2001 Honda AP1 S2000 Review - These Mods TRANSFORM The S2K!

Want to unlock the true potential of your S2000's driving dynamics? Then look no further. Erik's AP1 is the perfect example of a build that pushes an already amazing platform 2 steps forward.
Mod List:
Engine/ Drivetrain:
Supertech valve springs and retainers
Top Fuel intake
High Flow Cat
Greddy SE Single exhaust
Ballade Throttle Body
Ballade Intake manifold
Ballade cams
Ballade Header
Toda timing Chain tensioner
AEM EMS
Tuned (220whp)
Koyo Radiator
Light weight flywheel
AP2 Secondary Gear
4.44 Final drive
Kaaz 1.5 way LSD
Axle Spacers
Yellow Box (Speedometer corrector)
Suspension/Wheels/Tires:
Ohlins DFV
J’s racing Ball joints
Eibach front sway bar
Full spherical bushings
CE28’s 17x9.5
RT660 255/40/17 Square
Brakes:
Buddy Club BBK
330mm rear rotors
Project Mu Club Racer pads
Interior:
Recaro Pole Positions *Jersey Red
Buddy Club rails
Recaro Side protectors
Elda Roll Bar
Momo Mod 78 *330mm
Works Bell Quick release
Evasive cruise control adapter
Exterior:
OEM lip
OEM side strakes
eBay rear spoiler (shaved to mount wing risers)
Alloy craft rear diffuser
Evasive rear bumper cap
AP2 tail lights
Follow me on IG: zygrene
Email me if you'd like me to review your car: [e-mail]

[@enlightnd0ne446]

As a ap1 owner i love when u make s2k videos , super informative ! Keep em coming !!!

[@matthewdavies4358]

Probably the smaller steering wheel making the steering feel faster, especially with those suspension mods. You can tell you love these cars….so you should get another soon!

[@mickeyhartsell6096]

I love the Honda S2000

[@DonBMW]

2001 S2K here. Three upgrades only and the car drives amazing! 1. Fujitsobo (OEM plus) exhaust 2. AP2 V1 17" wheels 3. ACT pressure plate and clutch w AP1 flywheel. Car sounds amazing, great handling, and ultra reliable. Fun and smiles all around. Get compliments constantly.

[@FourTheWheels]

Never gets old!

[@JBaek24]

Full spherical bushings! Changes the steering feedback and increase sharpness of that steering. Is it worth it and how was the NVH?

[@Zygrene]

There's definitely more NVH but that all becomes background noise once the VTEC hits yo

[@sunnyvalentino]

The quick steering and better feedback might be the smaller diameter wheel, the camber ball joints and sphericals. Can you ask him if he has spherical top hats? The diff can contribute to neutral behavior as you observed.

[@Erkkremlinklum]

Curious if I can apply these same methods to my nd2

[@Erkkremlinklum]

Probably not I’m assuming due to electric steering rack

[@adeemmunir5494]

Old is Gold baby!!!

[@ryanwang6528]

Glad you enjoy GMR Backside. This road is still as rough and narrow as I remember it :)

[@infidel900rr]

I'm beginning to feel like I should be buying one of these before they're all gone.

[@DonBMW]

Yo get one my dude. I got one years ago (02 AP1). Ultra reliable, cheap maintenance, widely available parts and awesome gearbox. The best in the industry. Prices are rising fast so you have to jump on one like yesterday.

[@FrancisD]

​@@DonBMWidk about widely available parts and them being cheap 😅😅

[@kushlord1989]

​@@DonBMWyea I love my 2000 ap1

[@EnhancedTrashBin]

​@FrancisD There is aftermarkets and many used parts though it definitely ain't cheap. Just trying to replace the weather strips for the soft top cost about $300. Even the bracket themselves cost about 300-400. It is what it is lol.

[@Sparkling.Fresca]

The steering sharpness is likely from his alignment, mine changed dramatically on my rx8 when I lowered caster. I did notice some gains from the ohlins fpspec longstroke , but nothing as drastic as getting a real alignment done.

[@ApexClubRacer]

Just can’t help yourself 😂, I don’t blame ya tho, every time I jump in the CR I’ve got a huge grin on my face 😅

[@RX7CER]

"Just one more S2000 review" said no one ever 😅

[@Flowermouth]

All of the s2000 reviews

[@Datsun510zen]

With your S2K love affare , how could I not watch every new vid with one. Although Erik's setup is much quicker and less effort at the wheel than what you're used to, would you say it's an improvement for track use once you get used to it?

