So I'm a long time porsche owner with a 997TT and 993 in the garage. Last year I bought a 2000 boxster S with 60k miles to track. Well let's just say the engine has 2 oil pickups and needs 4...and that long sweeping high speed turns aren't good for that engine. So it popped 3rd time out.

I cut my losses and moved on. I tracked my 993 and turbo and was nervous about the potential for high cost repairs or damage.

So, I bought a 2004 S2000 with 67k miles.

I'm totally impressed with this car and quality. The boxster S of the same time period doesn't even compare. The quality of handling , ride, materials and the engine is spot on.

I'm curious as to how this handles on the track compared to the porsche or the Rx7 FC that I race. Just driving it on the street, it feels a lot like the Rx7 in handling and the way the engine provides power.

One burning question... is it safe to say an oil baffle is mandatory for track tires? Is it necessary for dot 200 ?

Thanks and any tips or food for thought is appreciated.

 

This car was built and designed in such a way that you could drive it off the dealership lot directly onto a track and come off of it with zero issues. These are fantastic track cars and are very very solid to boot. Its a very challenging car that demands a lot from its driver. I've never driven a 993 so i have no real comparison for you. But i know for a fact that i can keep up with my friend in his GT3 and his girlfriend in her Boxster S just fine. The difference in times is driver skill at this point.

 

The 993 is a little tricky too. Snap oversteer...and understeer. From what I read... the s2000 does the same. Rule #1 in a porsche: don't brake in a turn unless you want to spin.


I believe you on the track comment. Porsche's might have more power, but the 700lbs delta is huge.

 

S2000's are a decent track platform.

There's not a lot that they NEED.

I've been tracking my AP1 for 14 years without oil baffle (200 TW). Its got 92K miles on it now...and it still looks nice....so...I don't want to track it anymore.

The AP2 that I bought specifically for track use last year has 164K previously supercharged and tracked miles on it and it never misses a beat.

But a baffle isn't a bad idea if you're tracking it heavily.

I've never driven a car that snap oversteers, though. Duno what that's like. S2000's don't exhibit any real unpredictable behaviours. Its all pretty textbook.

I drove a friend's 991 GT3 RS's (2 of them) at COTA this year, and the movements of that car are very S2000-like. I felt right at home pretty quickly. Obviously, the Porsche is a LOT faster and the grip levels are a LOT higher (R compounds) and the car has built in downforce and more stability. But the actual equivalent cornering movements and behaviours of the car aren't that far away from an AP2.

Glad to see that you're enjoying the car. I think that if one is looking for simplicity, fair cost, low expenses, and a good amount of power/capability out of the box...there's not much out there that can compare to the S2000.

 

I mean the snap oversteer is pretty easy to overcome with a few low cost mods to the car, namley a thick front sway bar. I just installed one and it made a world of a difference.

 

Thx... I feel the s2000 does have snap oversteer in stock form with street tires.

What other mods do you recommend for the track?

 

67k miles? I'd say that's a pristine example...

Get another higher mileage and/or salvaged S2000 and track that one.

 

Great minds think alike...
It is in great shape, but a salvage from a theft back in 2008. It's 100% stock, so a blank slate.

 

To be honest i'm much more of an autocross guy, so other than some coils and the sway bar, there really isnt much more you need besides some good rubber. I know a lot of the hardcore track guys like to run a big wing for the added downforce. I personally really like running a square setup. I'm running 17x9.5 +41 wheels all around with 245/40/17 Dunlop Direzza Z3 tires. Been really happy with the setup so far.

 

I'm getting a bit confused here.

Is the question whether the car needs anything to get out on the track?

That answer is just general maintenance, and a set of pads/tires that are up to the task.

Sure, stuff like oil baffles and oil coolers help with engine longevity on heavily tracked cars. As long as you buy quality parts and don't ham-fist the install.


Or is the question whether there are mods that slow down the car's transition from understeer to oversteer?

IDK...there's a bunch you can do if you want to.

But if you bought a S2000, why are you trying to do this without figuring out how to properly drive it first?

I have no idea what "snap oversteer" means, honestly.

Mine oversteers when I ask for oversteer.....

Do yall's cars just whip the tail out and hit a tree when you're pulling out of the garage or something? My car doesn't do that.

I'm usually driving mine when I'm sitting in the driver's seat. Are the "snap oversteer" models autonomous? Robots having some fun?