S2K Newbie
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From: Mission Viejo
S2K Newbie
Hi all, I just got a new '02 Sebring Silver S2000 at Family Honda last Saturday. Drove 350 miles over the weekend to try and get the thing broken in. Can't wait to taste the VTEC as it seems really slow and buzzy right now. Took it on Latigo Canyon and Old Topanga (Malibu) and Angeles Crest Hwy. Handles very well... lots of fun.
What impressed me about the S2000 was how many were at Willow Springs last Friday. Must have been at least a dozen or so, and not one Porsche was there
. I was there with the Viper Club guys (01 Red GTS). The S2000 guys sure seemed to be having fun playing in the dirt! 
. Although I bought it as a daily driver, I'll definitely track this car and it seems to be what it was destined to do.
On the drive back home from Willow Springs the Dealer called me to let me know a Silver S2000 had arrived... what a coincidence. I went to look at it the next morning and drove it away before lunch. FYI after about an hour of negotiation I settled at $75 above MSRP with a free oil change.
I have a few questions and comments that maybe you can help me on.
1. Gas pedal is too far for me to heel/toe. You'd think Honda could get this right considering their considerable racing experience. Does someone make a wider replacement pedal, or can it be adjusted closer to the brake pedal? The stock pedals are pretty and I'd hate to replace them, but I gotta H/T this thing.
2. Manual says not to replace the oil until the recommended service interval (3750 miles?). I drive hard (or will as soon as it is broken in). Do you guys follow the manual's suggestion?
3. Is there a club to join for drives, track events and get togethers? I joined the Porsche and Viper clubs and would like to do the same with the S2K.
4. There is a lot of wind in the cockpit with the top down (more than my Z3 and Boxster). Where do you get that larger wind deflector piece between the roll hoops?
5. Is there a good Honda performance shop in Orange County? I might want to do some minor performance upgrades (intake, exhaust, suspension) but I don't have time (read lazy) to do the work myself.
6. I want to hardwire a radar detector. Who can I trust in Orange County to do this for me?
7. Is it safe to take this car through a hand car wash? I'm mostly concerned about the wheels being scratched by the wheel guides. I don't trust them with my Porsche and Viper because of the really wide (and expensive) wheels, but I've taken the Z3 to the car wash many times with no problems.
That's it for now. Thanks and hope to meet some of you guys soon.
Craig
What impressed me about the S2000 was how many were at Willow Springs last Friday. Must have been at least a dozen or so, and not one Porsche was there
. I was there with the Viper Club guys (01 Red GTS). The S2000 guys sure seemed to be having fun playing in the dirt! . Although I bought it as a daily driver, I'll definitely track this car and it seems to be what it was destined to do.On the drive back home from Willow Springs the Dealer called me to let me know a Silver S2000 had arrived... what a coincidence. I went to look at it the next morning and drove it away before lunch. FYI after about an hour of negotiation I settled at $75 above MSRP with a free oil change.
I have a few questions and comments that maybe you can help me on.
1. Gas pedal is too far for me to heel/toe. You'd think Honda could get this right considering their considerable racing experience. Does someone make a wider replacement pedal, or can it be adjusted closer to the brake pedal? The stock pedals are pretty and I'd hate to replace them, but I gotta H/T this thing.
2. Manual says not to replace the oil until the recommended service interval (3750 miles?). I drive hard (or will as soon as it is broken in). Do you guys follow the manual's suggestion?
3. Is there a club to join for drives, track events and get togethers? I joined the Porsche and Viper clubs and would like to do the same with the S2K.
4. There is a lot of wind in the cockpit with the top down (more than my Z3 and Boxster). Where do you get that larger wind deflector piece between the roll hoops?
5. Is there a good Honda performance shop in Orange County? I might want to do some minor performance upgrades (intake, exhaust, suspension) but I don't have time (read lazy) to do the work myself.
6. I want to hardwire a radar detector. Who can I trust in Orange County to do this for me?
7. Is it safe to take this car through a hand car wash? I'm mostly concerned about the wheels being scratched by the wheel guides. I don't trust them with my Porsche and Viper because of the really wide (and expensive) wheels, but I've taken the Z3 to the car wash many times with no problems.
That's it for now. Thanks and hope to meet some of you guys soon.
Craig
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From: Del Mar/San Diego
I drive like a maniac and change the oil every 3000 miles on the dot with royal purple mine came out clean the first time Changed at 3600. But after that it just went to black every time. And for your driving keep the oil changes frequent as you can and remember to check the oil at every fillup for the first 3000 miles or long. Mine burned about 1.5 quarts over the first 1000 miles then settled back down.
Good luck with the car, come out on a run with the socal guys and we can see how fast you really are.
Good luck with the car, come out on a run with the socal guys and we can see how fast you really are.
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From: USA
Congratulations.
The term 'heel-toe' is misleading because most drivers don't really use their heel, but rather use the inside and outside part of the foot.
