def remove the cdv or its gonna be a smelly event

 

I actually think AP2's are pretty easy to drift. They love brake drifts, enter hot jab the brakes and turn and it comes around.

 

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There are a number of "issues" when you drift an S2000, and some, like the CDV, are unique to the AP2. A Miata actually makes a better drift car, but there are a few of us who have drifted our S2000's. I just play at it, but we've had a few members get into it pretty seriously. Most, if not all, have decided to get something else for their drifting, and you'll understand why once you've tried it.

The worst thing is the lack of steering lock. The car runs out of steering lock too soon to be able to attain the kind of drift angles requred to be competative. Next on the list of things that bug me is the EPS. The steering feel is crummy when the back tires are spinning. Also, the OEM LSD leaves a lot to be desired. I've got a KAAZ 1.5, and it makes a huge difference. So does FI.

As a result of drifting I've seen cracked exhaust systems, busted differentials, and fried clutches, but except for the cracked exhaust systems, we've actually seen more failures from stock cars that are street driven; I've had zero problems, and tend to think that it's the driver that kills the diff and/or clutch, more than the venues in which they compete. I also autocross and do occasional track days, plus lots of burnouts (hence the jackass badge in my signature ), and it's NOT a given that you'll damage the driveline. Some do, some don't, and it doesn't seem to matter whether or not people compete in the car or just drive it on the street.

CDV is for sure going to be an issue, but removing it raises other issues. I'm not really sure that removing it isn't going to increase your driveline stresses excessively, but it really all depends on how you handle the clutch after the CDV is removed. The clutch timing will be entirely in your hands, so it's not a given that you'll kill the differential. Removing the CDV will just make it easier.

Personally, I find drifting the S2000 very challenging, even with the KAAZ and FI. Sustaining large slip angles without a steering upgrade is impossible, but it's still fun, and very challenging, to drift the car within its limits. MUCH harder than drifting an AE86, but somehow more rewarding.

Obviously you tend to find any cars weak spots when you start drifting it, so it's just common sense to expect more problems, but the car can for sure stand limited drifting without damage, ALL DEPENDING on how it's done. Some people can kill the car in daily driving, and your results will depend entirely on how you deal with the car. IOW, don't blame me if you do the same things I do and end up tearing up your car. If you can't afford to replace anything you break, don't drift the car.

 

What does that have to do with the price of rice in China?

Speed skating is a timed event. Figure skating is a judged event. Do you think that means that speed skating requres more skill or practice than figure skating?

Drifting and autocrossing involve different (but intersecting) skill sets, and it might be fun to look at the differences. I'm sure you're read some of my posts, in which I've mentioned the driver training course I designed for the Air Force back in the 70's. For our purposes here, it's enough to know that the course produced a huge reduction in accidents on the base where it was employed. The goal for the course was to teach accident avoidance, and as a part of the training, drivers were put in a situation that usually resulted in a spin, or at the very least, a long, uncontrolled slide. This taught two things. First, it gave the students first hand experience in one of the causes of spins, and second, it gave then an opportunity to learn to slide their car around in a controlled manner. I actually have no idea how much that particular part of the course contributed to the reduction in accidents, but I do know for sure that one time long ago, when I was young and stupid (rather than old and stupid like I am now ), I did something very stuipid, and being able to throw my car into a slide saved me from a potentially deadly accident. It can be a very useful skill to have in hand.

True story, but it wasn't me. It was my younger evil twin. This guy topped Kellog Hill heading west at 100 MPH, then upon seeing the gridlock at the bottom of the hill, he applied the brakes to slow down. Plenty of time to stop, even though it's a long down hill stretch. However, when he touched the brake pedal, it simply fell to the floor, and stayed there. Not being a complete idiot (it's an on going process that is never complete ) he tried using the parking brake to slow the car, but going down that long hill was just too much, and the rear brakes quickly became overheated and useless. So to slow the car, this guy started throwing it sideways to scrub off speed. First 90 degrees to the left, then 90 degrees to the right, back and fourth, repeatedly, almost all the way down Kellog Hill, until the car had scrubbed off all but a few miles per hour of its forward speed. By then the rear brakes had cooled enough to scrub off the last little bit of speed with the parking brake.

Of course none of use are or ever have been stuipd enough to get ourselves into that kind of situation (), but being able to throw a car into a slide can be useful in some situations, and at times it can even be a last resort. While this isn't the goal of drifting, throwing a car sideways at speed, to scrub off speed, takes exactly the same skills.

So anyway, I'm not entirely sure that drifting isn't as good a tool for improving one's driving skills as anything one can do on a track or autocross course. Racing against the clock teaches you to be smooth and keep the car balanced, which is what you want to do, most of the time. Drifting teaches you to manhandle the car and toss it around (much like gymkhana), which can be useful if sliding becomes the best option for any reason.

Anyone who thinks drifting doesn't require skill should try drifting their S2000 in a tight figure eight, around two pylons. If you can do it right out of the gate, without practicing, I'll be amazed.

 

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A Drifting *Legal Event*... Whhaaaat??! Wheres this at? I think I need to check this out.

 

Look around on your local nissan forums.