My understanding is that many drivers feel that it helps prevent fatigue, which in turn helps concentration, during long races.

 

I have to agree with several folks here who feel that the S2000 steering system does not communicate very well with the driver. This is not to say that the S2000 doesn't steer well or DO everything well, as I frankly believe it does functionally do everything quite well for its driver.

It just doesn't give me the detailed and expressive feedback that I am accustomed to in my 308 -- which steers slower but lets me know a little better what's going on by constantly transmitting track surface and tire grip feedback to my fingertips.

This is not at all a personal preference issue, but a simple fact agreed upon by a number of us who happen to have spent considerable time driving other fine sports cars as well as our S2000s. Personal preference is whether we actually prefer the feedback or not.

Yes, I have both road racing and autocross Hoosiers for my S2000 (225/50/16F & 245/45/16R), with a Saner front anti-sway bar on max stiff and an agressive autocross alignment. I also happen to use Bridgestone Potenza S02s as intermediates/streets on both my S2000 and my 308 (in the same exact sizes I might add, as Ferrari picked 205/55/16F & 225/50/16R for the 308 Quattrovalvole over 20 years ago).

In the end the S2000 is a great sports car when it comes to all-around driving performance.

Kind Regards, Chris

 

>>>Some may view this as a good thing, as the S does track very straight over uneven surfaces. But whenever I grab my mom's E30 3 series I'm amazed by the little messages it sends me every time I go over the bots dots.<<<

Try driving the M version of the E30. The E30 M3 that is...

 

Yep, I have driven an E30 M3 and it was an amazing car. The steering is slightly quicker and even more crisp, but even a standard E30 has tremendous steering feedback. The 325iX had a similar wheel/tire package to the M3, which improved weight and feedback.

To me the E30 is an example of power steering done right- enough boost to facilitate a quicker ratio without killing you at parking speeds, but not so much as to mask feedback. FWIW our E30 has better steering feel and feedback than either my Z3 or my non-PS MR2. E30s also had some crazy amount of caster (~9 degrees positive) from the factory, which really gave them an excellent sense of straight ahead.

I really agree with everything ChrisfromRI said. The S2000 trades ultimate feedback for a super quick ratio and an easy, consistent weighting. It is still by all measures a great car, and after getting used to it I actually like the steering because it is very precise. But feedback is not one of its strong points.

Peter

 

Steering Feedback: E30 > S2000


I felt the same about the tach as I do about the steering. Didn't like either right away - but have grown to appreciate them both. But the E30 does give much better feedback.

 

[QUOTE=lig,Nov 17 2004, 08:14 AM] Steering Feedback:

 

hehe... agreed.

I wouldn't trade my S2000 for an E30.

For a while I was entertaining the thought of an E30 M3 - but the cost of maintaining one scared me.