I'm thinking about getting a Honda

JohnByers · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:28 pm

Stephen Westerfield wrote:

Affirmative. I tried to find an RX-8 that would work for me and was unsuccessful. Shinynewthingitis caught up with me and I jumped on a pretty clean AP1 I had been looking at.

Awesome! Glad to hear of the new car.

Kevin,

In all honesty its a shock to read this, thus the aforementioned joking around. However with your driving ability I am looking forward to see you driving one around myself. Good luck with the search.

Jeremy Ellison · **Joined:** Fri May 13, 2011 5:01 pm **Posts:** 186

What year do you have, and why did you choose it?
I have an '06, because it was the first one I could find that was 1. within my price range, 2. unmodified, and 3. In seemingly good condition w/ 60k miles.

What class are you running now/planning to run next year?
STR (very un-prepped, but PAX is for suckers).

What have you modified and how did that work out for you?
Gendron Front Sway Bar. It was easy enough to put on, but the little plastic clips that honda uses to hold everything together suck.
Hoping to get 9" rims for next year, but not sure if it's going to happen.

What wheels/tires are you using, and do you have any wear issues (or other issues)?
OEM AP2 Wheels, Dunlop Starspecs 215 up front, 245 in the back (OEM sizes).

Are there any years you would avoid, and why?
Early AP1's with the plastic window in the top, because they're ugly and I hear they crack.
04-05 - if you're getting an AP2, get an 06+ so you can re-flash it easily (if you want to run ST*).

What issues should I look out for, and what should I expect to replace soon and/or often?
Check the top right where the rail is above the passenger's head. This is where it most often tears. There is a service bulletin to fix this, but if it hasn't been done it can be pricey to replace the top. Or you can do what I did, and just roll with a hole in the top that I sewed up by hand.

Are you daily driving yours? What sort of comfort/convenience items should I look for?
Yes. I'm still on stock suspension, which is nice for comfort. Other than that, just be aware that the cup holders won't actually hold most size cups.

What kind of gas mileage do you get?
~19MPG (mostly city driving).

How expensive is insurance?
I'm not sure, I've got full coverage on both our cars and pay about $150 a month.

Is the plastic rear window going to be a problem, or no?
I have heard it is, but the 03 AP1's have a glass one.

Seen any good ones lately?
Nope, but I'll keep an eye out

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:02 pm

Jeremy Ellison wrote:

Is the plastic rear window going to be a problem, or no?
I have heard it is, but the 02 AP1's have a glass one.

Fixed.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Thanks, Mike and Jeremy. That info will help a lot. Anyone else have anything to add?

And yes, I'm serious. Don't know if it will replace the STi, or just take turns with it (it would be tough to give up 380 torques and DCCD), but at this point I think if I find the right one, I'm getting it.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:36 pm

Kevin Allen wrote:

Thanks, Mike and Jeremy. That info will help a lot. Anyone else have anything to add?

And yes, I'm serious. Don't know if it will replace the STi, or just take turns with it (it would be tough to give up 380 torques and DCCD), but at this point I think if I find the right one, I'm getting it.

I'd like to get one myself, but again, don't fit. So why the potential change of heart? Just looking for something different? They look to be a very fun car....

Keith Quistorff · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 2:41 pm

A friend bought a brand new AP1 w/plastic rear window (2000 model year) and loved the car but hated the rear window. Immediately upon buying the car he built some special tube covered in soft microfiber wrap to place in the fold of the rear window every time he opened the roof, and when the window still became hazy very early on he tried the special cleaners designed to remove hazing, etc., but nothing worked - the rear window looked like crap very quickly, was very diffucult to see through, and was the only complaint he had about the car. He wished he had the glass window (that came out in the '02 model year, IIRC).

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:30 pm

The '02-'03 have the glass rear window.

The only thing to "look out" for other than normal wear and tear is wrecks. They are easy to wreck. All of the original panels should have a vin sticker.

Driving them on the streat is fun but the liimits of the thing is so high you will be going way too fast before you know it.

Also, I don't think wheels and tires are necessary for the AP1 to have more fun autoxing than any other car you have ever driven.

