I took low end. Most of the time I need it from a light so the guy in the far right isn't gonna beat me and cut me off !

Having never driven an S1,I have to vote top end

I'm kind of confused by this because I think there'* lots of low end power on the S2. In fact, if you have never driven an S1, you couldn't really notice.

I have a 94 SSEi with a 2.6" pulley, CAI, irridium plugs, stock coils, OE replacement wires, the correct-diameter exhaust piping, an engine rebuilt 110K miles ago, and a transmission rebuilt about 35K miles ago.

1337ssei has a 97 SSEi with a 3.4" pulley with 2 degrees of KR at WOT, CAI, Autolite 103 plugs, stock coils, Belden wires, and a 3" Magnaflow pipe from the high-flow Magnaflow cat and back. He hasn't changed the downpipe, but he ran on the track with the rear 02 deleted.

I saw willwren had so much done to his car, and even had 0 degrees of KR with a 2" pulley! He fine-tuned everything, and his car was in such good shape. However, he got a 1/4 time that was only .2 seconds faster than 1337ssei'*.

Also, I've ridden in 1337ssei'* car several times and have driven it, and it just feels so good. I have had no way of checking, but I think it has more power all around as compared to my car. Taking off feels solid; with his car, you just tap the gas if you'd like, and the car'* already moving. My car feels really bogged down for a split second, and then it takes off. It feels incredible until the 3K rpm point, and then the G-force lets go until the next shift point.

With the 99 SLE, the power band seems much lower all around than either my 94'* or 1337'* 97. Regardless, it feels like it really takes off in the low end, but gunning it on the highway doesn't do much.

So, I like low-end power. It'* not because I have a S1, but because my S1, my S2, and my friend'* S2 all have really great low-end power that doesn't cut off until the mid range. I really don't know what you guys are talking about when you mention top-end because aside from 1337ssei'* awesome car, no other 3800 has ever felt like a good high-RPM car.

i got a Series 2....i got both

I'll go with top-end, but really having a good mid-range is really what'* important IMO. When you need the power how often are you below 3k rpm (what I consider low-end), and at the same time how often are you above 5k rpm (top-end)?

Although, I'm in the same boat as Boosty... I've set my car up to have the best of everything. Maybe a little bit too much low-end grunt (Don and Marik know what I mean).

"Top end" is relative.

On a 3800 with a red line of ~6000rpm top end is anything over 4500-5000.
On the race Rabbit "top end" is anything over 7000rpm, the only raeson to set it'* red line at 8500rpm, is the power band starts to fall off at 8000rpm.

My 94 sure had low end balls, but my 03 doesn't seem to lack much. In you're talking numbers, the 03'* peak is 5 ft/bs more torque (than the 94) at only 400 rpms higher. On good days my 94 felt amazing off the line, but when I actually timed a 0-60 I was pretty disappointed. My 03 is about a second quicker from 0-60.

If I had to choose what I wanted MORE OF, I'd choose more top-end for sure. I like the feeling of being able to hang around longer on the highway. I like top-end power without sacrificing low-end, and for being stock, my '03 is a pretty respectable compromise.

The more I drive the 03 though, the more I see that I could really use more top-end!

I always liked driving the 94 once in a while though. It would be nice to have both a S1 and S2 L67.

I have a Northstar, so I don't have much choice but to vote top end, as its peak torque is dev'l at 4500 RPM. I have to rely on steep tranny gearing to get me to 4000 RPM ASAP. Top end delivers excitement when you've already got going, but low end makes heads turn.

Low end torque scares people

but so does high end.