Well then,

"Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman." (ryanwacker02)
09/10/2013 at 17:27 • Filed to: Spiderman buys a new car

I've gotten dead set on an S2000. An AP2. But only the 04-05 model. 06+ have a revised floor pan that makes it a bit difficult to fit some aftermarket stuff. No tan interior, no all red interior, no blue interior. All black, or red/black. I want to put in some jersey red Recaro Pole Positions, and kinda do a NSX-R style interior. So, all black everything aside from the seats and red carpet. Exterior color, no yellow, no red. In reality, It'll probably end up being a black/black one as those are fairly common.

As an aside, Japan had two factory purple options. We had none. I'm very upset about that, as I'd love a purple car.

DISCUSSION (20)

MonkeePuzzle > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:29

I prefer the AP1's front end, and the gauge cluster design, and hearing the rev happy engine scream, but for every other reason I would get an AP2

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > MonkeePuzzle
09/10/2013 at 17:31

I agree, I do like the cluster design better. As for the bumper? Eventually it will be changed with either a lip kit, or a complete new bumper. The redline can be fixed eventually too!

The AP2 is just a more drivable car for me, and as it has to be transportation, I think it's the way to go.

MonkeePuzzle > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:32

concur, on drivability the ap2 is the way to go. More torque, lower rev range, different gearing.

Squid > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:38

Apex Blue is the color to get.

Good luck on your search, I wish you well on finding a clean non salvage titled AP2. They are increasingly harder to find now and command a hefty premium.

dogisbadob > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:39

No all red interior? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I like the AP1 better because 9000 rpm

I also didn't know that they made the S2000 in purple. It's awesome.

revrseat70 > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:40

Also, +06 had drive by wire. Just sad.... you made the right call

RiceRocketeer Extraordinaire > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:40

If you're planning on ECU tuning, FlashPro for the 06+ is way cheaper than KPro for the 00-05.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > dogisbadob
09/10/2013 at 17:44

I just can't do it. It's a lot to handle.
That said, if I could only find an all read or an all blue, I'd take the all read in a heartbeat.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Squid
09/10/2013 at 17:45

I've noticed! A few years ago when I was first interested in one, but couldn't afford it, 04-05's were considerable less than they are now.

Still, it's a car I foresee keeping for an indefinite amount of time, so I can sorta cope with the price.

Casper > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:47

The AP2 is a great package. They perform great while getting all the styling upgrades the AP1 missed out on. Mine was black on black... which is pretty much the only combination I think they should have been sold in. Some people complain about missing the revs from the AP1 lower stroke engine, but I drove them back to back and preferred the AP2, especially with boost in mind.

The day after I bought mine I took it straight to an autocross. Excellent daily driver.

Kinja'd!!!

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Casper
09/10/2013 at 17:54

I've told they do well in snow/rain. It surprised me a bit, but I was relived as it will be spending the school year in western Washington.

Casper > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:56

They are as good as their traction control is (IE your foot). I drove year round, rain, snow, ice, whatever. It was brilliant. In the winter I would put the top down and pretend it was a sleigh, we would get coffee and drive around the town watching old people crash into things.

Squid > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 17:57

They are fantastic cars. One of my buddies has an '05 with the first vortec S/C kit on it. It also has the Spoon front fenders and rear flares. It used to run over 400 hp at the wheels but he got it tuned to be a little more conservative to run at ~375 now. The F20/F22 blocks are ridiculously strong. I also highly suggest looking at the Berk test pipe/full exhaust it sounds so glorious but it is a bit loud. The benefits of using a test pipe on the S2k is crazy, the cat is so restrictive that it causes a dip in power right before V-tech kicks in yo! but the test pipe smooths that out so the V-tech kick isn't as pronounced.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Squid
09/10/2013 at 18:05

So I hear! I don't know emissions laws in Washington, where I'll be going to school, but it will be switched over to a Texas, where I'm from, registered car. We don't bother with that emissions silliness in these parts, so I can run a test pipe no problems!

I probably wouldn't get too crazy with the engine. I've never had a performance N/A car, and would want to play around with it for a while at least. I'd kind of want to do the performance stuff based on what's allowed in Super Taikyu.

Squid > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 18:09

From what I remember, the timing chain tensioner is a weak link on those motors, and getting any true NA power you need to go standalone and get it tuned. I'm pretty sure cams don't do too much other than make a glorious racket.

Take your time and get to know the car, but really I do suggest getting some chassis bracing. And be ware of the deadly bump steer, it has claimed way too many casualties so far.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 18:14

My RX-7 in GT5 is purple with white wheels.

I love that car.

Good luck on your search.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Squid
09/10/2013 at 18:18

Right. I assume a bump steer kit fixes it somewhat? I've experienced bumpsteer in a FWD, but it seems like a different beast in an S2000.

Squid > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 18:29

I believe most of it was engineered out on the AP2's but it is still there. I can't remember what the remedy is for it on the S2k but it is very deadly and is the main reason there are so many salvaged and totaled S2k's out there. If you are going to do suspension get the best possible springs and dampers you can afford, save up for as long as you have to. Oh and getting rid of the staggered wheels and going to an equal width rim front and back gets rid of most factory induced understeer.

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > Squid
09/10/2013 at 18:36

That was number one on the list. I hear a lot of people get rear of the rear sway bar completely, too. I'll have to look into that one though, as it seems a bit weird of a thing to do.

Squid > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
09/10/2013 at 18:39

The rear sway is probably purely for AutoX, the Miata guy's take that off too and it makes the car a little more lively and more able to pivot quickly. For a street car/canyon carver I would leave it on there, that is one place extra twitchiness puts you in the ditch or off the hillside.