Hello again everyone, I posted a few months ago when I first drove an S2000 (on a road course ). I was very impressed with the car, an '02 model that was all stock. You can read my detailed thoughts here [ http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.p...threadid=140933 ] but for those who don't have the time or inclination, here's a quick summary of my impressions.
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The most impressive thing was the handling balance and response of the car. Very easy to drive at the limits, it did exactly what I wanted at all times, save for the one high speed oversteer incident. But reflecting on that, it was my fault for giving too much steering input too quickly in a WOT 85mph kink (I'm used to a much slower steering ratio in my car). While that oversteer was unexpected, it was not hard to bring the car back under control even at that speed. The way the car could be steered with the throttle amazed me. And the steering was so precise, so delicate, I never had to take my hands off the 9 and 3 positions to steer or countersteer.

Brakes were incredible, going from an old school non-ABS system to a modern ABS was a big thrill in moving my braking points back.

Engine power was... sufficient. Wished the powerband started at 5500 instead of 6, but I'm spoiled on my Supercharged MR2's flat torque curve. Overall I quite enjoyed the engine too though. Nothing quite like the linear power and response of an NA powerplant.

Basically I was astounded at how responsive the car was to driver input, how easy it was to drive fast, and how much fun I had with it. It wasn't my car but within a few laps I was comfortable sliding it past apexes in low slip angle drifts. Excellent seating position and all that, too.
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Now I have been doing some reading on the changes made for MY04. A couple things I've read worry me a little and make me wonder if the 04 has lost some precision/balance. For example:

The ratio of front tire width to rear tire width is now more biased towards the rear in the '04. The spring rates are also, on paper, pointing to more understeer. Same with the sway bars. These three changes would lead me to believe the S2k may be a resolute understeerer (is that a word? ) in the turns. With the extra grip perhaps it's every bit as fast as a pre-04, but would it be as balanced, as fun to flick around?

I thought the steering in the '02 was perfect. Some people have mentioned the '04 steering ratio was changed because of the updated front spring rates and tire/wheel sizes. What does the steering ratio have to do with these? One of my big gripes with my '87 MR2 is the steering is so bloody slow, I'm constantly having to shuffle my hands on the wheel. I would hope the '04 S2k wouldn't approach that level of steering 'slowness'.

[QUOTE] Quote from AutoWeek article: Then, in mid-turn, at what we had assumed was the limit of adhesion, Uehara lifted off the throttle and sawed the wheel back and forth a few times. Despite the [04 changes], we expected to swap ends and start bouncing backward across the gravel runoff area.... But no, the S2000 just kept on gripping the hot pavement. "Revised suspension means better control of lift-throttle oversteer,

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BryanH
It can be your friend though if you know what you're doing.

 

[QUOTE]Engine power was... sufficient.

 

OK Bryan, what are you doing over here on S2Ki? And when did you're MR2 become supercharged? Did you swap motors or get a new car? Anyway, good to see you're still out there enjoying the tracks. I'm thinking of selling my Spyder and picking up an 04 S as well. I drove an 03 last July and thought it was pretty nice, but wanted to see how the 04 turned out before making any decisions. So far I think it's going to be a winner but only the test drive will tell. It's funny, I remember how you were concerned the Spyder was going to be a "pusher" when they first came out too .

ron

 

Hey Ron, forgive me but it's been so long your screen name doesn't ring a bell at the moment. I don't even remember fearing the Spyder would understeer, way back before it came out. As for my MR2, a year ago the original engine blew at Buttonwillow so I bought an 88 SC that was wrecked in the front and yanked the engine out of it. Engine has near 250k miles but still runs like a champ! Didn't lose a drop of oil at Thunderhill last week.

Ah, but so does the rev limiter. To be honest with the engine and gearing changes I think the '04 will probably be merely the equal of the F20C car in WOT, redline-shift acceleration (1/4 mile etc). Probably slower in some situations due to extra shifting, faster in other situations because of the torque increase. The F22C1 (hope I got that right) should have a serious powerband starting at about 5k I'd hope.

I'm no engineer but my bench racing gut tells me the gearing changes and the engine changes might be too much together - one or the other might've been more effective. I think the F22C1 would have done well with the older gear ratios, and the F20C would benefit from the new shorter 1-4 gears.

[QUOTE]according to what i've read, stiffer springs and lower profile tires lead to quicker steering response.

 

No problem Bryan. I always remembered you because when I flew down to LA to buy my Spyder and drive it home to Portland I went through your neck of the woods and you had lamented on the board that I should have stopped to let you check it out. And I would have if I had known. But also because your posts were always well thought out and rational unlike so many of the other younger drivers/owners out there (some of the older ones too ).

ron