They design cars like that also Barry,....

.....they call them VOLVOs.

I for one am glad I found a car that is designed by folks that didn't assume the guy driving it was an idiot. It gets to you after awhile living in a world designed for the lowest common denominator.

After all the years of hearing true drivers complaining about every manufacturer designing understeer into their cars, Honda does a brave thing and sells a true sports car that does not have built in understeer and sure enough people complain that it is too dangerous.

Keep it up guys and we will never see another neutral/oversteering car again.

It has been said the S2000 is a "True Drivers Car" and I would agree. I add this one caveat though;
"If you are not a "True Driver" (or don't aspire to be) buy something else.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

 

Per understeer, you can install a beefier than stock front anti-sway bar which will induce it. Barry you might was to consider this.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Bieg
[B]

They design cars like that also Barry,....

.....they call them VOLVOs.

 

Barry,

Just a thought re. the X brace. I understand the S2000 engine is designed to move downwards and backwards in the event of a frontal collision as protection for yourself. Would the X brace compromise this feature?. I may well fit a top brace for no more reason than I think they look great.

Sad I know!

 

Cedric - good point - I certainly would not like the engine coming through the firewall into the passenger compartment.... I knew there must have been a reason why the engine subframe was designed the way it was with only one teenie little lower cross .brace

 

Ummm... THANK YOU CORAL! That was my only point. No-one's been acknowledging that this could be part of the equation. I was never trying to take the responsibility off the drivers... that is where the final accountability always will rest.

And Cthree... with regard to the bump-steer you dismissed and the 'extensive testing' you felt was necessary to prove that it exists: The testing takes about 1/2 hour with a bump-steer guage and it has been done by King Motorsports. One of the things you need to do to be successful in racing is test everything. The more you know, the better you can be. We KNOW the car has excessive bump-steer. Read the link I posted earlier to help understand bump-steer better.

Everyone but CoralDoc was failing to see my point... but I'm glad he did because he summed it up above better than I have yet in all my ramblings. Thanks!

 

Jason,

I don't think we've all failed to see your point. I, and I've seen others, have acknowledged that the bump steer issue exists. Some of us just disagree with how much of a factor it is in most of the accidents we've read about. Seeing a point and agreeing with it are two entirely different things.

 

I've driven RWD for most of my driving life including three Z28s, Mustang GT, 300ZXTT, 69 Firebird, 71 240Z, 67 442, 98 M3, etc. Most of them modified, predictable and very fun to drive.

I'm a new owner of S2K, but I can tell you already, that it's a bit different than the rest and requires a more controlled driving style rather than a balls out, toss the rear end around approach. I think Bieg is on to something by shifting the weight to the rear on corner exit. You'll need to "learn the car" before becoming proficient.

Here's my point. IMHO, no one needs to be at 10/10s on the street. Save that for the track (or driving school). 9/10s on the street is plenty and I truly believe is faster through the corner than anyting I've driven before. When you have mastered the capabilities of the car on the track (and your own capabilities) you can test the limits safely. If you want to "catch" the car, you need to know what 10/10s feels like before it surprises you. Until then, take it a little easy. I'm not tying to slow anyone down, I'd just rather not see anymore "I crashed my car" threads.

 

Another couple of things:

- S2000 is one of the most progressive cars that I've driven (not just RWD). That does not mean that the S2000 cannot 'bite' - I have not seen a car that will not 'bite' ... I've seen an Elise bite. Though, the S2000 get's out of shape more than (let's say) a Boxster.

- About the S02 tyres - I've have/had access to four different cars with the S02s (S2000, MR2, HSV R8 and a TVR); besides that I've had a fair few perfromance tyres (as well as access with to cars with them) over the last 8 years or so. Out of all the S02s are the most progressive and offer the best grip in the wet. In the dry they're probably the most progressive tyre too that I've had the pleasure of trying. All that means is that the S02 is one of the best tyres you can get so getting a tyre that will do better will be hard ... and even if it 'does better' it will not be that much of an improvement. Look at it this way, there's a reason why the S02 comes standard on 911 GT3 which is arguably the fastest point-to-point car in the world. Yes, S2000 has an OME S02s but they're still part of the same family ... not only that, but the OME part makes them that much more suited to the S2000.

Last of all, the main pursose of sports-cars is not to be 'safe'. Sports cars main purpose is to be a precision driving tool ... 'safty' is always an issue but that is not it's primary concern. If it was then it would have 4WD, it would understeer heavily, would weight a lot more and would have minimal power ... not only that but it would have full time traction as well as slip control. Therefore, if you drive a sports-car (no matter which one) then you have to treat it with respect or you could get yourself in trouble ... it's that simple.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jason Saini
[B]




Everyone but CoralDoc was failing to see my point...