Power to weight ratio does not (can not) affect handling. It may affect your ability to control the car if you don't know how to modulate the throttle, but it doesn't affect the car's ability to grip the road.

 

You're correct. Engine power won't effect handling dynamics those terms. A car that has throttle that is easier to modulate will make setting up the corner easier. My Maserati Biturbo had a difficult throttle and would put the power down at the wrong times around corners.

I wasn't clear in my earlier description.

 

Come on... you've broken the 100 mph barrier on Storrow before?

 

i would answer you this way, the s2000 can be a very exciting car to drive and it is good looking and can keep up with over 90% of what is out there...but a porsche, M5 or M3, ferrari, etc...these cars have a style, reputation, price tag, and feeling that distances them from all others, they are exotics, they need to be pampered (well maybe not the bmw's ), they need to be driven, the sights sounds and smells of these cars are breathtaking. performance is not the only bench mark.

i wish you a chance to drive some of these machines, i have and am thankful for the experience...but i would rather hop in my honda, go out and park it anywhere anytime and not worry about it, change my own oil, etc...it is my exotic

 

thank you everyone. i was only asking about handling. i personally dont care for acceleration beyond a point. while driving a z06, i got tired of the breakneck feeling. i understand that exotics are very different in society than the S, but i wasn't concerned with that. i do not wish to have a car that needs lots of maintainance in order to impress people i do not know, etc. getting girls with your car is one of the saddest things i've ever heard of. i would never want an exotic because of the reality of owning one is difficult, unless i can hire a full time staff to take care of it. i agree with hirev, that i love that it's a honda and that it doesn't impress the layman. i just wanted to know if the handling was up to par with the world's best because it feels that way to me

 

how bout some pics of ur hot co-worker?

 

Here are some picture she just took last week... she had this weird urge to cut her hair short, and color it just for 2005!!! it use to be darker, and longer. I didn't make her picture move like that, she did.

 

Based on the Top Gear video of the Carrera GT, that car has very similar handling characteristics to the S2000. Very sharp and responsive, and will come around on you quickly if you're not careful.

Based on an owner's report on the McLaren F1, it doesn't have very good handling - I don't remember the particulars why - and nearly zero adjustability.

Based on some owner's comments about the 993 TT, it tends to understeer a lot and it's rather heavy so it can be slow to react.

I don't have much more anecdotes about exotic car handling.

 

The mid engine exotics like the NSX, Gallardo/Murcielago, Enzo, Carrera GT and 360 Modena are more nimble than the s2000 due to their central moment of yaw. They generally have far wider tires with better rubber on them for better grip. Even an MR-2 Spyder is about as agile as an S2000 and has a very similar skidpad grip level.

The heavier hitters in the exotics like the SLR McClaren and the 575M handle about as well as the S2000 - they weigh about 1000 lbs more but due to their awesome suspensions and huge tires they manage to make up for it.

Another example - Mitsubishi's 3000GT VR-4, which weighed 3800 lbs, pulled better skidpad and slalom numbers than an S2000 simply because it has AWD, huge tires, and 4-wheel steering.

So there are a lot of factors

as far as S2000 v. Exotics, it can hang with them when equipped with proper sized ultra-high performance tires and a good suspension setup (think about spending $5000 on tires and suspension). This makes it a great bargain, considering a used S2000 for $20,000 + $5000 in suspension can hang with Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis in the turns (though it will lose badly in the straights).

Stock for Stock, the S2000 is on par with the MR-2 Spyder, has equal grip but better transitions than the 350Z, is as grippy but has worse transitions than the RX-8, and blows away the new Mustang (solid rear axles - ).

 

Nope! Don't plan to do it neither.