Maybe I'm ignorant and don't have enough knowledge of vehicle dynamics, but the S2000's torsional rigidity is below average (among all cars), correct? I'm guessing the bending rigidity of the S2000 is actually pretty good though.

I have Rick's X-brace on my 2003 and whenever I go over the metal expansion slits (most of the time, they are NOT exactly perpendicular to the direction of car movement so the car frame is stressed) on overpasses/bridges, I can feel the car flexing slightly. You can even feel and hear the "oscillating" noise when going over uneven bumps and other irregularities on the road that don't hit both the left and right tires at the same time. You can even hear this "oscillating shake" on track videos when one side of the car goes over the "banks" along the sides of the track. Now, I might be more sensitive to these sensations than the average person or I'm just ultra paranoid, but I'm guessing I can't expect too much from an open-top car, right? When reviews say the body is strong, they mean relative to other roadsters, or other cars in general?

Next time you guys are out cruising, try to be cognizant of this and see if you can pick up on this too. I'm not saying to go over giant potholes on purpose, but if you hit small uneven bumps (on only one side of the car) or go over non-perpendicular bridge expansion slits, try to see if you feel a slight oscillating shake. I haven't noticed the dash shake perse, but my peripheral vision picks up on the whole car shaking ever so slightly over uneven bumps and grates.

Just wanted to make sure Honda didn't forget to put some critical structural reinforcements in mine when they built it lol.

 

I guess that this is all relative. I came to the S2000 after driving vintage British and Italian sportscars. If you want to know what a lack of rigidity is, I suggest that you try one of them. It really defines cowl shake. I find the Honda S2000 to be amazingly rigid, particularly for a roadster.

Zeiss

 

Also..... some related points. If some roadsters/convertibles have horrible rigidity, wouldn't the windshield like, just shatter or something? Wouldn't body sheetmetal start wrinkling?

I assumed the S2000 had larger gaps in the body panels (than Accords/Civics/etc) to allow some room for body flexing. Also, when I see aftermarket spring rates for the S2000 and for the late Civic Si I had, the available spring rates for the Civic were a lot higher. Is this because a higher torsionally rigid body can take more punishment from springs?

 

Yea I guess I should try them out. Problem is, that's gonna be kind of tough in my case. I was just wondering if anyone notices a very slight "oscillating effect" or slight flexing when going over uneven bumps or non-perpendicular expansion slits or any bump that doesn't hit both left and right tires at the same time.

 

Well i know that when i use the jack on one side of the car (front) the rear tire also lifts off the ground. Maybe thats due to the weight distribution but it would indicate to me that it is pretty rigid.
I do see what you are talking about as far as going over bumps (lots of speedbumps where im at) and I can feel a little but it doesnt seem to excessive

Nate

 

IIRC magazines praised the rigidity of the S2000's frame.

And no I don't notice any twisting or flex of the chassis. I did notice that water droplets didn't vibrate quite as much on the hood after the X brace was added. Most cars don't have the ginormous frame across the front of the engine compartment to "box" the front end.

 

Go drive some other droptops. Then let us which ones seemed more rigid than the S2000.

 

I sense a bit of flex, but for an open-top car, it is a very rigid chassis. Drive a Chrysler Sebring Convertible or Mustang Convertible, then you'll appreciate how stiff your chassis is.

 

what quikag said

want something stiffer, you gotta pay for it or get an evo/sti

 

I'm aware that they have stiffer bodies... would be absolutely hilarious if they didn't. But just wanted to know from other members if they were feeling/sensing slight quivers on uneven surfaces in the S2000.