Is it me??? <Long Read>
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So my many months of studying the S2000, watching on video how the Japanese were tearing the S2000 to shreds on the track, reading about the S2000 from this forum, making new S2000 friends online, finally it all came down last Wednesday when my dealer called to tell me they had a white S2000 and they'd sell it to me for $33K. Great price but one thing was missing, my test driving the car. And so I made an appointment and headed down to the dealership. It was Saturday 3:00pm in Redwood city, the air was cold and crisp, the roads dry and clear, and the sun was gleaming bright- a perfect day for a test drive.
When I drove up to the dealership, Mike the salesman, was standing there ready for my arrival. "Are you ready for the test drive?" I nodded and we edged our way to a black demo with 2900 miles or so on the dial. I opened the door and like Bo Duke of Dukes of Hazard, slid right into the black cockpit. Immediately I found myself in the class of the very elite-. Schumacher, Senna, and the many legendary drivers of F1. Me having spent a week at Skip Barber's driving school, the feel of the seat, the steering wheel and the shiftknob brought back memories of being behind an F3 class car. I was now excited. I adjusted the mirrors, seat and sat there for five whole minutes just looking straight while my hands were in the 10 and 2 o'clock position. Mike sat silent and triggered the top down. "Here's the key." he whispered. I sat some more still, placed the key gently into the ignition and pressed 'Start'.
The engine fired up and with a few taps on the gas, the engine gave a lovely growl. I watched the little light bar complete its full arc around the speedometer. Excellent. I gave another peddle of gas for good measure. Oh yeah, this baby is meant to redline at 9000 and I'm going to be there in a few minutes. I stepped onto the clutch ever so gently, placed the titanium shift knob into 1st, and released the hand brake. The way Carlsen Honda's dealership was situated, we had to first drive off the lot of on looking Accord customers, down a 4 mile road with a 15 mile limit before merging into heaven, 101 North.
As we drove off the driveway, I felt the car's rigidity. And why not? Mike explained that the car's chassis was designed in the shape of an 'X'. What I also noticed and what didn't mention was the weight. On paper it didn't really matter but when driving, I noticed that compared with the Miata, the S2000 felt a bit hunkier, heavier, and definitely wider. The S2000 wasn't as sprightly as the Miata either. Still we hadn't redlined the car yet so I remained optimistic.
There was a traffic light before the freeway entry and a silver S2000 drove right next to us. He gave a friendly honk and chirped off. We exchanged Hi-5's. The light turned green and now all my concentration, my strength came focused to one mission, to take this baby to 9000 territory. The car, between 2000 - 5000 was not that impressive at all Meanwhile the engine was getting louder and louder. At 6000 rpm, the car took on a different form, it suddenly screamed as if it was in great pain but there was thrust, not the turbo thrust you might expect but a sudden push. I can only describe it as gentle. I shifted to 2nd then 3rd, all the way to 6th. The engine was loud. I didn't mind this at all but somehow the car just didn't feel super fast. Is it me???
We turned off the freeway and headed back. The best part of the drive however was throwing the car into the 45mph turn-about back to 101 South. I heel and toe'd the S2000. Mike noticed that but told me that the car gets faster after a few months more. Having returned the car back to the dealership, I now had to think twice about the purchase. Was the S2000 over marketed? Over hyped? Or was it just me?
When I drove up to the dealership, Mike the salesman, was standing there ready for my arrival. "Are you ready for the test drive?" I nodded and we edged our way to a black demo with 2900 miles or so on the dial. I opened the door and like Bo Duke of Dukes of Hazard, slid right into the black cockpit. Immediately I found myself in the class of the very elite-. Schumacher, Senna, and the many legendary drivers of F1. Me having spent a week at Skip Barber's driving school, the feel of the seat, the steering wheel and the shiftknob brought back memories of being behind an F3 class car. I was now excited. I adjusted the mirrors, seat and sat there for five whole minutes just looking straight while my hands were in the 10 and 2 o'clock position. Mike sat silent and triggered the top down. "Here's the key." he whispered. I sat some more still, placed the key gently into the ignition and pressed 'Start'.
