Well, good thing the S2000 isn't 50/50. It's 49/51.

 

lol

 

I've seen some guys with big guts who drive their S2000's, and I'm sure the weight distribution is more like 55/45 with them. 58/42 after finishing a party ball maybe.

 

ok...help me out on this....how about some definitions for the cars below??

1903-08 cadillac...engine dead nuts in between the axles..[right under the driver]

1909-27 ford model t....engine well behind the front axle...

1924-30 bugatti t-35...[.same as above]

1965 lotus super seven..[same as above]

1958 porsche 356...engine completely behind rear axle...

1968 porsche 911 [as above]..

1958 panhard...engine in front of front axle....

1956 porsche 550...engine in front of rear axle

196? oldsmobile toronado...engine directly above front axle....

198?delorean..engine directly above rear axle....

indy stp turbine car....engine next to driver between axles....

if you can answer the above then you can make the call on a s2000.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by xmatt
...
For the record, I think that most people would agree that "mid-engine" means behind the cockpit, in front of the rear axle.

 

Well there it is. The S2000 is a mid engine car. A front mid engine to be exact. Not to be confused with the traditional rear mid engine cars that most people are more familiar with.

Anyone dizzy yet?

 

I decided to open my hood tonight. Guess what I found? An engine mounted behind the front axle telling me it's a mid engine car.

I think the post describing the Mercedes SLR's engine layout gives my thinking more credibility.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by cfusionpm

 

The basic reason why 50-50 is ideal is because during acceleration you want as much of the cars weight over the rear tires as possible. (we're talking rear wheel drive only here). And during braking you want as much of the weight over the fronts to give better traction while taking a turn.

 

Masserati is saying 45/55 is actually the ideal weight distribution. The front engined Quattroporte actually has more weight on the rear wheels than the front. (Technically it's a mid-engined sedan).