" Honda is known for its top-of-the-line interior ergonomics, but the S2000 takes its reputation one step further. Every lever and control seems to be just an extension of the driver. One example Rech cited are the steering-wheel-mounted radio controls that allow you to change stations and settings without ever diverting your attention from where it belongs - down the road. The pedals are positioned to encourage drivers to "heel-and-toe" to keep the revs percolating, and the perforated leather seats grip you like a giant driving glove.
"
Here is the heel toe downshift:
http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/drivi...g_heeltoe.lasso
This link is putting the clutch in, shifting to neutral, and letting it out, pushing it in again, shifting into gear, and letting it out withou double clutching.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/art...92/article.html
Another good link:
http://www.sunriders.com/articles/heeltoe.html
A great video here. This seems to be the best way to do it in the S2000. Watch the guys feet:
http://www.vtecturbo.com/mpeg/Honda_Civic-...R_wild_race.avi
The term 'heel-toe' is misleading because most drivers don't really use their heel, but rather use the inside and outside part of the foot.
" Honda is known for its top-of-the-line interior ergonomics, but the S2000 takes its reputation one step further. Every lever and control seems to be just an extension of the driver. One example Rech cited are the steering-wheel-mounted radio controls that allow you to change stations and settings without ever diverting your attention from where it belongs - down the road. The pedals are positioned to encourage drivers to "heel-and-toe" to keep the revs percolating, and the perforated leather seats grip you like a giant driving glove.
"
Here is the heel toe downshift:
http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/drivi...g_heeltoe.lasso
This link is putting the clutch in, shifting to neutral, and letting it out, pushing it in again, shifting into gear, and letting it out withou double clutching.
http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/howto/art...92/article.html
Another good link:
http://www.sunriders.com/articles/heeltoe.html
A great video here. This seems to be the best way to do it in the S2000. Watch the guys feet:
http://www.vtecturbo.com/mpeg/Honda_Civic-...R_wild_race.avi
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From: Mission Viejo
Originally posted by JonasM
I don't know how you learned to heel/toe, but in my Prelude, I've always found it easiest with the heel on the brake, and slide over to use the top right edge of my foot to blip the throttle. In the S2000, I reverse this - heel on the gas, toes on the brake. The first heel/toe shift in each car is a bit sloppy, but I'm getting used to changing between them.
I don't know how you learned to heel/toe, but in my Prelude, I've always found it easiest with the heel on the brake, and slide over to use the top right edge of my foot to blip the throttle. In the S2000, I reverse this - heel on the gas, toes on the brake. The first heel/toe shift in each car is a bit sloppy, but I'm getting used to changing between them.
I prefer to brake with the left side of my foot and roll my ankle to blip throttle. I've done the toe (actually ball of foot) on brake and heel on gas, but my knee hits the rather low steering wheel. I can do this method on the Viper but the steering wheel on that car has a tilt adjustment. I don't like heel on brake (toe on gas) as that gives me little feel when threshold braking. A wider gas pedal should solve this.
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From: Mission Viejo
Originally posted by StormBringer
Good luck with the car, come out on a run with the socal guys and we can see how fast you really are.
Good luck with the car, come out on a run with the socal guys and we can see how fast you really are.
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From: Los Angeles
Hi Craig. Welcome to the board and congrats on your new ride! All you have to do to find out about local events is visit the locals - you'll find us under the "Clubs" section of this board, scroll down and look for Southern California. A lot of the track events we go to are with SpeedVentures (they were hosting the event at Willow Springs last Friday).
About washing the car, I wouldn't run my baby thru the automatic washers mostly because the soaps they use may not be good for the convertible top (you shouldn't use any car wash soap that contains paint conditioners/gloss enhancers on the vinyl.
About washing the car, I wouldn't run my baby thru the automatic washers mostly because the soaps they use may not be good for the convertible top (you shouldn't use any car wash soap that contains paint conditioners/gloss enhancers on the vinyl.
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From: Mission Viejo
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jason B
[B]Congratulations.
The term 'heel-toe' is misleading because most drivers don't really use their heel, but rather use the inside and outside part of the foot.
" Honda is known for its top-of-the-line interior ergonomics, but the S2000 takes its reputation one step further. Every lever and control seems to be just an extension of the driver. One example Rech cited are the steering-wheel-mounted radio controls that allow you to change stations and settings without ever diverting your attention from where it belongs - down the road. The pedals are positioned to encourage drivers to "heel-and-toe" to keep the revs percolating, and the perforated leather seats grip you like a giant driving glove.
[B]Congratulations.
The term 'heel-toe' is misleading because most drivers don't really use their heel, but rather use the inside and outside part of the foot.
" Honda is known for its top-of-the-line interior ergonomics, but the S2000 takes its reputation one step further. Every lever and control seems to be just an extension of the driver. One example Rech cited are the steering-wheel-mounted radio controls that allow you to change stations and settings without ever diverting your attention from where it belongs - down the road. The pedals are positioned to encourage drivers to "heel-and-toe" to keep the revs percolating, and the perforated leather seats grip you like a giant driving glove.