STi vs. S2000

[Beej]

The ol' 1 day of ownership review.

I could probably go on for days, but I'll keep it to bullet points because long-winded shits are annoying to read.

• Torque- Going from the peakiest of motors (F20C) to this thing couldn't be any different. Power comes on low (and quick) and then about stays even to redline (maybe even drops off?). First few gears are crazy - I feel like I can't even really floor it because they go by too quickly.
  
• Space/ease of access- Nice to have it back.
  
• Visibility- Missed you too.
  
• Seats- Love the look of the cloth/alcantara two tone, but they're too wide for my skinny ass.
  
• Brakes- Awesome.
  
• Features I'll never use but are cool to show off- DCCD (Driver Controlled Center Diff), adjustable headlights, intercooler water sprayer.
  
• Build quality- On par for new cars, and at least 4 times better than the Honda. I know it comes with 'convertible territory' but those MFer's rattle like crazy.
  
• Shifter- MY05's have the 'short shift' (option in '04's I think). It's alright, but complete shit compared to the Honda. That thing fell straight from the heavens.
  
• Slow speed handling- I don't have the balls to fool around at high speeds yet, but it's not as nimble as the Honda.
  
• Sound- This one kind of goes either way. A tiny four banger revving 9k (particularly with an open cone filter) is a completely different beast than the boosted boxer. I can't decide on this one.
  
• Climate control- Never had an automatic one...it's a nice-to-have.
  
• Meh- Tacho goes to 9k? Cute, but kinda retarded. The shift light/ding thing is cool though (for now anyway - I can see myself turning it off later). After this first tank of gas doesn't know what hit it, I might set it down at like 4k to try and get halfway decent gas mileage.
  
• Stereo- Needs a little work.

Things I'll miss about the Honda:

• Top down
  
• Oversteer
  
• That 'wearing the car' as opposed to 'driving one' feeling
  
• Swattin' gears with that shifter
  
• Gas mileage
  
• Payment :roll:

Other than that, I'm WAY happier with the STi.

w00t!:

[Sijray21]

such an awesome car...mmm...

jeeze what are we up to now in the MMSti group? 4? Maeng, Lee, Shea, and now BJ?

i think we need to have an MM photoshoot again :wink:

[Maengelito]

you've ruined the honda household and i feel partly responsible. i agree with all of those things even though i've never owned a stook. honda shifters are incredible though

[BLINGMW]

Build quality- On par for new cars, and at least 4 times better than the Honda. I know it comes with 'convertible territory' but those MFer's rattle like crazy.

That's kind of surprising... you're saying the build quality of your Honda was 4x worse than most new cars?

Now how do they both compare to the 318? :lol:

I do see a lot of manufacturers doing the "unrealistic tach" thing, that annoys me too. And some don't even indicate a redline anymore, even though the tach could never wind that far. The Elise for instance, tach goes to 9, redline's at 8, fuel cuts around 8.5... but there's no "red" area or other indicator on the tach. What's up with that? Just seems like a bad idea.

Glad you're liking the STI!

[DRYFT]

My only gripe with the s2k was its one way diff, those cars would be a big handful if they got too sideways unexpectedly lol snap oversteer

Never driven a sti though. Look like they'd be as fun as evos. That grey is a really nice color, that's the new for 05 grey right?

[Beej]

Build quality- On par for new cars, and at least 4 times better than the Honda. I know it comes with 'convertible territory' but those MFer's rattle like crazy.

That's kind of surprising... you're saying the build quality of your Honda was 4x worse than most new cars?

Well maybe not 4x. But I was very surprised by how rattley my car was, and the other two s2k's I've been in were the same. The top latches rattle, windows rattle, front suspension squeaks, clutch rattles on 00-01's...it's just not what I'd expect from a $30-35k car. Really though, it just comes down to my car being better than Mike's.

Yep, the color was new for '05.

[.RJ]

My only gripe with the s2k was its one way diff, those cars would be a big handful if they got too sideways unexpectedly lol snap oversteer

I had a student in one last weekend with carguys on shenandoah (summit point). I was expecting a twitchy, oversteering handful based on what a lot of people have said... just like all things on the interweb it wasnt true at all. Very predictable, mostly biased towards understeer but if the rear end did slide it was pretty uneventful.

[Mike]

my bike is better than bj's car.

[G.Irish]

My only gripe with the s2k was its one way diff, those cars would be a big handful if they got too sideways unexpectedly lol snap oversteer

You just have to think ahead of the car and be purposeful about what you're doing. The first time I drove a S2000 was in an autocross in the rain and it really wasn't that bad once I starting thinking more about what the car would do before I did it.

One thing is for sure tho, its not a car for sloppy hamfisted drivers.

[ScottyB]

nice little review there man. now be ready to ferry around your friends who have cars that can't handle the snow :lol:

[G.Irish]

nice little review there man. now be ready to ferry around your friends who have cars that can't handle the snow, or can't carry more than 2 people, or are too big to park in DC...

[Kaan]

like me and my CRX... i can park in dc... but no one can come with me... ok ok... one person!

[DRYFT]

My only gripe with the s2k was its one way diff, those cars would be a big handful if they got too sideways unexpectedly lol snap oversteer

I had a student in one last weekend with carguys on shenandoah (summit point). I was expecting a twitchy, oversteering handful based on what a lot of people have said... just like all things on the interweb it wasnt true at all. Very predictable, mostly biased towards understeer but if the rear end did slide it was pretty uneventful.

Yea on smooth surfaces its pretty predictable with a little rear slide, its hard to pull them out if you get pretty close to broadside by accident though :lol: I scared my friend who's car I was driving when we swapped for a while when I did by accident, especially since I lifted.. doh!


Super fun cars IMO. Like beej said, you get that "wearing it" feeling.

[WRXtranceformed]

Nice writeup dude, glad you like the car =D

Shifter is easy to fix. I have the Kartboy short shifter with the bushings and it shifts like a dream. It's really notchy, like, the gears click into place which personally, I really like.

Now just wait until the mod bug hits you, then it's all over =p

[BLINGMW]

I was expecting a twitchy, oversteering handful based on what a lot of people have said... just like all things on the interweb it wasnt true at all.

well if it was a bunch of Honda guys that said it, of course it's a scary oversteering monster to them! :lol: Heck, I'm sure my car is too if you're used to FWD.

it's just not what I'd expect from a $30-35k car

interesting. Guess I'll have to drive one.

The first time I drove a S2000 was in an autocross in the rain and it really wasn't that bad once I starting thinking more about what the car would do before I did it.

hahaha didn't you sping that guy's car multiple times? :lol:

[G.Irish]

I was expecting a twitchy, oversteering handful based on what a lot of people have said... just like all things on the interweb it wasnt true at all.

well if it was a bunch of Honda guys that said it, of course it's a scary oversteering monster to them! :lol: Heck, I'm sure my car is too if you're used to FWD.

it's just not what I'd expect from a $30-35k car

interesting. Guess I'll have to drive one.

The first time I drove a S2000 was in an autocross in the rain and it really wasn't that bad once I starting thinking more about what the car would do before I did it.

hahaha didn't you sping that guy's car multiple times? :lol:

Like twice the first run, I don't think I spun it on the second run.