I don't know what everyone is talking about...the S2000 is a very forgiving car when it comes to the shifter. It practically goes into the next gear for you, and if you are taught the right way, not the "give it some gas as you let go of the clutch" way, then you should have no problems.

Now, an S2000 for a beginner DRIVER is another thing. RWD + 240hp + new/young driver = crash (most of the time). Besides that, there are huge blind spots with the top up.

I'd recommend learning stick first. Then go to the road course (track) a few times. You'll be a much safer driver.

 

I just find going backward is a bit different but other then that it not a hard car to learn from.

 

my s2000 was my first car. i knew everything about how the gearbox and clutches work etc for years so i knew what i had to do, the only problem was actually doing it. it took a little while to pick up the skills for smooth engagement of gears and hill starting, but now i think i'm quite adjusted. i dont know how old your friend is, but if he's a young guy i suggest he learn the car before testing the limits. i almost got in a few bad accidents screwing around but luckily my interest in drifting saved my ass =P

 

pls explain

 

I would say its pretty easy to drive.

I taught my gf how to drive on my A4 just about 2 months ago.

We test drove an S2k and she got off to a running start. Even felt more comfortable than in my A4.


And I'm pretty sure I am dumping the A4 to join the S2k family.

 

Either will do for a beginner, the problem is the S requires lots of downshifting which isn't so easy for a beginner.

 

Yeah, that's why I did.

I sold my two year old A4 and bought my S last year (even though I never drove a manual car before my S). S2k was just so attractive and made me buy it before I can drive it, learned stick on my brand new S, made few stupid mistakes sometimes, overall a great experience learning stick on S!

 

In my opinion, spoiled is if your parents buy you a car. Any car. Period
I learned stick on my '97 gsr the day I bought it. If you want an easy car to shift in, go try an echo. Seriously. My buddy had one for a winter beater once and that thing is so easy to shift smoothly in it's incredible. It was a civic-eater, too

I'm looking into getting myself an s2k for next summer and I'm hoping the transition from gsr to s2k won't be too bad. Only RWD vehicle I've ever driven is my dad's 4Runner. I'm hoping to be able to turn the gsr into my winter/bad weather beater since it's an all-year daily driver as it is.

 

My S200's stock clutch has gone 90,000 miles, and still feels great. The clutch in the civic I learned on lasted about 30,000 miles. It's easy to damage a clutch. You can mess up a few times and shorten its life by thousands and thousands of miles.

 

The best way to learn is to have someone who owns a manual, sit in the passenger seat and teach the driver clutch engagement "on his S2000 of course." No need to drive around the first day until he/she can start off in first gear without giving you whip lash.

I taught my son how to drive a stick. It took him awhile to get started but he never over rev'd or heated my clutch while I was in it!