[@Zygrene]

The behavior of the diff is a little too strong for my liking, but otherwise I'm sure this car would perform great on track with the mods.

[@enlightnd0ne446]

​​@@Zygrenewhas the kaaz lsd a 1.5 or 2 way ?

[@_br7x]

Those CE28's fit perfectly. What spacers did you put on? Ride height with the ohlins?

[@RacingS2000]

Subscribed because S2000

[@feelsgoodS2K]

how did you like the 4.4 final drive ratio? The stock ap1 gearing is so damn long, especially with a stock ap1 engine. Seems like the final drive woke up the revs a bit. Thoughts?

[@longhorn2882]

I swapped to a 4.4 fd. Initial drive felt the change was subtle. But as you live with it more and get used to the change in rev to shifting patterns it feels really nice.

[@michaelturpin6007]

Were these off-the-shelf Ohlins with the OTS spring rates? Or if not, which spring rates?

[@KT-mi7hk]

Thanks for the review and more s2k content. Seems the biggest thing was the suspension and LSD. The engine work didn't seem to merit much commenting. Is that fair?

[@BTDrgonzo]

Great video as usual 👍🏼. But have to ask, how many, if any, speeding tickets have you gotten making these videos?!?

[@TheKeafun]

do some toe out at the front for some monstrous cornering grip.

[@jwrx7tt01]

Have you ever reviewed an s2000 with kw clubsports? Keen to hear your feedback.

[@spikes20]

Back with his first love after cheating on her with a bunch of Porsche's lol

[@koreyp360]

Highly advise rack and pinion risers when lowering on coilovers. This has alot to do with the tight cornering as well.

[@williambellisIII]

My favorite attainable car of all time. Never selling mine. Want a second one, haha. That’s a lot of engine mods for 20whp though. A reason why I’ve never gone past the high-flow cat and exhaust route. Just not worth it.

[@AnotherMotorist]

Most of the gains with a header back and tune are at the mid range. Feels totally different/better than stock imo. 06+ have even more gains to be had.

[@williambellisIII]

@@AnotherMotorist True. That lower VTEC point. Much more to it than peak gains.

[@ahmedeo4529]

AP2 S2k 70k miles for 25k , NC2 miata 40k miles for 17k . which is the better value/best car that i can track once a month but also daily 4days a week ?

[@5thtenn]

If you ever had an S2000 you wouldn't need to ask this question. Get one.

[@Daniel240sx]

S2k with higher miles and Still the price is higher than the lower mileage Miata , that alone tells you something 😉

[@kushlord1989]

Im gona get me somee dfv's now for my ap1!!!

[@G3n3ralN0ns3ns3]

The chirping sound as your going downhill, is that from the roof latches? Or something else in the car?

[@odoroussmegma2191]

It believe it was a lesbian.

[@zakarisellami6503]

break pads I'm assuming

[@Zygrene]

It was the brakes

[@G3n3ralN0ns3ns3]

@@Zygrene thanks! Great video! Love when you do S2k reviews.

[@G3n3ralN0ns3ns3]

@@odoroussmegma2191 that must be an aftermarket install

[@scotthilly5653]

Hey great video man. My dad owns an AP1 and I’m in the extreme majority here but I straight up don’t enjoy driving. The steering is worse than a modern bmw, the rear is so snappy, and I just don’t feel like the car reacts naturally to inputs. cammissa is one of the only auto reviewer ever that’s sort of matched what I’m saying here but i legitimately would rather canyon drive a mk8 gti or an f8x bmw. Do you have any thoughts here? Do mods transform it that much? Or am I just a negative Nancy?

[@dAbaPEsTA123]

It’s a raw handling car but yes steering feel isn’t great

[@FCustureri]

I own an AP2 and have tracked it since it was stock, and personally I think it's one of the most natural feeling cars I've driven in the sense that every input has an anticipated output. Could really feel what the tires were doing and "steer with the rear" on track. The stock steering feel really does suck though, and I have no idea how much different AP1s feels but everyone does say the rear is more lively. Also, have never driven a MK8 GTI but drove a couple of MK7s and daily a MK6. I do think I'd rather drive the MK6 on tight mountain roads because it has more margin for error (easier to control at the limit) and the turbo powerband helps not needing to push as hard too. But prefer the S2000 for the track

[@dreamdrivedrift]

It’s just not your driving style. Driving a S2000 fast is a challenge specifically because of how it handles, how sharp the front end is on turn in and how the rear is on a knife edge. When you get the rotation right it rotates right on center and feels amazing. You have to have fast hands and be 100% present, but when you are you feel so alive. It’s a live wire. Anyone can drive a Mk8 gti or E36 M3 quickly, it gets boring...

