[QUOTE]Originally posted by Saab9-3
[B]if it snowed while i was at work, I want to be able to get home safely. Im not asking if the S can plow through snow drifts, but if it can move over slick, icy roads without spinning out at every turn.

 

The S2000 does not suffer fools gladly so if you drive like a fool (without a clue) then yes it is a dangerous car.

For those that know the art of driving it is a weapon of choice.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Thoe99
[B]A lot of people have recommended high performance driving school.

 

Actually I've driven mine at the track in the pissing rain on stock tires with no undue problems. Make sure you don't let your tires wear down too far and use common sense. In the rain the handling is just as predictable as the dry but you've got to know the traction is way less. The stock tires don't like the cold and make sure you take plenty of time to get them heated up before trying anything funky.

 

I bought my S2000 on 4 November, 2000 and it snowed three days later. There was not a lot of snow, perhaps an inch. My car slid off of the ALMOST PERFECTLY FLAT road into the borrow pit. Then, I headed north to my neighbor's. I discovered a hill I had never, ever noticed...not on foot, not on a bicycle, certainly not in a car; but sure enough there was a hill with about a 0.1 degree incline, more than my new S2000 could handle. Finally I got stuck trying to back into a driveway to turn around and escape this icy hell. I walked home and asked my bride to give me a hand pushing the car from the FLAT drive to the near FLAT street.

I've only been driving 38 years, and I sold my previous rear wheel drive car in 1986. I'm not the driver Bob is!

 

Whenever you ask about the handling of the car, you always have to read between the arrogance to get to the point: The car is not dangerous with or without the OEM setup. Like any high performance car (and more than some) you can get in trouble.

Beyond that: If you are not happy with the handling, you can make the car speak to you much more clearly with a different set of high performance tires. Despite the differing opinions here, I've found that I lost nothing and gained much in progressvity, feedback, and linearity by changing rears. I don't think Honda made the best design tradeoffs on the stock rears.

See this thread for my take on the perfect tire/alignment choices: https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...2&highlight=AVS

As for snow, forget it without snow tires.

 

I think a lot of horror stories we heard about S2000's spinning out were due to the spring spacers not being removed.

That being said, I think that the OEM S02's are quite tricky and tend to hydroplane in the rain. Compared to them, my new Yoko Intermediates are A LOT grippier and more predictable in the rain.

 

It is amazing how many of these threads I have seen. Why isn't the same concern given to the purchase of a 6000lb SUV? They are involved in more accidents due to drivers that don't know how to operate that type of vehicle than S2000's will ever be. An S driven sedately will still out perform nearly every other passenger vehicle in every respect...it's not like the car is just going to spin out and land in a ditch while you are cruising to the drug store for milk.

 

Barry, I'm sorry that I said anything. I have deleted my response to your post. I'll be quiet from now on.

Bob

 

Bob, NOT AT ALL. No offense taken.

I'm glad you had some fun with the SO2s in the snow. Actually, I didn't get my Blizzaks until I'd driven for 3 or 4 months in the snow. I had some fun, but I never had to rely on SO2 tires on snowy days. I got stuck on my street, at my best friend's house, and then finally in my own FLAT driveway.

I enjoyed reading your experience. I think meeting the challenge of slippery tires is FUN, but it was beyond my skill.

Barry