Okay, so it wasn't really much of a contest, but I had the opportunity to leave a Miata in the dust on a very tight mountain road this morning. I don't usually drive my S2000 the 35 miles to work in Silicon Valley, preferring to save it for when I can enjoy the driving. However, I needed the car today, so I drove it in. I avoid freeways as much as possible, so I took an 18-mile "short cut" on Calaveras Road around the 13 miles of freeway I would otherwise have to take.

Just as I got to the beginning of Calaveras, a red Miata pulled onto the road in front of me. I really had intended to take it easy the whole way and decided to just stay about 2 seconds back from the Mazda and follow at his pace. He was going at a brisk pace, but nothing I couldn't easily keep up with leaving the S2000 in fourth gear, even through the 20 mph hairpins. He was cutting across the insides of all the left-hand turns, but I kept on my half of the road. There is one 1-lane section with a stop sign that he blew right through, so I stopped, then used just a touch of VTEC to quickly catch back up to him again.

At about the half-way point, I think he got tired of pushing it, so he pulled over to let me by at a good wide spot in the road. I would have been happy to follow him the rest of the way, but since the curves are more sweeping in that one section, I couldn't resist running to redline in first and second as I blasted on by, then took the next few curves at a much faster pace until I had put about half a mile between us. I then backed down the pace again and had a nice drive the rest of the way.

I'm not sure what it is about the S2000, but sometimes I just can't control the urge to push it to the limit in the twisties when other cars are around. It hasn't failed yet to quickly leave them behind.

You flatlanders who only get to drag race and make top speed runs are missing out on what this car was really designed for.

 

Yeah, all flat lands in Memphis, TN. I would agree that's not what the car is designed for. I don't really drag mine, preferring to find what little curvy roads I can muster and ridge racing it to death. Left a Porsche 911 in the dust last weekend. I'm sure he could have kept up, but something about that 80 MPH corner I did just made him back down. Heh.

 

Scott...

I too know and LOVE that road. I also agree with you that there is something about this car that makes me push it...

 

Oh yea...

 

It's either the power of the S2000, or the inability of the other driver... the Miata handles every bit as well as the S2K in most situations, and the Miata handles better in some situations. It's just that the Miata has no nuts! On the autocross course at the National level, the B-Stock Miatas are only a few tenths behind the A-Stock times... with 90 less horsepower! Of course, they're very light.

The S2000, Miata and 3rd Gen. RX7tt are the best handling street cars ever made.

 

I agree. On the tight part of the track the Miata is every bit a match for the S2000. With 500 lbs. less mass to push around it is pretty quick in the hands of a competent driver. The S2000 only gets the upper hand when the road opens up.

 

Power can be a tremendous equalizer... Also Miata's come with marginal tires from the factory. Not nearly the equal of our S02's. and if you don't get the upgraded shocks, they too are a major compromise in the interest of lower cost.

 

I agree with Chris, Jason, et al, who say that the Miata is an extremely capable car. My previous comment was in reference to the comment that it's too easy to open the S2000 up on the road...not that the S2000 was that much more of a capable car...though stock for stock, the S2000 is notably more powerful, but the Miata is an excellent handler...

 

I'll just say...the break-in period is hell!

 

Jay,

The break-in period should never last more than a week. I hope you've already passed that .