Make 04 AP2 a bit more tail happy
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,062
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A front swaybar (meaning stiffer than stock) increases front bias. More understeer. More stability. Better lap times. But less fun. Less lively.
The common advice for pur cars of wider front tires, and a front swaybar, is good practice for track. Also good for people that learned to drive on fwd, more comfortable w understeer.
But the op said he wants less understeer. Wants more lively feel. Does autox, but not track.
Recipe for that is not the common front swaybar and wider front.
The common advice for pur cars of wider front tires, and a front swaybar, is good practice for track. Also good for people that learned to drive on fwd, more comfortable w understeer.
But the op said he wants less understeer. Wants more lively feel. Does autox, but not track.
Recipe for that is not the common front swaybar and wider front.
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 8,841
Likes: 1,698
From: Illnoise. WAY downtown, jerky.
All S2000's have pretty strong understeer.
Assuming your car is 100% stock and the alignment is set within stock parameters, my answer is this...
You are likely approaching the turn too fast for the tires that you're using.
If you overspeed the corner entry and overwhelm the front tires completely, then you can't get enough grip out of them to use them as a pivot. Especially on an AP2, which has very little rear bump steer.
Try lowering your entry speed and use the throttle to get the car to rotate. Breathe off the throttle a bit and the car will tighten up the line.
Stickier tires will help.
Assuming your car is 100% stock and the alignment is set within stock parameters, my answer is this...
You are likely approaching the turn too fast for the tires that you're using.
If you overspeed the corner entry and overwhelm the front tires completely, then you can't get enough grip out of them to use them as a pivot. Especially on an AP2, which has very little rear bump steer.
Try lowering your entry speed and use the throttle to get the car to rotate. Breathe off the throttle a bit and the car will tighten up the line.
Stickier tires will help.
Last edited by B serious; Oct 25, 2025 at 07:33 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 60
Likes: 8
All S2000's have pretty strong understeer.
You are likely approaching the turn too fast for the tires that you're using. Try lowering your entry speed and use the throttle to get the car to rotate.
Breathe off the throttle a bit and it will start to rotate (assuming you haven't completely overwhelmed the front tires...which it sounds like you have done).
You are likely approaching the turn too fast for the tires that you're using. Try lowering your entry speed and use the throttle to get the car to rotate.
Breathe off the throttle a bit and it will start to rotate (assuming you haven't completely overwhelmed the front tires...which it sounds like you have done).
When would you use more vs less throttle? Generally my pattern is brake before the corner, or trail brake a bit into it (I’m very new to this so likely not doing it well), and then get on throttle at the apex
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,062
Likes: 830
Does no one know how to read in this thread?
This is what OP is asking for. He isn't asking for a drift car. He isn't asking for a grip monster.
OP is asking for a more playful car the understeers less. Read the title and read the first post.
From the factory, the car actually understeers. I know, hard for you all the believe as you all modify and further tune your cars for MORE understeer. All I read are garbage understeer setups from people that don't know how to drive. If we're talking about setups that are neutral with decent turn-in, most 85% of the recommendations I read on this forum are for understeer - garbage alignments, staggered setups, massive front bars, and combining all of them together.
OP also autocrosses his car, so he's probably a better driver than 90% of you commenting and actually understands what true under/oversteer is...
OP is asking for a more playful car the understeers less. Read the title and read the first post.
From the factory, the car actually understeers. I know, hard for you all the believe as you all modify and further tune your cars for MORE understeer. All I read are garbage understeer setups from people that don't know how to drive. If we're talking about setups that are neutral with decent turn-in, most 85% of the recommendations I read on this forum are for understeer - garbage alignments, staggered setups, massive front bars, and combining all of them together.
OP also autocrosses his car, so he's probably a better driver than 90% of you commenting and actually understands what true under/oversteer is...
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Joined: Jul 2025
Posts: 60
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Thanks @Bullwings . Yeah that’s exactly right. I’m sure part of it’s a skill issue and not knowing how to induce oversteer correctly through trailbraking, but I’ve put about 4000 hard backroad / autocross miles on the car and it loves to understeer lol.
I’m also looking for alignment recommendations, I figured I should start there before messing with a bone stock suspension
I’m also looking for alignment recommendations, I figured I should start there before messing with a bone stock suspension
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 324
Likes: 11
From: PNW
@jadoos2k
I went through your same thought process, started out with AutoX and wanted more neutral handling with stock suspension. Start with tires and a performance alignment. You may still push in the corners some, but you slow down and figure out the angles, then mod to make yourself faster. Put on rigid diff collars, they help balance out the drivetrain and stabilize the diff engagement and help to avoid misshifts. Makes sure your mods fit the class you want to run. My last alignment in this thread was very fun and engaging but not the fastest.
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-ta...uties-1186353/
First alignment settings and logic are in this thread.
I went through your same thought process, started out with AutoX and wanted more neutral handling with stock suspension. Start with tires and a performance alignment. You may still push in the corners some, but you slow down and figure out the angles, then mod to make yourself faster. Put on rigid diff collars, they help balance out the drivetrain and stabilize the diff engagement and help to avoid misshifts. Makes sure your mods fit the class you want to run. My last alignment in this thread was very fun and engaging but not the fastest.
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/s2000-ta...uties-1186353/
First alignment settings and logic are in this thread.
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