Power Pages: 2001 Honda S2000

Owner: Derr Ti
Dynamometer model: SP Engineering Dynojet Chassis Dyno 248E

DYNO 1: Baseline
Air temp @ 71 Degrees Fahrenheit

Peak HP. 201.1
Peak TQ. 116.6

Baseline Horsepower: 201.1
Baseline Torque: 116.6

Pros: For decades now fast cars and fast women are two of the same kind. If you own a fast car you need a hot mama to sit shotgun to show off your two most valuable possessions. I guess to be politically correct you can't really own the women but you get what I mean. One of the hottest mamas of all sporting the Honda "H" is the S2000. Although some might disagree and say the NSX is the hottest chick in the Honda family, there's something about sporting an open top roadster that no hard top can compete with. When I first drove the S2000 I thought I was in heaven: smooth shifts, responsive steering, addictive VTEC engine and the wind blowing through my hair. What a feeling! And the car was stock. It was mind blowing. How could a car be so fun to drive and not be modified?

Cons: With a car so fun to drive, you would think everyone would have their hands on one. Yes, if you have $32 grand to blow on a car. Finding performance parts of the S2000 is not all that easy considering there is a limited amount of owners out there tweaking on their ride. Many manufacturers have stayed away from making parts for the S2000, even though the car sports the Honda badge.

Dyno notes: The S2000 displaces 2.0-liters and is factory rated at 240 horsepower and 153 lb-ft of torque at the flywheel. The engine loves to be revved considering the 240 horsepower doesn't happen until 8300 rpm. With a compression ratio of 11.0:1, forced induction will be tricky but there are already several manufacturers of turbo and supercharger kits for the Honda. On the Dynojet our stock mule pounded 201.1 horsepower and 116.6 lb-ft of torque to the wheels, which was rather shocking. Our other testers have come in at much lower horsepower readings of 190 and 182 respectively. I guess the Honda engineers were in a good mood the day they built ours.

DYNO 2: AEM cold-air V2 intake
Air temp @ 72 Degrees Fahrenheit
Temperature difference from previous run: +1 degree Fahrenheit

Peak HP. 203.8
Peak TQ. 118.1

2000 to 3500 HP Range: 1 - 8
2000 to 3500 TQ Range: 1 - 3

3500 to 5500 HP Range: 2 - 6
3500 to 5500 TQ Range: 1 - 2

5500 to redline HP Range: 1 - 2
5500 to redline TQ Range: 1 - 2

Pros: After researching many S2000 forums we have yet to get a positive feedback on performance products that make power. But it seems as though AEM has done its homework with the V2 intake system. We witnessed gains of 8.6 horsepower at one point of the rpm band. Although peak power gain was only 2.7 horsepower there were considerable gains at the lower rpm where the Honda needs it most.

Cons: The intake is loud. It almost sounds like an angry elephant making a death charge at you. Some might think it sounds cool but be aware it can be obnoxious.

Parts include: Aluminum intake piping, 4-inch cone filter, misc rubber hoses, hose clamps, misc hardware, license plate, stickers and instructions.

Tools required for install: 10mm and 12mm sockets, ratchet, extensions, standard and Phillip screwdriver, needle nose pliers

Dyno notes: To keep dyno numbers consistent we left the S2000 strapped to the dyno. We have found in our testing when a vehicle is removed off the dyno horsepower figures can change without any changes performed on the vehicle.

Install time: 25 to 40 minutes

DYNO 3: DC Sports ceramic-coated header
Air temp @ 72 Degrees Fahrenheit
Temperature difference from previous run: +0 degree Fahrenheit

Peak HP. 206.3
Peak TQ. 120.2

2000 to 3500 HP range: 1 - 3
2000 to 3500 TQ range: 1 - 2

3500 to 5500 HP range: 1 - 3
3500 to 5500 TQ range: 2 - 3

5500 to redline HP range: 2 - 3
5500 to redline TQ range: 1 - 2

Pros: The DC Sports header also made improvements in the midrange department where the engine lacks most. We witnessed gains as high as 3 horsepower at certain points. We also noticed a slightly higher exhaust pitch from the factory canister due to the quicker exhaust flow.

Cons: The only drawback we see is if the car is still under warranty some dealerships might cancel part of your warranty that covers the exhaust system, while other might try to cancel your warranty all together. So you better watch out.

Parts include: Ceramic-coated 4-2-1 header, stickers and instructions.

Tools required for install: 0mm & 12mm sockets, ratchet, 6-inch extension, 10mm, 12mm and 22mm wrenches.

Dyno notes: As with any exhaust install make sure you let the car cool down sufficiently and use enough WD-40 to help loosen those bolts.

Install time: 45 minutes

DYNO 4: Gram Light Exhaust System
Air temp @ 72 Degrees Fahrenheit
Temperature difference from previous run: +0 degree Fahrenheit

Peak HP. 210.3
Peak TQ. 120.1

2000 to 3500 HP Range: 1 - 2
2000 to 3500 TQ Range: 0 - 1

3500 to 5500 HP Range: 1 - 2
3500 to 5500 TQ Range: 1 - 2

5500 to redline HP Range: 2 - 4
5500 to redline TQ Range: 1 - 3

Pros: The Gram Light exhaust system is really a nice piece. The four-inch stainless steel welded tips truly gives off the JDM appeal. Also the system is much lighter than the stock counterpart with a weight savings of over half. The system mounted up perfectly to all the factory hangers.

Cons: If the four-inch tips don't give it to the cops that this S2000 is modified the exhaust grunt surely will. The system was shockingly quiet but will make heads turn when the engine is at full song.

Parts include: Dual outlet stainless steel exhaust system, gaskets and hardware.

Tools required for install: 10-mm wrench, 12-, 14-mm socket & ratchet.

Dyno notes: The factory exhaust is one piece from the catalytic back so you might need some help to remove it. Just grease up the hangers with WD-40 so they slide off easily.

Install time: 30 minutes

Conclusion: Cars and women go hand in hand. The real dilemma comes when your women makes you choose between her and the car. Knowing how sick our readers are, some of you would choose your cars over your women and there is truly nothing wrong with that.