Spaceentity

The owners manual says that the total weight of occupants and trunk load should not exceed 500lbs. But with 240hp, it shouldn't have any problem with more weight inside.

Why the limit since there are much less horse power cars on the road w/o this limit?

NDAZONE

Torque is the measurement used when determining how much weight a motor can move. S2000 = 153 or 162

daktruckie99

It most likely stems from a performance requirement that was imposed on the designers and engineers of the automobile. The suspension, seats, sway-bars, etc all need baseline statistics that they can be designed to perform to. Will you be OK if the car has 700 lbs of load, sure. But will it perform as the manufacturer describes it to, most likely not. It also plays into the Gross Vehicle Weight statistic that all automobiles have.

That would be my opinion of course.

-Mike

Car Analogy

Exactly^

Its not just about power to move the weight, its about springs, suspension joints, etc that have to support the weight. Its also about load on trans/diff gears, that have to move the weight. Its about brakes that have to absorb the extra energy the weight imposes. Its about tires that have to withstand the weight, at speed. All that stuff adds up the GVWR mentioned above. They calculate the GVWR, then subtract how much car actually weighs, what is left is what is allowed for load (passengers, cargo, etc).

Nothing has a better power/weight ratio than a motorcycle, and the GVWR on those is quite low. Motor can handle the weight, its everything else that can't.

takeshi

Even without knowing the answer, it should be obvious that HP isn't the only important variable to consider. If you take a random sample of vehicles you'll notice that capacity isn't directly related to HP. Otherwise, with that sort of reasoning, a lot of supercars would be able to haul more than a lot of trucks.

BuggyofMildDiscomfort

Nothing to do with HP really, as many have stated, it's the design limits on various suspension and driveline components.

INDYMAC

I thought it was 400lbs, not 500lbs. I've always considered it a suspension limitation. Bottoming out isn't much fun, and it's supposed to be a fun car!

SheDrivesIt

Take a fully loaded S2000 with two largish people and a fully loaded to the gills trunk through a twisty mountain road like the Tail of the Dragon for example, and you will have your answer. Being above the design weight limit, especially with a bunch of extra weight in the rear, is VERY evident

shy_guyAP1

Because no fat chicks, duh!

Seriously though more weight puts more stress on a motor already on the edge, 500lbs is safe.

TougeS2k

fat chicks