I have had my car for 3 months now. I love everything about it. I love its looks, style, speed, engine, everything. But, it isn't handling worth a shit. I am not the best driver in the world, I admit it. I spun it out one night the first month I had it. It feels real unstable when I turn at more than average speeds. I feel like the back end is coming out and it's squishy. I thought it was just that I am a bad driver. But on the way home tonight I was following a jeep that was going somewhat fast on a turn, no acceleration, just a gradual turn to the right. Well when I came out of the turn the back end came out a little and it felt unstable. My 99 prelude felt alot better. Keep in mind I keep testing it on turns with gas, without gas and it still feels crappy. I am EXTREMELY frustrated right now. I am worried that I have spacers in my springs, but if that's not it, what could it be?? I thought this car was supposed to handle very well. Better than most. But at this rate I feel unsafe turning at more than average speeds. Please advise me!!!

 

The good news is that nothing is wrong with your car. Your problem is you have not learned how a 50/50 balanced RWD car feels like in corners yet. The Prelude is a very forgiving car (I should know I race one) and it would let you make driving mistakes you simply cannot make with a S2000. I suggest you go to some autocrosses or track events in your area and learn how the S2000 feels at its limits. Spokes is the autocross club in your region http://www.ccsi.com/~vitek/spokes/index.html and you can look at the NTPOG website for track events in Texas http://www.ntpog.org/events.shtml.

 

I hope you're not driving it the way you're driving your Prelude. Because if you are, you're sure to ask for it. Without getting a ride in your car it's difficult to tell what's wrong with it. Try to find someone in your area that does autocross, he/she will be able to tell you how the car feel. Did you check your tire pressure? if you're running flat on one side that could upset the car in the corner.

 

I think I have spring spacers. I can fit 3 fingers in the front gap and 3 in the back. So supposedly from reading a previous thread I might have spacers in the front. What do you guys think?

 

What are the chance that two people will post the similar advice at the same time?

 

That is odd. Good advice is good advice I guess. You guys dont' think it's spring spacers? I mean I should be able to take a turn at the same speed as a jeep shouldn't I?

 

You may have mashed your accelerator and got into a throttle induced oversteer in that situation. Your prelude would have just understeered all the way.

 

I don't want to be rude but, take some driving lessons. I'm sure you'll be able to drive it much better. You might go to a local Auto-X and learn some tips.

As I knock on wood, I've driven my car 57k miles and have never lost control as you've described. I'm not the best driver by any means, but I think I have a "feel" for the car and try to stay within it's(and my) limits. It holds alot more than I would have thought. Other drivers in my area can outdrive me all day long which means my car can do alot more still. I still believe that you can't get a better performing car for the money.

I would try to take a driving course at a reputable track learn the physics associated with driving and enjoy this wonderful car. That's what I plan to do as soon as I can.

Good luck!
Joe

 

Collin,

These guys could be right about your driving prowess, but I'm finding that a little hard to believe. Seems to me you'd have to be downright balky not to be able to keep up with a jeep.

Maybe you've got some sort of alignment bugaboo or maybe drastically deflated tires. I don't know. Time to have your car looked at. When's your next oil change??

What I'm finding with the car is that smoothness in shifting and gradually increasing power on the turns is the key. If you just start kicking ass in the middle of a sweeper, you're gonna overpower the tires.

My impression of the S2000 so far (my first week) is that it's BY FAR the best handling car I've ever driven. Hope you figure out what's going on!

 

A prelude is front wheel drive and an S2000 is RWD thats the big difference. 99% of FWD cars are going to understeer when pushed and most RWD cars are going to oversteer (ass end stepping out) when pushed. That's why I want to drive an s2k before I purchase it because I have driven FWD cars all my life and I am not used to oversteer (well maybe in my '91 Volvo right before I flipped it). The fact is that you are going to have to learn two words "Throttle Steer" modulating the throttle is going to be the key in having or not having traction in a corner. Just my .02...I could keep trying like 4 more pages on this subject but Im just going to shut up.