Good luck with the search

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

clinehall wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

How expensive is insurance?
Same as an M3 or 540. If you're on Erie you will get the "we normally don't insure this kind of car, but since your agent has lied and said you are a good risk we'll let this one slide"

Fixed that for you.

Thanks Cline, I owe you a beer

Wait ... people in insurance lie? I had no idea. Maybe you should go into politics.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

Marcus, have you modified anything? What tires/sizes?

I like the AP2 wheels, so I'd probably get a set of those for street driving and keep the stock ones for autox.

I've read that the stock dampers are excellent, but how long do they last?

Stephen Westerfield · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 4:48 pm

MarcusMcRae wrote:

Also, I don't think wheels and tires are necessary for the AP1 to have more fun autoxing than any other car you have ever driven.

So are you staying on the stock AP1 wheels next year?

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:12 pm

http://roadraceautox.com/showthread.php?t=26645&highlight=s2000

posted by our own S2k afficionado....

prices have been slowly drifting down, although the used market in general is very strong, thanks to supply issues with Fukushima still resonating. I've been shopping for an AP2 for 8 months now, content to watch prices fall until they are where I want to pay. Some folks still think their AP1 is worth 17k, but there are fewer of them now, and there's downward pressure on those guys as 2005-06 models are starting to price in the 18-20k range, or lower. I know of several lowish mileage AP1 S2000s on the market now under 15k, and have been listed for almost two months in some cases---I suspect they may be willing to deal a little on price.

Karl Shultz · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:32 pm

Steven Carter wrote:

http://roadraceautox.com/showthread.php?t=26645&highlight=s2000

posted by our own S2k afficionado....

prices have been slowly drifting down, although the used market in general is very strong, thanks to supply issues with Fukushima still resonating. I've been shopping for an AP2 for 8 months now, content to watch prices fall until they are where I want to pay. Some folks still think their AP1 is worth 17k, but there are fewer of them now, and there's downward pressure on those guys as 2005-06 models are starting to price in the 18-20k range, or lower. I know of several lowish mileage AP1 S2000s on the market now under 15k, and have been listed for almost two months in some cases---I suspect they may be willing to deal a little on price.

I knew I'd written down those weights from Dixie somewhere. :lol:

The spring rate info is a little suspect. I pulled it from a source considered authoritative at the time, but it has since been questioned. I never did bother to go back and find the latest speculation, and nobody ever provided me with it.

Regarding torque, there really isn't any of it. Any S2000 will probably feel broken if driven back to back with an STI. An AP1 will feel slightly more broken.

Steven Carter · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:28 pm

FWIW, since everyone and his brother seems to be moving to STR, the S2Ki.com community has done a good job of parsing out STR-related threads, which may be helpful

http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/904911-scca-str-discussion-links/

MarcusMcRae · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 7:32 pm

Kevin and Stephen,

I plan on keeping the stock wheels until the RS3's wear out. Then, if I don't spend too much skiing this year, I will think about new wheels/tires. I love the car the way it is. The only thing that I reall want is more front end grip. Going to 255's might fix that.

The only thing I've done to it is OTS konis with an Eibach front sway bar. I have been running the konis on full stiff and the swaybar at the stiffest setting.

Those spring rates seem low. http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/818884-characterization-of-the-oe-suspension-springs/ found much higher rates for the rear springs.

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2173176 A ap1-ap2 comparison thread.

Kevin Allen · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2003 6:42 pm **Posts:** 3479

MarcusMcRae wrote:

Kevin and Stephen,

I plan on keeping the stock wheels until the RS3's wear out. Then, if I don't spend too much skiing this year, I will think about new wheels/tires. I love the car the way it is. The only thing that I reall want is more front end grip. Going to 255's might fix that.

The only thing I've done to it is OTS konis with an Eibach front sway bar. I have been running the konis on full stiff and the swaybar at the stiffest setting.

Those spring rates seem low. http://www.s2ki.com/s2000/topic/818884-characterization-of-the-oe-suspension-springs/ found much higher rates for the rear springs.

http://honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2173176 A ap1-ap2 comparison thread.

Yeah, I've seen those threads, but thanks.

I've also read that the Konis are actually a downgrade compared to the stock dampers - what made you get them?

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