Leaving early for work today to enjoy the nice weather I decided to take a nice backroad into town. There I was just about to be at the end of the road when for some reason I carried more speed than usual into the last corner before the stop sign. I started to feel the rear come out which has happen before and no problems correcting it. This time was different, it snapped back way harder than I was expecting and I went back and forth fighting it for a second or two then the inevitable happen, it spun complete 180 degrees and i slid backwards in the other lane and stopped with half the car on the road and half on the grass. The gas station next to the road were people standing with shock and mouths opened, I felt like such an idiot and made a horrible decision behind the wheel. I realized what I should have done after the spin had happened (which I'm sure happens to us all). Luckily I didn't hit anyone and no damage was done, I was just reading last night about the guy who flipped his white S and I was reminded how quick anyone can lose control. Yet I managed to pull this stunt off today like an idiot. I wish there were driving schools near where I live or a road course close to drive on and learn these situations better in case it happens again and I don't make the same mistake again.

 

Glad you are okay...where did you see a post about a flipped white S2000??

 

o yes...usually alot of drivers r too confident on the road and seem to not pay much attention on the road....i guess speed creeps up on u...and so the best thing to do is probably pay attention to ur surroundings so u can keep in mind wat speed u r at.

 

Glad everything was ok. I just picked up my S after about 8 years with an MR2 turbo. They were notorious for snap oversteer. Only twice in my seven years with the car did I get the tail to shake loose (I guess I don't drive that crazy). Once was because I was cornering at a little faster than neccessary and there was broken pavement but it caught very quickly. The second time was because I was in a deserted industrial park in the rain and decided to MAKE it snap to see where the limit was. It was spooky. Tail wagged four times VIOLENTLY before I caught it, but did not spin out.

The S, with the weight in the front as opposed to the MR2 with the weight in the back, seems like it is FAR more prone to the tail stepping out. Makes me a little nervous. Never autocrossed before but I think I will go to one just to find the limit for future reference, and how the car behaves when it does slide.

Actually, I chose this car because I had rented one in Vegas for a weekend, and on any right or left turn from a stop, you could step on it a little and makes the tail kick out and do a low speed drift. I thought that was fun but the fact that it might do this unintentionally at a higher speed is cause for concern.

From reading your post, if the stop sign you were approachin was on a road with a slight curve, hard braking will throw all the weight to the front, coupled with the curve would be a recipe for disaster. Smoothness is key. Nailing gas, shifts and brakes throw weight abrubtly can make cars unstable when coupled with speed or tight corners. Another good place to test your skill is one of those NASCAR simulators. When you nail the gas, shift hard, hit the brakes in a corner, the car hit the wall or spins into the infield. Watch the kids (or adults) that are good at it and you see how far they plan ahead and how nothing is done ham-fisted. Everything is done slowly, smoothly and fluidly, but they still go around the cyber-track the fastest. Happy motoring.

 

I fail to see why people are shocked that the S2000 is a little tail happy...

It's a light, front engined, rear drive, short wheelbase car. Guess what that means?

By all means, go to a track or autocross and get some driving experience... it will help immensely.

 

I wasn't shocked it came out at all... I realized when entering the corner I was carrying too much speed but at that point it was too late and I knew the rear was going to come out.

exactly the reason why I didn't slam my brakes.

 

snapping over steer can be big troulbe, but sometimes its the way the car handles in hard turns, go to a track or autocross, and u can learn how this oversteer can help u shed of times of your laps