Hello everyone

I have had my S2000 for about 6 months now and still am not use to the RWD. I am 26 years old and drove a civic before I was blessed with a good enough paying job to buy my S. But I still don't feel comfortable driving at high speeds (over 95) and hitting corners at any speed. I could drive 115mph in my civic and feel at ease, but with my S, it's just not the same. What gives?

PS, I meant FWD...

 

You sure it's not a convertible safety issue? My friends always feel freaked out when sitting in my S2000 but when driving my other cars they feel safe.

 

I don't think so. I'm sure that it's in the handling. Like I'm being pushed from the back and my front tires are not reacting quick enough. And I just bought 4 new tires last months.

 

You're probably feeling the difference between a nose-heavy FWD car and a better-balanced RWD car. In addition, FWD cars almost always (from the factory) understeer which is safer for the inexperienced driver since it causes the front of the car to plow through a turn when taken too fast rather than having the rear end of the car swing wide.

I would find it hard to believe that your S2000's turn-in is slower than your Civic. The front end of the S2000 should feel much lighter and react quicker to steering input than your Civic. I've found that the S2000 has a crisper feeling and tighter handling front end than any FWD car I've ever driven.

You might want to check the air pressure in your front tires. Perhaps you aren't running enough pressure which will make the front end feel sloppy and loose. You might also want to make sure that the front end is in perfect alignment too.

Did you replace the tires with Potenza S-02s or did you go with some other make/model? I'm assuming that you bought the car used since you've already replaced the tires in only 6 months.

 

I replaced the tires, but not with S-02's. They were the next step down... but still Z rated tires. I will check on the pressure, but I just got an allignment 2 weeks ago as well. But the frint end does feel sloppy, like it wants to rock when I turn.

 

It is all about balance, if you come into a corner balanced with the S, you can take it way faster than a Civic can. The S was way more grip. I had a lowered prelude before, that thing stuck in corners very well but the S is even better, just don't upset the balance in mid turn or gassing it in a turn like you can a FWD.

 

have you had the car checked out by the dealer? The car is supposed to be very neutral handling and flat in corners.

 

One thing to keep in mind with the speed ratings on tires: the stock S-02s are "W" rated (168 mph) while Z-rated tires are 149+ mph. Also, the S-02s are considered to be "max performance" tires -- you want to make sure that the tires you get are designed for the capabilities of the car (or better to give you a safety margin).

 

RWD can manuever more easily but the driver needs to know that he has a limit and must not speed too fast around a corner

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nastinupe
[B]I replaced the tires, but not with S-02's.