I'm curious; how did Mike "trigger the top down" without the key already being in the ignition? Mine won't do that.

 

I'm with Steve on this one. When my Rex gave up the ghost I ended up going with a '99 Si. Car had a great engine (compared to the CRX) but the suspension was tuned down a bit too much for my taste. It took one drive of the S2k and I was sold. Now, three weeks later I hate driving anything else - my wife's Golf feels like an SUV in comparision. So my $.02, it was just you.

 

It doesn't feel fast, but take a look at the speedo, you will notice you are going a lot faster than you thought. I always have to remind myself that the car doesn't "feel" fast, but *is*. Often I'll find myself hammering it.. doesn't feel like I am going fast, but next time I know I am going 65 ina 35 in only 2 gears....

-Shing

 

Having driven two GSR's a total of 170,000 miles (current one at 125,000) I can say that the S2000 may not feel faster, but it is definately faster. My current GSR has lots of go-fast parts too.

As mentioned above torque is a funny thing. The S2000 torque curve is nearly flat across its entire powerband. The handling of the two cars is also no contest.

Don't let the butt-dyno fool you.

 

My old Conquest Tsi that was slightly modified (no cats, exhaust, boost controller, intake...etc) felt way faster than my S2000, but it's a trick...and only a trick. This car is light, stiff, and the power is mostly linear as UL stated, it's just GOING instead of MOVING. Get in any Lincoln and stomp the gas and you'd swear it was fast with a 10 second 0-60, but it's not. It's just the opposite with the S2000...little torque, little movement, little feel of speed. Do not trust you feelings of speed with this car, you'll end up getting a ticket for 100 in a 55, or in a ditch.

Andrew

 

If you are buying a car for stop light racing, then get a Supra or a Cobra. If you are buying a car to attack the racetrack, get an S2000. The added bonuses? The drop top, a ferocious engine, the slickest shifter on the planet, on-rails handling, sexy and chicks dig it.

And if you want mushy, try driving a 4Runner, which is my daily driver most days...it's the anti-S2000.

Of course, there is hype around the car. It's up to you to sift through it and see what's real. It may work for you, it may not. I, in fact, never test drove one. I didn't have to. I already knew. Sounds like the car may not be a fit for you. But I could be wrong...

Just figure out what you want to do with whatever car you do get and go with it. Good luck in your decision...

 

ok there csere cbabor (whatever the hell the bald CAR& DRiver editor's name is)

Quote:

the slickest shifter on the planet

 

This car is all about weight to power ratio, when on a test drive with a sales associate in the passenger seat the car is heavy - it's a totally different car without passenger weight, especially in the lower power band.

If you like it when you test drive it with a salesman, you'll love it all the more when they get out.

 

It's Csaba Csere... (I think that's right)

 

Torque is directly proportional to acceleration. Your butt senses acceleration, but is even more sensitive to dA/dt (change in acceleration). Gravity is a constant acceleration and you hardly notice it. Because the torque curve on the S2000 is relatively flat compared to most cars, the acceleration is fairly constant also. Also, peak torque is inversely proportional to engine RPMs (given the same HP). So the engine pulls at a very constant (pretty high) acceleration, longer.

I forget who said it, but the following is true: Other cars FEEL fast. The S2000 IS fast.