I am enjoying the 997 but have not sold my s2000 yet... one thing I can say for certain is that the gearbox/shifter set up is so much different. The s2000 is signifigantly better, tighter, shorter throws and just a smoother set up overall IMO. That said curious if anyone has come from a s2000 and now has a 997 that maybe has done the short shift kit on their 997. If this mod does help and in maybe shortening the large gap that I feel exists between the two cars in this department.... I have done the searches and have read about the kits and generally see decent feedback. Just curious if anyone has any first hand accounts of this between the two cars as I know a handful of people here have come from s2000 or even still have as their back up fun car.... assume B/M is the way to go fromw hat I have read as well.

Thanks all

 

I agree that the S2000 shifter is much better than the 997S shifter. The difference is even more pronounced when the car is cold. The 997 shifter can be downright balky until it warms up.

I don't really think that it's all that necessary to go with a SSK though.

 

previous s2k owner.
s2k tranny is awesome, plus if u get the rick's countersunk voodoo know - NOTHING ELSE WILL EVER BE THE SAME. I always keep an eye open for s2k. I will pick one back up sometimes near future.

 

I just sold (month ago) my S2000 and bought a 997S with SSK. I can say that the S2K was a better gearbox, but to be honest, the SSK on the 997 is GREAT i think....not as fluid and def needs a few mins to get going, but all in all i love it!

The one thing i will say is the rest of the car (997) MORE than makes up for any little short comings the gearbox may have

 

IF you want to test a B&M SSK in a 997 C2, let me know and you can drive mine. There is also an adapter to replace the plastic shift parts as well. 2nd Gear is a little slow when cold, but very nice when warm.

 

yes that would be great! Maybe we can hook up a sunday evening ride with some other P car owners... where are you in Boston? I am in Hopkinton Ma....

 

came from an S2000 to a 997 w/ssk. sure, the S2000 gearbox is shorter, lighter and quicker, but the 997 is more substantial and 'mechanical' feeling.

With the SSK anyhow, I don't feel the gearbox is a detracting factor by any means.

That being said, I'd love to pick up another S2000 one day!!!

 

Sorry I missed this thread, I was on vacation. I have driven the S2000 and prefer the gear box over my C2S with SSK. For those who like the S2000 gear box you have to drive an NSX sometime. My NSX had the best shifting I have ever felt.

 

This is going to sound nuts, but the best shifter I have ever used was in a 2003 Honda Civic EX (daily driver). Better than either of my 911's or M3.

 

My best friend has s2k I drive it all the time. I have a c2 997 with ssk and they are both great but I would have to give the edge to the s2k. It is much better than stock shifter on 997 but I would never trade my 997 for it.

 

Bought a brand new MY 2001 Silverstone over red Honda S2000 and loved it for 1 year/10,000 miles before selling it to get the glass rear window available the next year. Replaced that car with a MY 2002 Spa Yellow Pearl Honda S2000 that I drove for about 18 months and 15,000 miles before selling it to help my parents after my father's stroke.

Went a few years without a fun car before buying a used 1998 Acura NSX-T in 2005. Owned that car for a little over 3 years and 14,000 miles before selling it earlier this year.

We recently took delivery of a 2008 997S with the OEM short shifter kit.

I offer all of this boring background to establish the fact that I have quite a bit of experience with the gearboxes we're talking about.

The gearbox in the Honda S2000 is still the best gearbox I've ever driven. Much better, IMO, than the gearbox in either the NSX or the Porsche. But the clutch is a different story. The clutch in the Porsche offers more feel and I prefer it to the super light feel of the S2000 and the somewhere in between feel of the NSX.

The S2000 remains a fantastic sports car (although I really prefer the earlier 2.0L cars) but Honda has done that car the same dis-service they did the awesome NSX by not making any real meaningful changes in way, way too long.

Compare a MY2000 Boxster to a MY2000 Honda S2K and you'll see how awesome that Honda was. Now drive a current Boxster and you'll see how improved the Porsche is while Honda has done next to nothing to improve the car that was meant to celebrate the brand's anniversary.

 

agreed! I am eager to drive a 997 with the short shifter....

My s2000..... I am on the verge of just keeping it as the daily fun summer car and continue to mod the porsche and keeping it for more specail driving times.....

 

i agree with everything above

the s2k's gearbox is far more direct compared to a 997 tranny (i have yet to drive one with ssk tho)