I've had the S2000 now for almost a year and I think I've finally established a pattern. How many of you went out for a drive, thought you knew where the limits were and then the back steps out when you don't think you are pushing it (and hence were not expecting it)? I think that S2000's handling has a weakness .... it's behaves perfectly 99% of the time but once in a while the back steps out when you could have sworn that you were not going fast at all.

I've noticed that the 'limits' are lower when tacling off-camber corner or the trod temperatures are cold or wet. Though, that's the case for any other car - it has to go slower though corners that are off-camber or when the road is wet/cold. I've also noticed that S2000 behaves a lot better on the track then on the road. I've been to 4 track-events now and I have not had the back step out once when I was not 'pushing it'. Though, on the road I've had the back step out when I would have said I was taking the corner at 3/4 of the speed that I should in order to be 'pushing it' (or even less). That is even in perfect conditons.

Anyway, I've finally established a pattern and why the back sometimes steps out when you wouldn't expect it - it's the BUMPS in the road. There's this corner that I have to go through at 1/2 the speed that I'd think that I could becuuse I get the back hanging out. And that is the pattern in all the corners that seem to kick the back out .... you just need one bump on the entry, apex or the exit and suddenly the limits seem to be 1/2ed. Bumps really upset the rear ... I know every car gets upset by bumps but I can say first hand that a Boxster or even an MR2 stay very composed over the bumps and you really need to be at the limits to get the bumps to kick the back out. S2000's back really seems to hate bumps ... more than other perfmance cars I've driven. Luckily the S2000 is such a nice progressive car that it's pretty eazy to catch the back and bring it back in line. I don't think it's the rear springs that are the problem even though softening them will probably help. I think it's the shocks/dampers that are not properly set/calibrated. I have a feeling that playing with the rear shocks and dampers could get the car to ride out the bumps a lot better. By that I don't mean improve the ride, but just keep the back-end planted even over the bumps.

btw, I've got a custom (more agressive allignment) on my S2000 and that improved the handling a lot ... at least for my tastes. The car handles bumps a lot better but it's still not 100% perfect and bumps are still it's main enemy ... it just takes bigger and more bumps now to upset it. Also, NOT having the rear tyre pressures too high seems to help (ie. bellow 36psi). Though, I'm sure that with some rear damper/shock work the S2000 would behave itself a lot better on the roads without sacficing any of it's limits, balance and 'race car' characteristics.

 

I'd agree with the bumps. Some of the UK press picked up on this. Some of the roads over here are pretty bumpy. The cars credited with the best UK handling tend to have more compliant suspension with very good body control - Lotus being a prime example. My ITR also handled the bumpy stuff much better - it was suprising how much stiffer the S2000's suspension was compared to the ITR. There's one owner I know with an X-Brace. He says that is has the made biggest difference on bumpy roads. Funnily enough I've an X-Brace on the way now

-Brian.

 

It's the bumps.........I HATE the damn bumps!!!

Also, the cold weather here has something to do with it, as the S02's don't like cold weather. Might I propose that the reason why your car behaves better at the track is because along with the smoother surface, you are actually able to heat the tires up to their preferred operating tempreture range, and keep them stable at that temp.........the stop/start driving would not allow for even tire temps and hence, may allow for the unexpected skip outs that you/we experience .......that, and the BUMPS!!!

Dave, I did put the Spoon X brace on my car and it helps the car noticably. It's under US$180 from Mingster (I'm coming back home in June '02 and could bring one with me for you if you want). I've also lowered my car about 1.5" with the KG-MM DR21 Race Springs and the car handles very well now (better than before).

Cheers,

 

This is so very true. In cold weather, the fact that you've driven 4 or 5 miles, counts for very little if those miles have been in very slow moving, or stop/start traffic!

 

weakness or strength, they are different sides of a coin. poor traction/handling on bumpy surface is an inherent deficiency of most, if not all, high performance cars. this problem stems from the performance oriented firm suspension, thus does not comform to irregularities on bumpy surfaces. unfortunately, this is the compromise you take when jumping into the performance car arena. the best solution to make your s handle better on bumpy roads is to make the suspension softer, but how many of you would want to do that? just my 2 cent. feel free to jump in and correct me if you disagree.

 

I agree. Yesterday, similar circumstances had me going sideways on damp cold asphalt on a usually 25mph hairpin. First time I got so out of kilter on the S2000 ever, including track activity.

 

Agreed. When I pull out of my driveway on cold mornings, I (probably bother folks behind me wondering what in the 'ell I'm doing/dodging...but they'll get use to me! ) yank the wheel left & right -- like race car drivers do on the track -- to warm up my tires while I'm still working my way towards 3 bars. Don't do it every morning...just the really cold ones. Definitely helps. Luckily (or sadly ), my daily drive is straight & true pretty much all the way into work. But my fear is that I'll need that ability to turn on a dime (and *not* have cold tires at that moment) because some jerk pulls out, or a dog shoots across the road, etc.

 

Next time you go out for a drive in your Stook, feel the tyres to see how warm they get. At this time of year you would be amazed how cool they feel.

 

I've deiberately left my Dunlop SP9000s on the car as winter temps have come, and my conclusion is that they're much better in the cold than the S02s. They don't have the grip they did in the summer, but it's still pretty good. When oversteer occurs, it's very controllable.

 

Fortunately I live in a state where we have warm temperatures all year round. Consequently tyres are sticky all the time. I have managed to unsettle the rear end once or twice, usually upon striking a dip in a curve at high speed. At the time there was no loss of traction but the rear suspension felt like it was 'wallowing' slightly.

As for corrugated roads, the car hates them and tends to skip across them although I have noticed some slight improvement in this regard since fitting a strut tower brace.