The engine fired up and with a few taps on the gas, the engine gave a lovely growl. I watched the little light bar complete its full arc around the speedometer. Excellent. I gave another peddle of gas for good measure. Oh yeah, this baby is meant to redline at 9000 and I'm going to be there in a few minutes. I stepped onto the clutch ever so gently, placed the titanium shift knob into 1st, and released the hand brake. The way Carlsen Honda's dealership was situated, we had to first drive off the lot of on looking Accord customers, down a 4 mile road with a 15 mile limit before merging into heaven, 101 North.
As we drove off the driveway, I felt the car's rigidity. And why not? Mike explained that the car's chassis was designed in the shape of an 'X'. What I also noticed and what didn't mention was the weight. On paper it didn't really matter but when driving, I noticed that compared with the Miata, the S2000 felt a bit hunkier, heavier, and definitely wider. The S2000 wasn't as sprightly as the Miata either. Still we hadn't redlined the car yet so I remained optimistic.
There was a traffic light before the freeway entry and a silver S2000 drove right next to us. He gave a friendly honk and chirped off. We exchanged Hi-5's. The light turned green and now all my concentration, my strength came focused to one mission, to take this baby to 9000 territory. The car, between 2000 - 5000 was not that impressive at all Meanwhile the engine was getting louder and louder. At 6000 rpm, the car took on a different form, it suddenly screamed as if it was in great pain but there was thrust, not the turbo thrust you might expect but a sudden push. I can only describe it as gentle. I shifted to 2nd then 3rd, all the way to 6th. The engine was loud. I didn't mind this at all but somehow the car just didn't feel super fast. Is it me???
We turned off the freeway and headed back. The best part of the drive however was throwing the car into the 45mph turn-about back to 101 South. I heel and toe'd the S2000. Mike noticed that but told me that the car gets faster after a few months more. Having returned the car back to the dealership, I now had to think twice about the purchase. Was the S2000 over marketed? Over hyped? Or was it just me?
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From: Chicago
WOW! sounded like you had a GREAT test-drive. I didn't even test drive the S. Went straight to the dealer and sign the papers. Can you beleive that? Sounded like a nice Saleman you got. Was he nervous?
nick
nick
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From: San Mateo
Probably get massive flames for this, but... 
Compared back to back with my GSR - I don't "FEEL" that it's that much faster. My Integra is stock (except air filter). For the "FEEL", it's missing torque. I am def. thinking of a supercharging it, though.
Then again, the Stook takes the corners much better than my GSR.
Compared back to back with my GSR - I don't "FEEL" that it's that much faster. My Integra is stock (except air filter). For the "FEEL", it's missing torque. I am def. thinking of a supercharging it, though.
Then again, the Stook takes the corners much better than my GSR.
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From: San Diego
Well, people get use to the speed. So even though it doesn't feel fast, it is. Try this, have your friend drive your S2000 and sit in the passenger side. You will notice how fast your S2000 is. Or don't drive your car for about a week and then drive it.
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From: Kirkland
I agree with the guy who posted this.
Tedster was kind enough to give me a passenger-side test ride in his car. He took these corners like a madman and had me saying expletives out loud. Everything felt very racecar like.
But when he really wrung it out on a freeway onramp, the car was loud, but there wasn't much ooompf, probably due to the lack of torque in this car. In that sense I was not impressed, but in every other sense I was.
Tedster was kind enough to give me a passenger-side test ride in his car. He took these corners like a madman and had me saying expletives out loud. Everything felt very racecar like.
But when he really wrung it out on a freeway onramp, the car was loud, but there wasn't much ooompf, probably due to the lack of torque in this car. In that sense I was not impressed, but in every other sense I was.
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From: Stockholm
Depends on what you want I guess. It is fun to drive something that FEELS fast, but I prefer something that IS fast. Smoother power is often faster, unless it's stop and go between stoplights you're talking about. Part of the character of the S2000 is that you have to plan ahead and work a bit at keeping the revs in the right range though.
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From: You wish
When I first test drove the S2K (about 1500 miles on the demo) it didn't feel all that fast to me either. However, I learned long ago not to trust my butt, no matter how well calibrated it seems to me.
