just like Raptor said, no lag....I put 68,500 miles on an 02 S2000 before buying my 06 and I actually think it may be even better (just an observation/opinion)....rev matching is so smooth.


other minor differences:

-new wheels (not mentioned in this thread)
-cruise control module is w/ the DBW, the space that many people put their catch cans in the past, is now open (no need to remove the cruise control)
-seat belt warning beep
-passanger air bag sensor in seat (under 100lbs turns off)
-steering wheel slightly different

 

I went from an 04 to an 06, had it for a week, put a couple hundred miles on it (very hard miles) then back to my original 04 (long story maybe another time).

- DBW is noticeable the drive is wayyy smoother, but you do not feel VTEC kick as I did in the 04.
- The seats are much more comfortable, but I still like the 04 design. With the 06, the headrest leans forward much farther and I do not know how this would impede helmet wearing.
- VSA is turned on automatically when the car is started and you have to turn it off. I kept forgetting to turn it off and did notice an ever so slight bog when trying to drive it should be. (That's the safety thing).
- DRL (daytime running lights are always on)
- The headrest speakers do not add as much power as I expected. They help balance the sound out a bit though.


Overall Honda has put in a LOT of additional safety features into this car. You won't be able to switch the seats out either (I'm sure someone will figure it out and post the info) because of the sensors in the seats that determine air bag speed etc.

I think that the 06 S is a lot more comfortablw of a drive then AP2's and I felt they made these changes to appeal to a wider range of audience. Touring is the word that kept comign to mind.

I spent a lot of time comparing the new features vs. the old car, if you got more questions lemme know...

 

Thanks for the nice write up TJS. So, i guess the 06 does not drive as a good kart compare to the older model right? IMO, i think the 06 is more like a touring car now comparing to the older model.

 

something else feels different, but I'm not sure....either the steering wheel is ever so slightly higher or the seat feels ever so slightly lower...anyone else notice this? (it may just be in my head)

 

You've missed the new front "glove box". It's really more like two small storage slots about 1" x 4" x 6" each on the passenger side where the glove box typically is.

 

You mean four storage slots....check above those two.

 

I actually like the wheel better, it doesn't look greenish nor shared from the Honda parts bin like its off an Insight. The comment you made about the VTEC, I knew in the 04 it was less drastic of a change. However you mentioned its almost not noticeable in the '06, that really is sounding like a deal breaker.

 

It's the damn SEATS!!!! They don't LEAN back far enough!! It took me forever to figure that out! I feel closer to the windshield. And I'm short. You guys must be cramped. I don't feel difference w/the DBW from my other ones! But I LOVE the new BLUE. Oh, and you can turn the VSA off but I am not as good as driver so I leave it on! And the VTEC feels EXACTLY the same to me as my 04. I think some people just look for things to be different. You can still hear it too. Go get one.

 

The DBW is not noticeable to me at all. Test drove an 05 and then bought the 06 not even a week later and it felt the same.

The suspension does feel slightly softer than the 05. It's still very rigid, but very very small difference. When I'm on the road and I turn the wheel back and forth really fast, you can see the car roll slightly, but on the 05, I noticed no body roll at all.

Radio to me sounds amazing, but that's only because I was driving around a 1986 Jetta with the stock speakers... lol. Still have it by the way... lol.

Another thing, I noticed that sometimes (mind you... only sometimes) after shifting and the clutch pedal is fully released, I still feel the clutch engaging slowly to make a smooth transaction. I hope this doesn't get in the way when I start to rip on the car. The time delay is really noticeable when it does happen and it feels like it would get in the way of quick shifting.

Andre

 

I am soooo tempted to pick up GPW 06 with hardtop its unreal.