S2K Spin Stories
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 129
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I've had one close call when I was taking a turn on a very wet day recently. Granted, this was when I was super, super new to the car, so I was sorta feeling out the limits of the car. This day was super wet, and I took a right turn at about 20 MPH, I correct when I feel the back start to lift and slide a little, I thought I had it, so I put the clutch back in and gassed it. This of course turned my small slide, into a massive drift. I looked like an ass, and barely caught it before the ass started getting too far around on me
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,792
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From: New Market, AL
I've had one spin - it was a wet road and no shoulder. There was construction on the road as well. A deer jumped out from the wooded area on my left. I swerved to the right (it dodged back left as I was moving) and my rear tire hits the mud (no shoulder and construction). I have it close but hit a construction sign with my passenger side (where the bumper meets the fender meets the headlight!) and spin as I try to correct. Damage wasn't bad but the wetness and construction didn't help. I turned about 180degrees. I guess next time I should just hit the deer? =(
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 2,537
Likes: 101
From: Fort Lauderdale
Closing in on 12 years and I have never spun my s2000.
The closest I came was the first winter I owned it. I had traveled to visit my family, and while taking my brother for a ride, I just about lost it accelerating through a right hander in 2nd gear in 35 degree temps. No noise/feedback, just no grip. Prior to that I had zero experience with summer tires and cold weather. I managed to hang on, but learned my lesson.
Since then, any sideways action has been deliberate (wet, empty parking lot), or on the track. But even getting sideways, I've never actually looped it.
The closest I came was the first winter I owned it. I had traveled to visit my family, and while taking my brother for a ride, I just about lost it accelerating through a right hander in 2nd gear in 35 degree temps. No noise/feedback, just no grip. Prior to that I had zero experience with summer tires and cold weather. I managed to hang on, but learned my lesson.
Since then, any sideways action has been deliberate (wet, empty parking lot), or on the track. But even getting sideways, I've never actually looped it.
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 351
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http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eHbcJ7u...%3DeHbcJ7uyZaE
Be safe! Hope none of you know any of these cars.
Painful to watch:'(
Be safe! Hope none of you know any of these cars.
Painful to watch:'(
Registered User
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
Spun out twice by accident and hope it never happens again. First time was within a few weeks of getting her and I was leaving my sisters house and this Eclipse was in front of me with tint/stickers/etc. all over it. He revved at me and I followed. I was on his ass for the first few turns down the road and then we went over this little hill. It wasn't too big but I was going into it in VTEC and the rear let loose at the height of the hill. Spun almost four times into a big field while the other driver drove off. No damage.
Second time was in December last year. It was a cold night and it rained. Long stretch of road with 2 lanes each way. Took off from a red light and engaged VTEC with cold tires on a cold rainy night. Rear let loose and I started going into oncoming traffic, corrected and JUST missed the sidewalk and went into a field. No damage.
Realized I was lucky on both occasions. Learned my lesson and garaged her this winter.
Second time was in December last year. It was a cold night and it rained. Long stretch of road with 2 lanes each way. Took off from a red light and engaged VTEC with cold tires on a cold rainy night. Rear let loose and I started going into oncoming traffic, corrected and JUST missed the sidewalk and went into a field. No damage.
Realized I was lucky on both occasions. Learned my lesson and garaged her this winter.
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 305
Likes: 51
From: South East Queensland Oz.
Only one real moment in the S, but it was a bit of a butt clencher.
Cruising home from town relaxed, listening to some music. Nice country main road recently resurfaced, speed limit 100Km/H.
The only twisty bit an uphill right hander, negative camber into a left hander over a crest. Staying in your own lane you'd be busy at much over 125Km/H. I was doing only 100, cruising gently in 6Th.
Suddenly, about half way through the right hander, the tail had gone, & as I was not concentrating it had gone a fair way by the time I started chasing it. It slid quite a distance, with me putting on more & more opposite lock, fortunately following the curve of the road, before the front suddenly gripped, flicking the back out the other way. This was still a pretty big twitch, but easier to recover, than another couple of lesser fishtails & she was straight again.
As it came straight 3 cars passed me going the other way, with their windscreen wipers on. A bit further down the road, it was quite wet. I had been caught out by the road wet from edge of a shower. It did not show on the new dark road surface, but was wet enough to send the S way offline. I was very thankful for the newish Bridgestones on the back.
The cars going the other way were not heading for the hills to avoid me, so it must have felt worse from inside, than it looked from outside. This is the only time she has done anything unexpected.
Cruising home from town relaxed, listening to some music. Nice country main road recently resurfaced, speed limit 100Km/H.
The only twisty bit an uphill right hander, negative camber into a left hander over a crest. Staying in your own lane you'd be busy at much over 125Km/H. I was doing only 100, cruising gently in 6Th.
Suddenly, about half way through the right hander, the tail had gone, & as I was not concentrating it had gone a fair way by the time I started chasing it. It slid quite a distance, with me putting on more & more opposite lock, fortunately following the curve of the road, before the front suddenly gripped, flicking the back out the other way. This was still a pretty big twitch, but easier to recover, than another couple of lesser fishtails & she was straight again.