[@coldvaper]

I had an AP1 I tracked for a year(about 25 times) and I could not get used to it and ended up binning it into a wall and Sonoma Raceway. I was stressed out every time I drove the car quick. The car is not predictable and edgy rear wasn't to me liking. Honestly this car was my hero car and I wanted to love it, I still do but I do not think the car is well balanced and the numb/sensitive steering did not help matter. I never want to drive another one so I can pretend my car was a dud. This car still has me so sad, I wish I would have fallen in love with it like so many others.

[@cornercarver636]

I feel the same way-kind of. I don’t like the steering. The snappiness is fine but the steering just doesn’t impress me.

[@TT92348]

I know you compared a stock ND2 to an AP1, but would you take a modded ND2 over an AP1?

[@Manvswild11]

I had both though the ND2 was only slightly modded, suspension and wheels. I sold that and kept my AP1, a lot more visceral for me in nearly every way. Depends what you want though

[@pain.497]

What kinda tires and size are you running?

[@Robin-xe4yz]

what's the squeaking? spherical bushings?

[@odoroussmegma2191]

The brakes are singing.

[@mrminiature11]

Will that stop over time?

[@Joe-nx7nj]

What seats are those?

[@creightonsmith5333]

Unless you are pushing the car to the max are any of these mods really necessary? Also, I'm guessing all these mods totaled up would make a good down payment on a S2K. Think I'd rather keep my old dependable AP1 stock.

[@Chilicharger665]

Why are you watching a video about modified S2000's if your only response is to bitch about mods? Go drive your stock car, grandpa.

[@5thtenn]

Who is this guy pimping for? I haven't done any of these things and I love my S2000 and would never sell it.

[@ravenstylea2]

He forgot the Hondata tune which lowers the vtech point and gives a more usable power band.

[@z32luvr]

Hondata only works on 06+

[@nycyabber7103]

lowkey wish i never did 4.44 gears in my S2k. At highway speeds (avg 80 mph where I live), I'm at like 5000 rpm lol

[@rcktmn]

What's up with people running road cars without airbags on the steering wheel? Seems dangerous?

[@ddmegadoodoo892]

For them, not you.

[@JupiterxBlues]

Yea. Not trying to be a buzz kill here but its definitely a bad mod to do. Specially for what you're going to be doing with the car. To be fair though, you dont need a front airbag if you have a racing seat, helmet and neck harness but if you dont have all 3, the airbag should be on. You gain close to nothing by removing it. Yea, aftermarket steering wheels help some drivers with different grips and wheel diameters, sure. Bur those drivers are pros and see massive amounts of track time. But if you can afford an S2K, you can afford to get an OEM+ version of your wheel with different grips and the airbag on still. Not sure if an S2K has that option but I know many popular cars do.

[@rcktmn]

@@JupiterxBlues ya, track car with roll cage, harness, helmets, etc I get. But don't understand people running no airbags on road cars. Seems sketch to me

[@afaqahmed43]

would it really be worth it to get a 21 year old car for 25-30k when you could get like a new 86 or a brz for a lil more.. s2k's owners are getting bolder i fear. great video as always zy cheers

[@Daniellihomes]

Yes

[@Mark-nu3ej]

I can't imagine the cost of all the updates to a car that already commands $25-$30k. Looks very fun to drive though, but I think I'd rather spend the money on a daily driver with close to the performance.

[@afaqahmed43]

@@Daniellihomes i dont understand it but i respect the hustle i suppose

[@afaqahmed43]

@@Mark-nu3ej i guess it depends on the person, lots of free time and money and sure itd be a great purchase/time investment but not for me

[@reza658]

Had a 2000 s2k for a year , traded it for the new brz in 2022 and it was fun don't get me wrong it was an amazing car to drive for hours and super comfortable for daily. But the car didn't have the raw characteristic as the s2k and when I hopped into the s2k taking corners and hitting the vtec it was an experience that the brz couldn't give me. That's why I sold the brz and got another s2k again

[@Carter229]

I'll never understand deleting airbags on street cars

[@RogueVisionary]

What's all that squeaking?

[@NicholasNunez]

I'm thinking it is the soft top's front latches & catchers

[@z06camaro]

Sounds like a generic mod list to go fast

[@flat6croc]

Can someone please explain why four cylinder bikes can sound absolutely great but even the best four-pot car engines like the AP1 ultimately sound like shit?