My other sporty car (and I've mentioned this before) makes more torque than my S2K, has a similar power/weight ratio, weighs 600 lbs less and is equipped with a race caliber aftermarket suspension (whole car is modified). It feels much faster in a straight line, especially at lower rpms. And it feels like it corners harder as well (and in some corners it might indeed be quicker). However....
In a straight line the cars are even in 2nd gear roll-ons (provided the S2K is in VTEC) and in 3rd/4th gear the S2K will pull very slightly. When it comes to lap times, the S2K is usually a match and occasionally quicker, and I suspect that I haven't fully tapped the S2K's potential yet.
So, why is this? Acceleration wise, it has to do with the shape of the torque curve. From 6000 to 8000 rpm the torque curve on the S2k is ruler flat and it doesn't drop off much till you're past 8500 rpm. What this means is you experience a linear pull when going full bore. Other cars with more torque may exhibit a stronger pull over a smaller rpm range, but in terms of average torque the S2K engine is quite good for its size. Compared to a GS-R with an intake, the S2K is probably only putting down 15% more torque and it weighs 5% more too. Thus, with similar gearing, it won't feel like it pulls much harder at the torque peak (and it will feel even closer if the S2K is below 6000 rpm since the GS-R has great midrange with the variable intake manifold). But, with an extra 1000 rpm, you can pull 12.5% longer and the S2K keeps its torque up better as rpms climb, whereas the GS-R falls off.
Handling wise, you can't hide weight, you can only compensate. But while a Miata is a fun, tossable car with decent limits, the S2K is a precision tool, with extremely high limits, that is less tolerant of playing pitch and catch. The Miata can be just about as precise, but that isn't the way its setup from the factory.
Hope that helps.
UL
My other sporty car (and I've mentioned this before) makes more torque than my S2K, has a similar power/weight ratio, weighs 600 lbs less and is equipped with a race caliber aftermarket suspension (whole car is modified). It feels much faster in a straight line, especially at lower rpms. And it feels like it corners harder as well (and in some corners it might indeed be quicker). However....
In a straight line the cars are even in 2nd gear roll-ons (provided the S2K is in VTEC) and in 3rd/4th gear the S2K will pull very slightly. When it comes to lap times, the S2K is usually a match and occasionally quicker, and I suspect that I haven't fully tapped the S2K's potential yet.
So, why is this? Acceleration wise, it has to do with the shape of the torque curve. From 6000 to 8000 rpm the torque curve on the S2k is ruler flat and it doesn't drop off much till you're past 8500 rpm. What this means is you experience a linear pull when going full bore. Other cars with more torque may exhibit a stronger pull over a smaller rpm range, but in terms of average torque the S2K engine is quite good for its size. Compared to a GS-R with an intake, the S2K is probably only putting down 15% more torque and it weighs 5% more too. Thus, with similar gearing, it won't feel like it pulls much harder at the torque peak (and it will feel even closer if the S2K is below 6000 rpm since the GS-R has great midrange with the variable intake manifold). But, with an extra 1000 rpm, you can pull 12.5% longer and the S2K keeps its torque up better as rpms climb, whereas the GS-R falls off.
Handling wise, you can't hide weight, you can only compensate. But while a Miata is a fun, tossable car with decent limits, the S2K is a precision tool, with extremely high limits, that is less tolerant of playing pitch and catch. The Miata can be just about as precise, but that isn't the way its setup from the factory.
Hope that helps.
UL
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From: Glendale/Burbank/LA
If you're one of those types that are slow to appreciate a slice of heaven (unfortunately by nature, most guys are hehe), try driving any other car after driving the S2K for a day or so. Mushy mushy MUSHY! Ugh, can't go back, don't wanna go back 
The mushy car I'm referring to is my '99 Civic Si. And I have driven the Prelude SH and Integra GSR through the mountains -- S2K's are, without a doubt in my mind, leaps and bounds beyond.
The mushy car I'm referring to is my '99 Civic Si. And I have driven the Prelude SH and Integra GSR through the mountains -- S2K's are, without a doubt in my mind, leaps and bounds beyond.