[QUOTE]Originally posted by jo2foryoass
[B]car and driver probably used slicks to acheive those awesome times.






-i eat dirt

 

C/D does the same.

C/D typically gets realistic performance numbers for the cars they test (maybe not when compared to MT who almost always seems to have the quickest times). I think their time of 5.8 seconds for the S2000 is only a tick or two off of what they did with the Boxster S. However, if their sister magazine (Road & Track) got 5.3 seconds and MT got 5.2 seconds, then that might show they had some difficulty getting a good launch or the track and atmospheric conditions weren't favorable.

I enjoy reading the reviews of other non-automotive focused magazines but I don't put a lot faith behind their words or test results since most of them are not the enthusiasts that the major leading auto rags are.

I think the key is to just use the magazine test numbers as guidelines. Parameters beyond the driver's control (track/road conditions, atmospheric conditions, driver skill, etc) play a huge roll in performance.

 

What about what we can actually do in the car without killing it, that's what I am interested in.

 

I'd say that you can probably get on the highway and set the cruise control, and be pretty secure that you won't blow out the differential. Although, then you might run into problems with your #4 cylinder.