Emmerick

A vague acquiescence who knows about my enthusiasm for my s2k sent me this article.

It's supposedly this "America's Best Handling Car" Be all end all non-sense. Imports included.

I am skeptical from the get go, due to the conspicuous absence of a few cars, but either way this shocked me


Mazdaspeed3 GT
Best lap (min:sec): 1:50.375
73.0 mph avg
1.31g peak lateral acceleration

This hot hatch delivered better-than-expected traction that didn't degrade a bit over five hot laps. Angelelli reported being able to carry surprisingly high (for a front-driver) mid-corner speeds through the fastest turns, though he cautioned, "If you have to brake going into the corner late, you can go into an oversteer situation that's very hard to control." Thanks to the Mazda's neutral handling, its tires showed no shoulder or sidewall wear, and its seventh-place performance overall topped that of the S2000. Angelelli praised the light, direct steering, but felt more anti-lock activity than expected from the brakes.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_070...l#ixzz0kv5n9Iw3


Honda S2000
Best lap (MIN:SEC) : 1:50.738
72.8 mph avg
1.40g peak lateral acceleration

Honda's F1-inspired engine and close-ratio gearbox obliged Angelelli's inclination toward gentle, controllable power-on oversteer exiting corners of varying speeds, and he appreciated the S2000's light, direct, intuitive steering and neutral demeanor. He found fault with the brakes, which faded badly enough to cut his run short by a lap, and with the chassis's overall rigidity, which trailed those of the closed cars. "Going into the corners you can feel a twist in the beginning, and then it settles to the end of the corner." He recommends softening the rear springs for track duty.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_070...l#ixzz0kv6VzIGr


I have tons to say on the matter, partly that if his brakes were fading THAT badly by the 4th lap...? uhhh maybe you need to ease up a little on the brakes.

I know next to nothing about the mazda 3 GT, but i mean, really? If Mazda 3 GT's were scooting by s2000's on the track......i mean....

Emmerick

here's the link to the article, btw.

http://www.motortrend.com/features/112_070...aguna_seca.html

spook

Hmph..

loudawwg56

Yup..the Mazdaspeed3 is no joke on the street or the track. The Speed3 and Chevy Cobalt are a couple of fast fwd turbo cars that can make the S2000 look pretty weak......but Ill still take my S.

JLUDE

So the 3 beat a 10 year old car by 0.4 seconds?

These guys are also claiming they can feel the S2000 chasis "twist"?

OK.

I'm enjoying my grain of salt.

imarShall

So they used a Mini Cooper S type, Evo MR, Civic SI, but no CR? Or am I reading wrong?

hippo and dog

i didn't read the full article but to truly compare apples to apples they should have standardized the tires and brakes

BBS2000

Either take the turbo off the mazda or add a turbo to the S and I'm sure it would be the other way around by a bit more. Light direct steering from a FI front wheel drive car...when...must have had sponsoring monies from Mazda for this test.

circuitclub

You think a professional race car driver can't tell if the chassis on a street car is twisting?

ebchu

it was a good article, the s2k was slower around laguna. however it did finish higher overall in the ranking than the speed3.

s2k stock brakes are known to fade on the track, that is why it is recommended you get different pads if you are going to track it.