Headlights - WOW, what a cutoff...
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 389
Likes: 32
From: Louisville
Just to clarify - for people who drive at night headlights really are everything; really good headlights can make a mediocre car a joy to drive, and really bad headlights can make a fun car an exercise in nail-biting horror.
I just noticed that the S2000's headlights had a much harder cutoff than other HID-equipped vehicles I've driven, and it was sharp enough that it was clearly visible.
Thanks for the responses.
I just noticed that the S2000's headlights had a much harder cutoff than other HID-equipped vehicles I've driven, and it was sharp enough that it was clearly visible.
Thanks for the responses.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 488
Likes: 0
From: Estes Park
I drive mine where BillK does and it is not fun nor safe at night. I have no desire to be the skewer in an Elk-ka-bob. These lights are very bright but the cut-off is no good for where we live. Not slamming the car, just the lights.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: FOLSOM
For those of you out there that want a manually adjustable HID headlight, buy a Q45 (99-03) or even a Nissan Murano. Both have a selector from 0-3 that allows you to adjust the height of the lights. Maybe there are others out there as well but these are the two of that I know of that have manually adjustable HID's.
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 387
Likes: 0
From: Germantown, MD
Originally posted by chipperman
Sorry, I have to agree with BillK. I live in the mountains, and I've tried adjusting the lights up and down, and gone to 100 watt High Beam bulbs, and it doesn't cut it. If you could aim the HID's without regard for other drivers, they would make a great system, but not for here. We have nothing to reflect off at night, and wet trees and grass are darker than an Elvis painting on velvet. When all you see of an elk is from the knees down, it makes night driving very scary. And, most mountain roads around here undulate, so the lights bounce like a bobblehead doll. In my work truck I have H4 replacements for the large rectangles, and run 130/160 watt bulbs. Now THAT lights up the woods like daylight. I simply don't drive the S at night...too risky.
Sorry, I have to agree with BillK. I live in the mountains, and I've tried adjusting the lights up and down, and gone to 100 watt High Beam bulbs, and it doesn't cut it. If you could aim the HID's without regard for other drivers, they would make a great system, but not for here. We have nothing to reflect off at night, and wet trees and grass are darker than an Elvis painting on velvet. When all you see of an elk is from the knees down, it makes night driving very scary. And, most mountain roads around here undulate, so the lights bounce like a bobblehead doll. In my work truck I have H4 replacements for the large rectangles, and run 130/160 watt bulbs. Now THAT lights up the woods like daylight. I simply don't drive the S at night...too risky.
Jean
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Los angeles
Originally posted by BillK
I don't want "visible" signs, I want blinding.
Meanwhile, an Audi S4 I drove had its beam pattern cut off the lights so that the signs were barely any more visible than they are in the same car equipped with halogens; its were the most disappointing HID headlights I've experienced to date.
However, this was just a test drive and may have been representative of a "worst case" scenario; still, knowing how the TT and Porsche HIDs light things, not to mention the BMW HIDs which do an even better job, it was disturbing enough that it made me rethink whether I'd want an S2000 as a "night driver" car...
I don't want "visible" signs, I want blinding.
Meanwhile, an Audi S4 I drove had its beam pattern cut off the lights so that the signs were barely any more visible than they are in the same car equipped with halogens; its were the most disappointing HID headlights I've experienced to date.
However, this was just a test drive and may have been representative of a "worst case" scenario; still, knowing how the TT and Porsche HIDs light things, not to mention the BMW HIDs which do an even better job, it was disturbing enough that it made me rethink whether I'd want an S2000 as a "night driver" car...
This should give you the idea of what the S2000 lights are capable of, the picture isnt edited
my advice to you is, forget about the S2000, its doesnt suit you.