The car is a normal car that you shouldn't be afraid to drive it on the street. It's when you push its limits and don't know how to handle it where it will severely punish you especially an AP1 without traction control and snap oversteer.

 

We don't have an Ap2 in europe but the supsension/setup still got improved throughout the years. Don't be afraid to drive your S, enjoy

 

The model year 2005 was not susceptible to snap oversteer like prior years, the suspension geometry was revised in 2004 onwards.

 

Drive your S2000 like you would a motorcycle... Brake as you approach the turn, accelerate out of the turn...

The car plants its rear end more solidly as you accelerate through the turn...

Don't go crazy though... Drive responsibly!

 

I am a high performance driving instructor, racer, etc, with several track records in my name (not bragging, just trying to establish that I've got some experience). I'll be honest and say that my AP1 is definitely a handful to drive compared to, say, my Miata or an FRS or many other cars. It's definitely more prone to oversteer on throttle lift than most other cars that I've driven. But it isn't crazy or dangerous or wild or unpredictable. It's an awful lot of fun. Just don't expect you're going to get in and haul ass without experience and practice.

robert

 

drop throttle oversteer will cause the car to unload the rear increasing the risk of a spin. That is, don't come hot into a corner then suddenly lift of the throttle, or stab the brakes. All cars will follow this law of physics, the s2000 is just more prone to coming around at times.

good tires are key.

darcy

 

Part of the problem with Ap1's is that the rear toe changes significantly as the suspension unloads, and toe settings go toe-out, causing whacky rear end behavior - leading to snap oversteer. They addressed that issue on the Ap2 suspension on 2004+ models.

 

Hence why I run minimal toe. The s2000 is a grip machine with the right tires and alignment. If you drive it like an asshat though it will respond in kind. Garbage in - garbage out.

 

i have a 2004, pretty much the same as the 2005. I have spun the car a couple of times on the track, so a track day so you can learn your limits is good. I spun in once on an on ramp, with rain and tires i should have replaced ....car can spin with worn down rear tires or upon pushing the wrong pedal in mid corner. Don't do that , keep great tires on it and you won't spin. To insure against that go to a track day and learn your limits and how to recover in mid spin if applicable.

 

So... In order to have this "grip machine" you speak of...

a) what tires?
b) what are the exact alignment specs?