An outsider could very well think that we are a group stuck in the “swinging sixties” a la Austin Powers. With talk of drifting sideways and “swinging” the car around a corner screaming “YEAH, BABY YEAH,” some members seem to be poster children of that era. The recent YouTube video of three S2000 owners hooning their cars on public roads in traffic does not help either. Many car reviewers and S2000 owners consider the S2000 to be an exceptionally well-balanced machine, and also believe that this roadster is not meant to be driven sideways. On the track, the recommended approach is to hold the line as you enter the corner while targeting acceleration upon exit, but even the most precise driver cannot deny there is a certain guilty pleasure derived from swinging the rear around.
However, a significant number of new S2000 owners believe that handling an S2000 is child’s play; from the moment they strap in to the driver’s seat, they give notice to the world of their drifting capabilities by going sideways into the nearest tree or barrier. The S2000 is evil; it will not forgive any driver who drives beyond his/her capabilities and could very well end up leaving its owner like something the 60s chewed up and spat out (think Keith Richards minus the charm and accent).
As always, we suggest that you “hold your horses” and exercise moderation in your inputs while out there on the streets, especially on a rainy day. Remember, a rainy day is not a great opportunity to be swinging the tail of the S2000 in traffic. While you have heard all of this before, we think this repetition would be worthwhile even if it saves one S2000 owner out there. As usual, we encourage and recommend that you visit the track and learn more about your ride in a safer environment. Looking fast by drifting your car doesn’t necessarily equate to going fast and as you probably know what appears slow is indeed very fast.
There is a guilty pleasure to be derived from drifting your S2000 as the world is looking on. However, such situations often result in the pleasure vanishing, leaving you to deal with the guilt and heartache. Have you ever been in such a situation? Tell us about it.
Images above are of owners driving their cars in controlled environments. Please do not attempt this in your car on public roads
Images Courtesy of AaronCompNetSys and NetCarShow
Related Links:
S2000 Talk – Swinging the S2000
Jalopnik: Watch Three Honda S2000 Owners Drive Like A****** on Public Roads
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on Jul 14th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
I went out and did figure 8 burnouts in mine last week – my passenger nearly choked to death, the people in the office building next to us were a mixture of joy and pure hatred and to all of that I was totally unconcerned.
Have fun in your car or don’t and hide until death comes to find you.
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
The people that actually hate the most are people who own much more expensive vehicles like the cayman and the gt500 that are so fear full of the consequences of driving them that they are totally wasted vehicles.
For them I always hang the tail out and let it bounce of the rev limiter and if anyone wants to cry about it – f#$k em
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 3:53 pm
i like my s too much to do any of that. every once in awhile i give it a little extra gas when exiting a turn to get the tires to squeal a bit, but this car is a gem… they don’t make it anymore… that makes me think it’s something worth treasuring. s2k meets are so much fun too. can’t really do em with something else. sure you could run through this car, buy a different one and find a different car club, but why would you want to?
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
Hey is that first pic out on the kart track in Camden, OH? I used to race karts there!
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
I get a bit happy from time to time, never really drifted in public or on a road with other cars. In moderation I think its ok to kick the tail out alil, if all is safe.. If someone doesn’t use common sense, then let evolution take its natural course. Sadly a near death exp will wake some up, and some not.. Hopefully the ones that do will get themselves some track lessons. For the spontaneous irrational carefree thinker, invest in a plot instead of mods.
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
At autox last week it poured buckets and in the rain I was a terrible driver! As it dried up through the afternoon I had a couple of extremely satisfying power on slides. They are a ton of fun in the right environment!
on Jul 14th, 2011 at 11:31 pm
Wrecked mine coming around a bend in the rain. Never saw it coming either, it was oop there went my a**, and slam into the barrier. It taught me a lesson though, a lesson I’m still paying to this day.lol Be careful fellow s2k brothers
on Jul 15th, 2011 at 12:08 am
Yes Yahooing is fun, provided it doesn’t end too suddenly against something hard.
I have drifted a Formula 1 Brabham Repco across the top of the mountain at Bathurst, on my way to winning a 100 mile F1 race, but there was no smoke or wheel spin, that’s the slow way.
One of my favourite stories is about Fangio, one of the greatest ever drivers, when he was suffering through an interview with the lady journalist from some women’s mag. He had politely struggled through the usual idiot questions, when she finally went too far. She asked “Mr Fangio, how do you put your car into a slide”.
A witness said that Fangio recoiled as is slapped across the face. Throwing out his chin he said, “madam I spend my entire time on the track preventing slides, not initiating them”, with which he stamped off.
Says it all really, about what is quick, & what is slow.
on Jul 15th, 2011 at 4:34 am
i made the mistake of trying to drift around this right hand corner on my way home in the rain. nice big 4 lane area and no traffic. turned the traction control off (first mistake) then over powered the throttle and ended up doing a 720 spin and hit the front of the car on the ride hand side curb. my front oem lip was destroyed and a rashed front bumper. $600+ dollars gone in a 10 sec bad judgement call. could have been alot worse.
on Jul 19th, 2011 at 4:07 am
Learning this art I think only makes you better. I instructed a 19 year old at an hpde who had been drifting competively for 2 years. He had a 240sx making 425hp to the wheels. While he needed help with identifying turn in points, looking ahead…etc. His car control was amazing. When his car became unsettled in fast turns he neverceven though about lifting and just used throttle and steering.
on Jul 19th, 2011 at 11:57 am
anyone seen those 3 idiots in s2000′s driving like a**holes? it was on jalopnik. makes us look so bad. SMH FP!
on Jul 19th, 2011 at 3:00 pm
I’m 22 years old and have been an s2000 owner since 19. I come from 2 generations of s2000 owners so driving the car properly was my strong suit but I’ll be the first to admit every drift attempt ended in a spin out or embarrassing loss of control. Being a college student allows a limited amount of usable funds, so going to a track was out of the question. Since the car is a DD I bought blizzaks for the PA winter. (best mod). Everytime it would snow I would take the S out and practice in the closest parking lot. A year later, (to some’s disapprovall and many’s excitement) I can now drift snow covered streets with ease. Now when unexpected oversteer occurs on dry, wet, or snow; 2nd nature kicks in and the situation is easily corrected. I would encourage any inexperienced driver to learn to drift; not to show off, but to develope a skill that WILL help you in the future of spirited driving in your S.
on Aug 11th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I like the grey one. Well forgive but I were the owner, I’d be driving it fast and make it more noticeable in public. Why not? That would be the only thing that I could be proud of. Everyone should notice me driving it.
on Jan 4th, 2012 at 8:29 am
Note to author, you really should have contacted me before stealing that image, I obviously didn’t take it as I’m the one driving. I think its prolly ok with the owner of the image though.
@Jordan: Yes, that is in Camden Ohio.