Honda S2000 Rigidity
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From: Pasadena, SOCAL
Originally Posted by tof,Jun 27 2007, 04:54 PM
Torsional and longitudinal rigidity of cars has improved greatly over the last six or seven years. Technologies like high strength steel, hydroforming, etc. have resulted in new models being 50, 60, 70% more rigid (at least according to manufacturers.)
Considering the age of its design and engineering and the fact that it IS a drop-top, the S2000 is remarkably rigid. The real give-away is cowl shake. I have noticed almost none in the S2K over the absolutely awful post-katrina streets and roads down here.
If you think your car lacks rigidity, go try a 'vette.
Considering the age of its design and engineering and the fact that it IS a drop-top, the S2000 is remarkably rigid. The real give-away is cowl shake. I have noticed almost none in the S2K over the absolutely awful post-katrina streets and roads down here.
If you think your car lacks rigidity, go try a 'vette.
those fiberglass bodied vette, if you jack the car up without closing the door, you can bend the frame and render it total lost.
it happens all the time with vette in the shop, people just don't realize the fiber glass body need extra treatment, they even require a special "hockey puck" for jack point on the body.
it's a common thing for unibody without a roof, it's worse on chop top car(aka car designs as a coupe or sedan before the retro engineer a drop top version of the same car) than a ground up roadster.
i have no complaint in the s2k, it's stiffer than alot of econosh-tbox in the road, and almost no cowl shake(which is something i used to in my 17 year old miata)
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From: Long Island, New York, US
Originally Posted by fltsfshr,Jun 27 2007, 04:37 PM
If I recall the S2000 structural rigidity is 57000hz. The only other roadster out there greater was a ferrari when it was introduced.
fltsfshr
fltsfshr
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From: Long Island, New York, US
http://www.motortrend.com/av/roadtests/112..._best_handling/
Check out that Motor Trend video of the S2000 being driven around the track.
Angelelli admits the rigidity isn't up to par with coupes but I guess that's the reality. You can search for the other cars that were in the America's best handling test under multimedia, search by class - sports cars.
Check out that Motor Trend video of the S2000 being driven around the track.
Angelelli admits the rigidity isn't up to par with coupes but I guess that's the reality. You can search for the other cars that were in the America's best handling test under multimedia, search by class - sports cars.
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From: IN THE HOOD
Originally Posted by SiDriver,Jun 27 2007, 01:10 PM
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?
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?
since theres no fixed hood, the windshield frame must be made extra strong for rollover protector. so the glass itself wouldnt be subject to these stresses if the rest of the car was spongy
pertaining to the s2k alone, its quite rigid
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From: Atlanta
I find the S2K to be quite rigid. It is just as stiff as my excellent 2002 Boxster. The Z4 cabrio is supposedly stiffer, but I have not driven one to say for sure. I had a 2000 Miata before the Boxster and even with its from the ground up cabrio design, it was quite flimsy in comparison. I look at cowl flex as a good indicator, and it is virtually non-existant in the S2K.
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From: LittlecountrynamedBelgium
S2000 is on of the most rigid open cars in the world, mainly due to the fact that it is designed from a blank sheet of paper as being a convertible and it is not derived from a sedan/coup
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Originally Posted by SiDriver,Jun 28 2007, 12:12 AM
I've been trying to find S2000 rigidity numbers for the longest time. Where did you find that information? Do you know the numbers for the competition?
dlg04 on here has the consumate collection of published S2000 info. I wanted to buy it from him. You might drop a pm to him.
fltsfshr