How does one use the V-train in everyday driving?
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Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Santa Clara
warner,
Let's see...
1) Yes, most of us use VTEC plenty -- it's one of the central reasons to buy this monster.
2) Downshifting from 65 to pass: generally, I always downshift one gear at a time, and I usually end up in 4th for normal passing, or 3rd for seriously aggressive passing. (Redline in 3rd comes at around 92mph). I do sometimes skip 5th, but I consider it bad practice and try to avoid skipping gears unless "necessary."
3) Mis-shifting: Missing a shift is as much a danger in the S2000 as it is in any other manual automobile. The S2000 has a spring-centered shifter that attempts to protect you from yourself, however. At freeway speeds, third gear and higher are all fair game, and if you use proper shifting techniques (i.e. holding the shift lever from the left, so that missed shifts are more likely to land high rather than low) it's very unlikely you'll end up in first or second and over-rev the engine. The unexpected compression braking from a low-landing missed downshift will be strong, just like in any other car. If you do mechanically over-rev the engine by badly missing a downshift, it will be destroyed, just like in any other car. The S2000 does have a fuel-based rev-limiter at 9k, however, so you can't over-rev by acceleration, only by missing a downshift.
4) This car isn't necessarily "cushy." You can hear the engine. You can hear the transmission. Some people would be put off by it, but I (and all the rest of us) enjoy it.
There are a few minor issues, like the window auto-down feature, that bug the S2000, but few of them are anything more than an annoyance. As has been said many times before, the S2000 is generally an extremely well-designed and well-manufactured automobile, and in my opinion is of a quality head-and-shoulders over anything else in its price range. (Just browse the recall listings for any other car for an example.) This board, in particular, will make you leery, because of the selection effect: we're all S2000 owners, and we're all vocal. I'd venture that fewer than 5% of owners have had any kind of problem with their S2000, but all of us here moan and whine over the tiniest imperfections.
- Warren
Let's see...
1) Yes, most of us use VTEC plenty -- it's one of the central reasons to buy this monster.
2) Downshifting from 65 to pass: generally, I always downshift one gear at a time, and I usually end up in 4th for normal passing, or 3rd for seriously aggressive passing. (Redline in 3rd comes at around 92mph). I do sometimes skip 5th, but I consider it bad practice and try to avoid skipping gears unless "necessary."
3) Mis-shifting: Missing a shift is as much a danger in the S2000 as it is in any other manual automobile. The S2000 has a spring-centered shifter that attempts to protect you from yourself, however. At freeway speeds, third gear and higher are all fair game, and if you use proper shifting techniques (i.e. holding the shift lever from the left, so that missed shifts are more likely to land high rather than low) it's very unlikely you'll end up in first or second and over-rev the engine. The unexpected compression braking from a low-landing missed downshift will be strong, just like in any other car. If you do mechanically over-rev the engine by badly missing a downshift, it will be destroyed, just like in any other car. The S2000 does have a fuel-based rev-limiter at 9k, however, so you can't over-rev by acceleration, only by missing a downshift.
4) This car isn't necessarily "cushy." You can hear the engine. You can hear the transmission. Some people would be put off by it, but I (and all the rest of us) enjoy it.
There are a few minor issues, like the window auto-down feature, that bug the S2000, but few of them are anything more than an annoyance. As has been said many times before, the S2000 is generally an extremely well-designed and well-manufactured automobile, and in my opinion is of a quality head-and-shoulders over anything else in its price range. (Just browse the recall listings for any other car for an example.) This board, in particular, will make you leery, because of the selection effect: we're all S2000 owners, and we're all vocal. I'd venture that fewer than 5% of owners have had any kind of problem with their S2000, but all of us here moan and whine over the tiniest imperfections.- Warren
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Bravnik
California - Bay Area S2000 Owners
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Oct 15, 2003 07:39 AM
