http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/wwwthreads/sh...sb=5&o=14&part=

EVO forum thread about a testdrive in the S2000.

Everyone is reporting that even in the wet the rear is just so twitchy it's dangerous.

Please tell me its not that bad !!

 

Lotusman,

I was out in the rain today (Bromley Kent - Newbury with my standard S-02's nearly at slick level due to some great driving in Wales yesterday ) and while I was being quite cautious, I never at any time felt that the car was twitchy.

This has long been a critism of the S2000, and if you search the forum you'll see a lot of views on how to combat it, maybe changing tyres to Goodyear Eagles which have better water displacement capabilities.

I've never had any 'nervous' moments, but maybe I'm just a woos driver

 

???

That bloke should have got the testdrive car looked at because something was wrong with it. I know when one of my rears was punctured the backend was all over the place but one side was nearly flat for god's sake.

If you'd have been there yesterday in Wales then you would have not been worried at all by the handling on display!!!

Keith

 

They are talking out there arses, done 20000 miles in mine and never a moment, if you drive like a tosser you will end up in the hedge in any car. If you have over 240 horses in a car that weighs around 1250kg you can produce fun in bucket fulls. Owned several 911s and they had just about the worst press imaginable for tail happy antics, but like the S2000 I found these cars to be enjoyable, exhilarating to drive and above all FUN

 

Make sure you get them F1s soon if you're gonna get them James - there is totally no point risking it.

I think the description of "twitchy" is a bit wrong. I always found on the S02s that the back end was solid but on the edge would cut away very quickly. On my f1s however there is a more progressive feel nearer the limit - more controllable/predictable than the solid S02 i s'pose...and hey, in the wet - F1s are the way to go...

 

if you've never driven a rwd car before you probably can suprise yourself in the wet. but basically you'd really have to be doing something stupid. I've clocked up 15000 miles, many of them at full wack, and i've spun twice. both times on a track. i've stuck to the standard so2 boots, so i don't believe that that is the issue, you've just got 240bhp, rear wheel drive, a wet road and no driver aids. there are basic laws of physics at work here....

s

 

I have rarely read so much rubbish

My guess is

(a) the guy has no idea of how to drive a rwd car
(b) that the tyre pressures were all to cock

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PWE 896
[B]
Unstable on a motorway at 70 mph?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by PWE 896
[B]I have rarely read so much rubbish

 

I'll respond to help answer Lotusman's original post.

Thanks for that measured response Bob, it is good to hear it straight from the horses mouth.

I do not have your extensive RWD experience, the S2000 is the first RWD car I have driven for extended periods but cannot say that my car shares the characteristics you have described.

Last month we drove over 3000 miles on continental European roads, everything from 28 degree sunshine to freezing temps and blizzards over the Pyrenees with quite a lot of torrential rain in between. I can quite honestly say that despite driving at speeds like those you describe the car never once exhibited any tendency to "default to rapid oversteer", indeed under a steady acceleration or constant speed through a corner its tendency is understeer?? Lifting off or braking mid corner is another thing though and a well documented way of getting an S2000 to behave in a markedly less friendly fashion

All my driving has been done on stock S02 tyres and the only time they broke traction without provocation from my right foot was when hitting a stream of deep running water across a Spanish dual carriage way under heavy braking when the rear did give quite a twitch. Had the tyres not been well worn (11500 miles) I'm sure this wouldn't have happened. The car settled itself though and no major incident ensued.

I'm happy to drive my car 365 days of the year, the only conditions I have found that the S02/S2000 combo cannot safely deal with is standing snow. Lotusman - buy the car and enjoy it! They're superb.

Tif