Automotive

My s2000 ap1 nose to nose with my friends viper gts at the track.

Both are highly analog race cars - unique in their own ways and great track weapons.

Viper - v10, relative lightweight, massive torque, great handling

S2000 - 120 HP/litre, 9000 rpm redline, greatest engine and transmission in the business, 50/50 weight

Viper for the straight lines, s2k for the curves.

Always a good time!

...even if it was down on horsepower it would be fun to wind up the RPMs...

Wikipedia “The F20C produces the highest specific power output for any naturally aspirated piston engine in a car priced under US$100,000, at 125 hp (126.7 PS; 93.2 kW) per liter”
“Honda's F20C engine held the record for producing the highest specific power output for any mass production naturally aspirated piston engine, at 123.5 HP/L, until Ferrari began production of the 458 Italia in 2010, which produced 124.5 HP/L.”

It also happens to handle better than pretty much any vehicle that I have had the pleasure to drive.

I’m surprised that they can still be found on the used market under $100k (although I just saw one list for sale with mega low miles for $100k….oh well….

Can wait for racing season at the track!

That they lost money on each car they built….was a halo car for sure…

I remember a car show in the mid-late 90’s where I sat in (but did not drive) a Boxster and an S2000. My impression was that the Honda was better made than the Boxster.

Of that vault-like monobloc rigidity (911’s do this quite well). Boxster/cayman = such track joy….not easy to work on without a proper lift.

And as always Lotus doesn’t get enough love.

And I’d love an Elise or an Exige.

Here are a few pics of when my buddy and I dropped the engine out of his 930….you seem to like these cars I thought u might like these.

sadly most of them are "tuned" and it is difficult to find a "normal" one nowadays

Especially an AP1….and these motors are not rebuild friendly.

The good news is that they are so overbuilt that they will most likely keep going as long as you put good oil into them.

Mine has never broken even once - and that’s with multiple track days. Not the case with my 911 - especially the air cooled units. The oil leaks are not fun either….

Finest air cooled engines on wheels live with two brands IMO….HD and Ducati.

This is what an air cooled motor is supposed to look like

I have had the pleasure of driving a Honda S2000 on the street, and what a nice car it is on the street!  The gearbox is one of the best in the business - with great ergonomics, haptics, and engagement.  However, I've never driven an S2K on the track, but I'm surprised that stock calipers can take the punishment of track temperatures.  Also, S2Ks aren't really able to survive serious track duty - as they're wet sump engined cars.  Meaning the engine will starve itself of oil on certain longer sharper turns - the oil will slosh within the bottom of the engine and the pump will sometimes not be pumping any oil - just oily air.  The pumps not being able to deliver a consistent flow of oil at high rpms, can quickly deteriorate an engine by scaring its internals.  The VIPER suffers the same problem because it too is not endowed with a dry sump lubrication system and has a wet sump.  Either way, looks like a great amount of fun was had!  These cars can definitely handle light track duty - but nothing with serious g-forces while cornering - as this will eventually deteriorate the engine.  

Did better rotors as well - seemed to make a difference but it’s hard to tell honestly.

My buddy has 50000 track miles on that viper and it’s never had an oil starvation issue - and it’s gets raced properly…

On paper the dry sump should add layer of engine protection - but in all my years I have not seen an engine with a wet sump fail due to oil starvation or sloshing.

I have however seen several dry sump cars leak oil at the oil transfer line connection points….

As long as your racing though, right?

As someone who has abused some cars that weren't really built for high performance driving duty, I've definitely smelled the "burnt" smell that one gets when the engine is rubbing metal on metal.  Poor cars.  But yes, as long as they're moving and you're having fun, all is sunny!  50K track miles!  Wow!  That's one good engine!  

Always loved the S2000 and its capabilities and the sound ….wroooaaaaarrrrr 🙂