daily driver, honest opinions only please

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Aug 13, 2004 | 01:45 PM

#31

TR-S2K

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Joined: Dec 2003

Posts: 1,774

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From: Irvine, SoCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlvtx1800,Aug 13 2004, 09:57 AM

I use mine as a daily driver and I love it. Snow tires on separate rims are going cost you about $1,000 (tire rack) so you need to take that into consideration. I have driven it long distances (500 miles +) and it does pretty good. I am going to take my wifes car and get her a new one for the winter though.

John

I used to live in Illinois and Minnesota for 10 years. I used to have '82 Supra with OEM tire size 225-60/15, the car spun out of control the very first snow of the season with less than 0.5" on the ground. After that, I bought 14" wheels with 4 all season tires size 195-75/14, I had total control of that Supra all winter long for both city streets and highway. I found that rear wheel drive car with wide rear tires are disaster on snow.
The key is if you want to drive the rear wheel car on snow cover streets, you want to have another set of wheels and as narrow as possible, but retain the same overall diameter, set of all-season tires, or snow tires.

Aug 13, 2004 | 03:38 PM

#32

Pstar

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Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 96

Likes: 0

From: Rancho Cordova

Move to California to be a daily driver. The weather is never a factor except for the 100 degree days you can't drive with the top down.

I use my S as a daily car and am quite satisfied!!!

Aug 13, 2004 | 03:54 PM

#33

mns2k

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Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 4,193

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From: Denton, Texas

The S has been my daily driver for the past 4.5 years. I love it and would not want to drive another vehicle every day. As for the bad weather I drove my TransAm (6 speed and 4 snow tires) every day for the 4 years that I lived in MN. I do believe that the S has better clearance than the TA. Drove smart in the snow and never had a problem.

Aug 13, 2004 | 05:26 PM

#34

ItalianBucwheat

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Joined: May 2002

Posts: 1,739

Likes: 1

From: -

I'm a daily driver. I live in north west New Jersey. Winter tires are a must. Think of it this way,say you visit relatives and friends three or four times during the winter. You can always rent an explorer or what ever. The other 9 months of the year the roads are clear. The s2000 is very capable in the snow with snow tires but a 350 to 400 mile drive in snow with even 4wd can be tough and requires extreme attention(mostly being careful of other cars). I wouldn't suggest a 400 mile drive in a snow storm no matter what you drive...its just not smart.

The s2000 can take an incredible beating. It is by far the best build and most reliable car I have ever owned.

Oh and if your not garaged the car can be cranky when the tempetures hit sub-zero. A little extra warm up time is required.

Aug 13, 2004 | 05:55 PM

#35

rworne

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 3,962

Likes: 7

From: San Fernando Valley, CA

Nearly hit 16,000 miles on my S, and it's a daily driver. I live in Southern California.

My commute is 11 miles over surface streets, each way. It definitely makes the morning drive more enjoyable.

If I lived in an area where it snowed and/or rained much of the time, I would consider something else.

Aug 14, 2004 | 06:37 AM

#36

Paul S

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Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 1,107

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From: UT

Quote:

Originally Posted by xviper,Aug 13 2004, 11:07 AM

Do not get an S2000 for any of the other reasons given but don't "not" get it because of any "perceived" all weather deficiencies. Are people so unaware of what people did in North America before Chrysler mass produced FWD cars? Did you think that everyone in the snow belt simply STOPPED driving because of snow and RWD? And even today, do you think that all those police forces and taxicab companies who run Crown Vics shut down on snowy days? A couple of generations of FWD drivers have created a world of RWD ignorant people.
People cutting you off or running into you? Do you think those with 50 thousand buck luxury SUV's like being cut off or being run into any different than a guy in a 30 thou S2000? Or do you think they leave them at home when it snows?
Have a look at us having fun in the snow:
http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=156779

With aggressive snow tires on my car, I have outdragged an AWD Audi with all season radials across a 6" deep snow and slush covered intersection. The Audi guy thought his almighty AWD was invincible in the snow.

It is far easier to control a RWD skid than it is to control an AWD skid.