Been looking at S2000's for quite awhile now...drove an '06 but was very
underwhelmed!
Then drove an '02 with 74K miles...was very impressed with handling
even considering the salesman weighed 325 if he weighed a pound!

Then was ready to pull the trigger on an '03 with 40K miles...almost
purchased without first driving figuring it had to be greater than the '02 was..
well....the tranny worked but was very rough!..the drivetrain sounded very
rough...and it was raining and I lost the rear-end doing a 180 to return to
dealership..but I can drive so I corrected(turned into spin)...and accelerated
straight!
BUT....the disconcerting thing for me was that while putting the throttle down
to go over 7K rpm's....just driving straight the rear end kept wanting
to kick out from underneath me!
Felt like driving on eggshells!
Don't like..and if you cant drive in the rain...might as well not drive much!

Now..I haven't driven RWD in probably 15 years....so maybe that's the
problem...doens anyone think maybe switching to 17" wheels would help
alleviate this problem?

 

2000-2003 i think has to be a little conservative in rain, i think the ap2's (2004+) have altered the car to be easier to drive and not tail swinging in the rain...

 

The tires are probably crap to.

 

What didn't you like about the 06?

 

buy tires.

 

probably bad tires and bad alignment. Both are fixable.

But check for wreck damage to be sure

 

so it's raining and you decide to rev it out to 7k rpm? doesn't sound like you know how to drive.

the s2000 makes all it's power at higher rpms and will get squirrely on you if you're driving that fast in the rain... drive like a civiclized adult in the rain(i.e. keep it under 4k rpm) and you won't have a problem.

 

The S2000 can be tail happy. People will tell you to drive it smoothly and spend some money on track time once you buy the car. 17" tires can spin out as well. Can't really comment on the cars you drove though. As for the AP2V2 you drove, maybe there was something wrong with it. FWIW, the V2s & V3s have VSA and it can be beneficial in the rain.

 

Thanks all for feedback!

Mike21..I spend 25 days a month driving an 80' vehicle through most of
the biggest cities in this country...not to mention the Smokies...the
Appalachians...the Cascades...the Catskills....and just about any mountain
range in the US in my occupation as a nationwde mover.....

so I could be "touchy" about someone questioning my driving ability as I
take much pride in my skill and ability....but as I haven't driven a RWD
2800lb. car with 240HP in a long time I might have been a bit aggressive!

I can understand(and enjoy) the car getting a bit sideways while cornering..
just didn't expect it while going straight!!

Mark355....the '06 was just very slow...and just kinda felt like a "bathtub" in regards to cornering whereas the "02 and '03 felt light and nimble!
Might have just been the car though...there's a gorgeous yellow one with
all the ground effects stuff here in town that I want to test drive...hopefully
a different result as it's "eye candy" for sure!
Very happy with this car in regards to fit as well...I'm 6'5" but have plenty of headroom and feel very comfortable in the seat!
thanks again!
the car ya'll own is trick! just love the notchy....mechanical feel of the gearbox!

 

Nothing wrong with this guys ability. Just that as with so many other S2k owners he finds it snappy, unpredictable and confidence sapping to drive in the wet at anything above Grandma speed.

OP, you are right to question the S's ability in the rain. Just be prepared to be 'put right' by the 'S2000's are perfect' brigade.

Try some more, find one you like and if you don't mind grannying in the rain buy it. Otherwise try a 350z, they have far more predictable (great fun) wet weather handling if not such a 'zingy' engine.

Good luck.