So. I purchased my S2000 on Monday, and took delivery yesterday afternoon. I've now had a little over 24 hours to get to know my new machine, and damn, I couldn't be happier. I picked up a CPO 2005, 40k miles, GPW. It feels brand new, and looks it aside from a few tiny rock chips (which I'll be fixing, I think).

I have learned a few things however:

Firstly: sunblock is mandatory. I took a ~120 mile drive with the top down through the Sacramento valley, and I am now burned quite nicely. Thats getting stored in the center console for sure.

Secondly: even when romping on it, she returns impressive mileage. I got ~240 miles out of my first 10 gallons, and I was rarely taking it easy during those miles.

Third: even with a bungled tire set up (225s all around), this car is the best handling I've ever owned. Puts my old RX7 to shame.

Fourth: I need to fix the bungled tires. They grip, and the chassis maintains normal AP2 balance (very mild understeer), but I cant use ANY power at the limit of grip or she comes around hard and fast. Hurrah for having a helipad in my neighborhood to learn that on.

Fifth: So far, the S2K community rocks. I've been PMing members with questions left and right, and none have failed to be exceptionally helpful. Got to love a good enthusiast community to go with the car.

All in all, I'm impressed as hell. There are a few things I'd like to change, but I think light tuning will solve almost all of those. The engine is amazing. Yes, I wish I could hold onto a gear longer like an AP1 (a lot of my favorite corners are in the 40-60mph range, right at the top of 2nd, and entering in 3rd at ~40 puts me out of VTEC), but the extra torque of my AP2 rocks.

So, overall,

Here's a crappy ass picture of my bone stock ride, just for kicks.

 

glad you like the little Honda.

 

Nice ride! Enjoy and be safe!

 

thats not bone stock! nice rims btw =)
welcome to the community

 

sick

 

Thanks!!

 

I didnt put the rims on, so its stock to me.

Sadly, they're not as nice as they look. 18x7.5 all around with 225s at all four corners.

I need to fix that before I can do any serious driving in any kind of real world environment. Around my neighborhood we have a lot of empty industrial spaces, so I can mess around because there's no consequence if I spin or something. Like I said in my original post, the car understeers, but any applied power results in a rapid transition to oversteer. I'm used to oversteering cars (I've owned MKII Mr2s, RX7 turbos, S13s, S14s, etc), so its not intimidating, but I'd like to be able to use the throttle to steer a little more. I spent a fair amount of time in an empty lot just skidpadding around in circles and trying to find the breakaway point. It feels like once the fronts have given up, trying to use the throttle to help things is no good. I'd like to be able to put a little power down with the fronts at the limit and not snap oversteer.

I imagine that getting an extra 30mm of rubber out back will help quite a bit.

Attending a local autocross in the very near future is high on the list of things to do.

 

congrats on the car! GPW FTMFW! [sorry, just had to get that outta my system]

I completely agree with ya though, the s2k community is probably one of the nicest, most helpful communities I've ever been a part of. And coming from a riding community, where on group rides you have to trust your life to the people riding around you, that's saying a lot!

This is a community I'm very proud to be a part of!

 

AP2 GPW FTMFW indeed

 

My impression of your post is that you have plans to really beat on this car.
My advice- Drive the car on the streets and beat on it in the boonies or at your locally track.
Enjoy your car. Have fun but be careful.