2004 v. 2005 v. 2006?

nola mike · 11-06-2006, 10:51 PM

thinking about getting an s2k within the next year (also looking at a z4...). wondering about the differences between the 04, 05 and 06? i had read that new to the 06 was drive by wire shifter (i'd prefer mechanical i think...), lsd (though i've seen specs with the 05 having a limited slip), and headrest speakers/8 speaker system v. 4. since the prices are so close together, i'd probably pay the extra just for the better sound system. anything significant that would make me choose one over another? i think 04 with the new engine would be the oldest i'd want to go...

Halo · 11-07-2006, 09:20 AM

The shifter is not 'drive by wire' the THROTTLE is. The shifter is, and has always been a direct manual linkage. With the intro of drive by wire throttle, the car now comes standard with a traction control, yaw control package.

LSD has been standard since the intro of the car in 99.

The seats (made by Recaro since day 1, although definitely deuxieme cru compared to aftermarket Recaros) were redesigned to be more comfy for 06 and the cutouts for the helmet are no longer there. The come standard with speakers, which were a dealer installed option in the past.

In short, the 06 has become, shall we say, more like the Z4 with improved safety, comfort and convenience and less like the S2000, with raw seat of your pants driving experience. One can't fault Honda since pretty much everyone who wanted a pure S2000 already has/had one so they have to market to a slightly different segment.

nola mike · 11-07-2006, 01:31 PM

ok,
that makes more sense--couldn't figure out how a drive by wire linkage would work, and what the point would be...

so new in '06, we have the traction control? how is this different from the lsd? does it use active braking or something? can it be shut off (having a hard time googling for an explanation)? if so, it doesn't seem like much less of a driver's car...nothing wrong with added safety, except having another thing to break.

how hard is it to install the headrest speakers on an earlier version?

is the difference in seats a significant one? i'm 6'2-6'3", but i've fit in miatas without too much trouble (and the elise for that matter).

i assume that the "pure s2000"'s are the pre-'04s? i understand the appeal, but from what i've read, the 2.2 is a more driveable engine, if a little less visceral. this is a daily driver for me, mostly in the city (that's why i'm not seriously looking at an elise). thanks for the advice!

Halo · 11-08-2006, 11:01 AM

A limited slip differential is a performance, rather than a safety feature.
Limited slip differential - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cliffs notes: Regardless of the design, the implementation is that the more power you apply, the tighter the two driveshafts are linked together.

The traction control/yaw control package can be disabled with a cockpit switch. It's less of a driver's car because added safety adds electronics between you and the road, adds weight, and decides for you how to drive the car. But, as you said, it can be disabled. I can't recall how Honda's skid control works, usually it's some combo of pulling timing, closing throttle, applying brake to one wheel.

The headrest speakers from the earlier versions were a different design, more tacked on, than the ones that are now integrated into the headrest. It's a dealer installe option, so probably a 10 year old child can do it

If you can fit in the Elise, you'll have no problem in the S, any year. After driving my friend's Elise for just a few miles, getting back into the S felt like getting into a '78 Eldorado

11-06-2006, 10:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
nola mike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2	2004 v. 2005 v. 2006? thinking about getting an s2k within the next year (also looking at a z4...). wondering about the differences between the 04, 05 and 06? i had read that new to the 06 was drive by wire shifter (i'd prefer mechanical i think...), lsd (though i've seen specs with the 05 having a limited slip), and headrest speakers/8 speaker system v. 4. since the prices are so close together, i'd probably pay the extra just for the better sound system. anything significant that would make me choose one over another? i think 04 with the new engine would be the oldest i'd want to go...

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11-07-2006, 09:20 AM	#2 (permalink)
Halo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 610	The shifter is not 'drive by wire' the THROTTLE is. The shifter is, and has always been a direct manual linkage. With the intro of drive by wire throttle, the car now comes standard with a traction control, yaw control package. LSD has been standard since the intro of the car in 99. The seats (made by Recaro since day 1, although definitely deuxieme cru compared to aftermarket Recaros) were redesigned to be more comfy for 06 and the cutouts for the helmet are no longer there. The come standard with speakers, which were a dealer installed option in the past. In short, the 06 has become, shall we say, more like the Z4 with improved safety, comfort and convenience and less like the S2000, with raw seat of your pants driving experience. One can't fault Honda since pretty much everyone who wanted a pure S2000 already has/had one so they have to market to a slightly different segment.

11-07-2006, 01:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
nola mike Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2	ok, that makes more sense--couldn't figure out how a drive by wire linkage would work, and what the point would be... so new in '06, we have the traction control? how is this different from the lsd? does it use active braking or something? can it be shut off (having a hard time googling for an explanation)? if so, it doesn't seem like much less of a driver's car...nothing wrong with added safety, except having another thing to break. how hard is it to install the headrest speakers on an earlier version? is the difference in seats a significant one? i'm 6'2-6'3", but i've fit in miatas without too much trouble (and the elise for that matter). i assume that the "pure s2000"'s are the pre-'04s? i understand the appeal, but from what i've read, the 2.2 is a more driveable engine, if a little less visceral. this is a daily driver for me, mostly in the city (that's why i'm not seriously looking at an elise). thanks for the advice!

11-08-2006, 11:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
Halo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 610	A limited slip differential is a performance, rather than a safety feature. Limited slip differential - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Cliffs notes: Regardless of the design, the implementation is that the more power you apply, the tighter the two driveshafts are linked together. The traction control/yaw control package can be disabled with a cockpit switch. It's less of a driver's car because added safety adds electronics between you and the road, adds weight, and decides for you how to drive the car. But, as you said, it can be disabled. I can't recall how Honda's skid control works, usually it's some combo of pulling timing, closing throttle, applying brake to one wheel. The headrest speakers from the earlier versions were a different design, more tacked on, than the ones that are now integrated into the headrest. It's a dealer installe option, so probably a 10 year old child can do it If you can fit in the Elise, you'll have no problem in the S, any year. After driving my friend's Elise for just a few miles, getting back into the S felt like getting into a '78 Eldorado