Hi, I have a few questions regarding driving the S2000 on a daily basis.

I'm coming from an '99 auto civic sedan, and the S2000 is my first manual RWD car. Not that it matters, but it's also the first 2dr car I have driven.

The questions I have are what I should watch out for when I am driving normally. A major point is what I could do to prevent oversteer. Another point are things not to do when it rains.

My car is an AP1 with Ap2v2 rims and Sumitomo(?) tires with still deep thread. From what the previous owner said, it was set up for even wear on the tires.

I haven't started daily driving the S yet which is why I'm asking questions first.

Thanks for any input or comments.

 

1) Watch your entry speed and don't bomb into a turn
2) Smooth throttle application out of the turn

Just because you have a sports car doesn't mean you have to drive it at 10/10th. On the flip side, RWD is nothing magical. Get seat time.

Go karting, do an autocross, or find a driving course-race school or police dept. civilian course. Preferably do all of the above for practice.

No magic, just practice. My two cents.

 

Smoothness is everything. The S has a well balanced chassis and quick hands will get you out of trouble, once you've got used to the car, but until then, especially in the rain, take it easy in the bends. I've had my car a year now, and only recently started deliberately power oversteering at will (and controlling it nicely).

As long as you don't unbalance the car with wild control inputs, it's very well behaved. It got it's reputation as a teenager killer, for exactly that reason, inexperienced teenagers couldn't drive them properly, they went from (no offense) front wheel drive civics, and expected the same neutral handling. In the hands of a sensible adult or a decent driver, it's really not that dangerous as a car, unless ambition exceeds talent.

Finally.... TIRE PRESSURES. If there is even a 3 psi difference in the rear tires, it's going to be skittish at the back, especially under acceleration and braking. Every two or three fill ups check oil and tires.

 

after owning the car for a year, i just started doing some power slides

be patient & get to know the car very well before doing anything childish

 

Slow in, fast out

 

You can read all you want but it's seat time in a relatively safe environment that will help you the most.

 

+1. but for now, drive civilized and you'll have no issues. wait until you get used to it before you do anything remotely stupid.

 

Don't skip gears. The s2k tranny is sensitive to synchro wear.

 

Don't lift off the gas mid-corner.

 

find an empty parking lot some time soon and see what it takes to break the rear end loose on both dry and wet pavement. You'll learn a lot