2007, 2008 base, and 2008 CR, comparison.
09-14-2007, 12:56 PM
#32
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Both spring rates and damping rates are higher on the 2008 base models. The sway/anti-roll bars are the same on the base model as other AP2s in the back, but the 08 base models have a thicker front bar. I suppose it's the combination of spring and damping rates, along with the thicker front sway bar, that makes the car less prone to oversteer.
2007 specs: http://automobiles.honda.com/s2000/specifi....aspx?group=all
2008 base and CR specs: http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=4099
It's a bit surprising that they would feel the car has been softened up. I would imagine the car would be more neutral, but not "softer". But who knows, I've never driven an 08, so can't say anything about that ...
It's a bit surprising that the car didn't go around the track as quickly as the older models. May I suggest that the 07 they used was already broken in, where as the 08 base model was only a new car? I dunno ...
Either way, they are all S2000s.
2007 specs: http://automobiles.honda.com/s2000/specifi....aspx?group=all
2008 base and CR specs: http://corporate.honda.com/press/article.aspx?id=4099
It's a bit surprising that they would feel the car has been softened up. I would imagine the car would be more neutral, but not "softer". But who knows, I've never driven an 08, so can't say anything about that ...
It's a bit surprising that the car didn't go around the track as quickly as the older models. May I suggest that the 07 they used was already broken in, where as the 08 base model was only a new car? I dunno ...
Either way, they are all S2000s.
09-14-2007, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Pinchy,Sep 14 2007, 01:32 PM
Wow, I always thought the stiffer the better..............
A suspension setup could be too stiff to the point that the car behaves irratically on imperfect pavements -- e.g. slightly bumppy roads. At that point, the car would have little to no grip, and the car would simple "jump" around like a bunny.
If stiffer is always better, sports cars would all tune their suspension with spring rates excess of 15k, which pretty much would feel the same as having the car riding on bricks instead of springs ... hehe
Of course, too much roll can also be a problem, because the inner wheel(s) tend to have little to no contact with the road under hard cornering, and the car also transfers too much weight to the outter wheel under hard cornering -- making the moment of inertia or whatever it's called too great for fast and tight maneuvers.
It's the combination of the damper's and spring's rates, the difference between these rates in the front and the back, design and stiffness of the chassis, and other things like alignment, etc, that determines how well a car handles. That's why sometimes modifying a suspension could do harm to the over handling characteristics. Because the spring rates and damping rates aren't suitable for the car.
Different road conditions would require different stiffness in the suspension setup. There isn't really a "one size fits all" formula when it comes to tuning the suspension geometry. Cars from the factory are generally tuned/setup for typical road conditions, along with a bias in understeer (due to safety concerns for 99% of the drivers out there). That's why some (good) drivers would like to use coilovers and adjustable sway bars, because different conditions would require different settings. Sometimes softer setup might actually give you better times ...
09-15-2007, 04:28 PM
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[QUOTE=Elistan,Sep 14 2007, 09:57 AM]With the stiffening of the '08 suspension, I'm surprised that the handling was considered more forgiving.
09-15-2007, 10:31 PM
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Originally Posted by RED MX5,Sep 15 2007, 07:28 PM
The change won't matter to the few who actually track the car, because they have to retune the car's handling anyway, and the improved stabililty will not be a downside to the vast majority of owners. It will, in fact, be an upside, that I think has to be seen as an improvement. Improved stability is NOT a bad thing in and of itself. 
Anyway, I haven't read the article myself. Was just referring to the "softer" comments based on the threads. Definitely wanna pick up a copy soon!
