Actually dumping the clutch at 6000rpm doesn't hurt it at all. But there is the potential to kill the differential. Wink
Jameel, you should take a ride at the next auto-x and see how you like it with the supercharger
Actually I'm sure 240HP is more than adequate for an AutoX. Stock S2000s where killing my times last Saturday, so I don't think you need much HP for an AutoX. In fact the guy with the fast white Miata (he got the FTD), told me he turned down his boost, which gave him the fastest time on the last run. So a lot of HP might be overkill in an AutoX session.
Unfortunately I may not be able to attend the next AutoX, have a wedding to go to :-(. But I'll take you up on that at the AutoX after that. I have to warn you, I'm 210lbs, so that might hurt your power-to-weight ratio. hahahah...
I think Wing covered the thing about Honda and F.I.
When I was talking about "finesse" when driving an S2000 and knowing how to drive one, you don't just "nail" the throttle. That doesn't work and that's why so many people think the low end torque is inadequate. Someone who knows how to drive it, will never just "nail" it. That's the part where I talked about "clutch kick". Drifters use this technique all the time. If I'm going to race someone (not that I do, BTW), I wouldn't just NAIL it. I would do a rolling clutch dump. It does no harm to the clutch or the rear diff when done correctly. I do them just for fun when the roads are safe to do so and I'm not racing anyone. Why would I nail it at a point in the rev band when there's no torque. No, I'm going to get it to where the torque is. This is no different from getting an F1 car going, but on a smaller scale. As for the superchargers, they don't do anything for the low end. They, in fact, give it all to you at the high end. It's final drive gearing (like my 4.44s) that take care of the low end.
I don't believe Honda made the S2000 to make a lot of money or to make a big profit anywhere. They've got other cars that are their "bread and butter". The S2000 is what it is and I don't believe Honda really cared if it competed with any particular car in the marketplace. It's us consumers that think it should have to compete.
And yes, no tilt steering wheel keeps the tall people away, but again, I don't think Honda really cared about this, either. I guess they thought there were enough "average" height people who would buy them all.
As far as "less is more" not cutting it, I wonder what Lotus was thinking with their Elise and Exige? There are quite a few S2000 owners who actually think Honda put too much into it and they've been stripping stuff off. To each his own.
When you say "clutch kick" are you talking about pushing the clutch-in, revving the engine to get the RPMs up and then dumping the clutch? If so, do you really want to be doing that all the time you are "racing". Maybe I'm getting lazy in my old age.
Really, superchargers don't give you low-end torque. I thought that was the entire point of the supercharger to give you instant power (HP/torque), unlike a turbocharger which has to build boost.
Okay I was unaware the RDX is turbocharged. I guess Honda is changing it's philosophy regarding FI. If that's the case then a 4 cyl with a turbo / supercharger would be perfect for the new S2000.
What I mean less is more, I'm not talking about weight, I'm talking about HP/torque.
I love the Elise/Exige it's my dream car. Hopefully I'll get one later on.
Even Lotus realized the Elise was underpowered, that's why they came out with the ExigeS. Now they have the supercharged Elise and they've further bumped the HP and torque on the new ExigeS-240. This is the right way to keep your product fresh and current. I find honda tends to stay with the same formula for a long time when it comes to their super/sports cars.
Honda needs to upgrade/update their cars. I argue the NSX, it was Honda who made it uncompetitive in the market place. Who's going to pay $140,000 for 290HP/224ft-lbs car? When the competition has 400+ V8s and Turbo 6s?!
Why are you hating on tall people.