Originally Posted by toofast4yalll,Aug 26 2007, 11:06 AM

^ Curb weight on a MY00 S2k is 2,809lbs. Curb weight on a '95 FD Rx7 is 2,826lbs. In other words, they're almost identical. However, I like the way the S handles better. The Rx7s power delivery isn't as smooth and linear as the S2000's. I wouldn't get a SC because you would change the way the car handles. If you hit boost coming out of a corner, it is a challenge to keep the car going in a straight line. I've scared the sh*t out of myself multiple times in high-HP Rx7s. If you want a great road course/auto-x car, get ITBs and an AEM standalone. Most of the good weight reduction is free (remove trunk carpet, spare tire, tools, radio, speakers, A/C, cruise control, pass. air bag, etc.) My car weighs slightly under 2,550lbs, so it doesn't need as much HP to be competitive. ITBs also remove about 40 pounds of weight. You would have a 2,510lb car with about 230whp. Assuming an F20c with ITBs has around 280 crank horsepower, your power to weight ratio would be around 8.9. A stock C6 Corvette has a little better power to weight ratio, but the much lighter S2000 will have the advantage on a road course.

Originally Posted by RED MX5,Aug 26 2007, 07:04 PM

One thing nobody else has mentioned is that there are two distinct aspects to handling, one being the limits, and the other being the characteristics. The handling limits are at their most basic a function of mass and grip (though that is truely a gross oversimplification). The handling characteristics determine how the car responds to the drivers inputs rather than the limits of grip, so it's quite possible for a car with lower handling limits to have vastly superior handling characteristics. Clearly a car that generates greater cornering forces has higher handling limits, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is a better handling car, at least in terms of it's handling characteristics. There has probably never been a car with sweeter handling characteristics than a well setup Spridget, but the cornering limits on the cars OEM tires was probably somewhere around 0.75 G's (or less).

We can all usually agree about the relative handling limits of a car ... After all, who's going to argue that pulling 0.90 G is better than pulling 1.10? Where people tend to disagree concerns the characteristics rather than the limits. Does a Vette or Elise have better handling characteristics than an S2000? That's the kind of question people will argue about, and we argue about it because we don't all like the same things. For the low speed autocrosses I run, a stock (early) S2000 lacks grip but has handling that matches my driving style almost perfectly, though I could say the same thing about the Elise, which also feels far more tossable (and far more uncomfortable). The Vette doesn't suck, but it's just too large and heavy to be fun on the tight courses. On the track, I'm actually far more comfortable at the higher speeds reached by the Vette than I am in either the Elise or S2000, and for track duty I actually find *my* S2000 (not stock) in need of some serious rear downforce and a stronger bias toward understeer. Point being, handling that is "best" for one venue or driving style is not likely to be "best" for some other venue or driving style.

When you say that you want to improve the cars "handling," what are you actually asking? Do you want more grip, or do you want to change some aspect of the cars handling charistics? If you can be a little more specific I think you'll get more meaningful help.



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Mike is right about the Vette and the tires. Big sticky rubber delivers massive grip. G's = grip/mass (from F=MA rearranged to A=F/M).

Originally Posted by B.Money,Aug 26 2007, 08:44 PM

hmm i see. I guess what I mean is what car has most GRIP at the limit. and how to improve that.

Originally Posted by B.Money,Aug 26 2007, 10:26 PM

just by reducing body roll and spreading the weight over 4 tires more evenly?