't even know what a Skyline looks like!

 

Skylines are very pricey and not easy to have imported over here legally. You need some special tags and such.

 

There is a company called Metrex (I think/Spelling?) that imports the skyline over here for a reasonable $85K!!!, I have seen them at the showrooms in Japan for about $45K, the company has to make them comply to DOT standards, but for an additional $40K!!!
They are very capable cars and highly sought after, but for that price you could buy a new Viper or about 10 really nice 3rd gens.

 

Its kind of big, but this is a 1999 R34 Skyline. Quite nice looking cars. Wish we got em.

 

One of my friends claims that there is a rumor that new accords coming out sometime in the next 3 years or so will have V8 v-tec's in them I dont know if its true or not, this is the same kid who thinks his stock 99 accord can kill my friends 91 350 Z28 but who knows where he read that...lol

 

the company you are talking about is motorex. they import mostly brand new skylines, hence the super high price... plus all th shipping and changing the car to read all american, includes quit a bit. but another company that's based in UK i think? sells more used skylines then new ones...and have a larger base to chose from. i would most likely buy it from them, and send it to cali for motorex to make stateside leagel... lot of work, but the out come will def. be worth it!

 

well in response to the comment about the honda indy v8.....

how about if chevy brought their indy v8 to the street? that thing kicked the living sh*t out of everything in sight last season....and theres an even better one coming out for next year.

it makes like almost 700hp an its like 214ci weighs like 268lbs i think thats some silly sh*t

in any case thats a dumb argument cause its not gonna happen, it isnt even plausible. when honda comes out with a rear drive car and a motor that displaces more than my briggs and stratton lawn mower engine maybe i'll care about it....but probably not

 

That would be awesome too. I love Indy engines. The engines are so sohisticated and are just marvels of engineering. I especially like the fact that the engines are not big cubes. I love the sound of V6 sized V8.








If Honda did actually come out with a V8, they would put it in the NSX first, then the Acuras, then maybe the Honda. No FWD car can fit a V8 in except for one car, The 70's Olds Toronado. Honda would have to make the engine extemely small or change the drivetrain of their models to RWD.


On the note of the cost associated with making skylines comply to DOT standards. Steve Forbes spent somewhere near a $1,000,000 dollars just to import a Porshe 959 and make it comply to DOT and he failed. All he had to do was get it liscensed as a kit car. If he wanted to drive it on a regular basis, he could have taken a 911 and converted it to look and perform like the 959 for far less than what he paid just to bring the real thing to the States.


If you try to import a car in the U.S. and attempt to have it registered without meeting the DOT, they will seize your car and ship it back to where it came from will you get to pay for it too.

 

thats interesting i remember some fairly nice cadillacs in recent memory that had front drive northstar v-8s....they made alot of those....im pretty sure they were in the 4.xx litre range.

 

Most imports don't have anywhere near the generous engine bay of Caddys. In a wide car it is possible.

 

exactly, their bad