As it came straight 3 cars passed me going the other way, with their windscreen wipers on. A bit further down the road, it was quite wet. I had been caught out by the road wet from edge of a shower. It did not show on the new dark road surface, but was wet enough to send the S way offline. I was very thankful for the newish Bridgestones on the back.
The cars going the other way were not heading for the hills to avoid me, so it must have felt worse from inside, than it looked from outside. This is the only time she has done anything unexpected.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 63
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OK,
This thread is scaring the crap out of me.
I'm still looking for a S2000 but I'm concerned about the spinning as I'll drive it year-round.
For the last 24 years (or so) I've been driving a Miata with all-season tires with success.
I actually enjoy controlled fishtailing.
But I'm concerned about the extra power of the S2000.
Anyways, I wouldn't drive the S2000 up here in Canada without winter tires which brings me to this question...
Were proper tires used in all these spin-outs?
Also, is it true that the pre 2004's are tougher to control spin-outs?
This thread is scaring the crap out of me.
I'm still looking for a S2000 but I'm concerned about the spinning as I'll drive it year-round.
For the last 24 years (or so) I've been driving a Miata with all-season tires with success.
I actually enjoy controlled fishtailing.
But I'm concerned about the extra power of the S2000.
Anyways, I wouldn't drive the S2000 up here in Canada without winter tires which brings me to this question...
Were proper tires used in all these spin-outs?
Also, is it true that the pre 2004's are tougher to control spin-outs?
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Whoa, that's weird. My two near spin outs happened just about the same way.
My first was about 2 years ago, a colder Florida day.I was maxed out in V-tec, banged it into second and the same result as yours, but I caught it after about 60 degrees to left and then right--barely. Luckily no one near me.
Second time I hit a wet patch on an on ramp and again barely caught it by resisting the urge to let off the throttle.
Lesson learned and no issues since then. My car's a 2005.
My first was about 2 years ago, a colder Florida day.I was maxed out in V-tec, banged it into second and the same result as yours, but I caught it after about 60 degrees to left and then right--barely. Luckily no one near me.
Second time I hit a wet patch on an on ramp and again barely caught it by resisting the urge to let off the throttle.
Lesson learned and no issues since then. My car's a 2005.
Had my first unintentional spin yesterday. Let me say it got my attention... and pulse rate up.
It was a cold dry day 35 degrees here in Michigan. I was heading down a long drive that connects a parking lot with the main road. There were no cars on the road... its newer, wider, and a couple hundred yards long. I was accellerating down the drive as I had many times before...nothing out of the ordinary, but when I shifted into 2nd the rear jumped out and sent me into a spin first to the left what felt like nearly 90 degrees, I corrected and went all the way back to the right close to 90 degrees, and then back around to the left.. finally stopping with my passenger wheel on the curb and facing the direction I was coming from. Whew...
I had never driven the S in cold conditions before and even though the road was smooth and dry I was surprised by how easily the tires broke loose. I wondered if my front end got scuffed up as it rolled up on the curb, luckily not a scratch.. and luckily no other cars where coming at me -- I kept it on the road but took up both lanes spinning side to side. Put the car up today for winter
My next closest unintential spin is when somebody leaked oil down the road just before an interesection - ever see one of those shows where a car sprays oil on the raod to evade someone chasing them... tust me, you get into some oil and it feels like driving on ice. Luckily it was only on one side of the lane and even though I could feel the one side slipping the S stayed strait as I brought it to a stop before running into the car stopped at the light.
I've seen some topics where people have crashed.. any more stories where you spun out unintentionally but avioded catastrophe? Stay safe out there...
It was a cold dry day 35 degrees here in Michigan. I was heading down a long drive that connects a parking lot with the main road. There were no cars on the road... its newer, wider, and a couple hundred yards long. I was accellerating down the drive as I had many times before...nothing out of the ordinary, but when I shifted into 2nd the rear jumped out and sent me into a spin first to the left what felt like nearly 90 degrees, I corrected and went all the way back to the right close to 90 degrees, and then back around to the left.. finally stopping with my passenger wheel on the curb and facing the direction I was coming from. Whew...
I had never driven the S in cold conditions before and even though the road was smooth and dry I was surprised by how easily the tires broke loose. I wondered if my front end got scuffed up as it rolled up on the curb, luckily not a scratch.. and luckily no other cars where coming at me -- I kept it on the road but took up both lanes spinning side to side. Put the car up today for winter
My next closest unintential spin is when somebody leaked oil down the road just before an interesection - ever see one of those shows where a car sprays oil on the raod to evade someone chasing them... tust me, you get into some oil and it feels like driving on ice. Luckily it was only on one side of the lane and even though I could feel the one side slipping the S stayed strait as I brought it to a stop before running into the car stopped at the light.
I've seen some topics where people have crashed.. any more stories where you spun out unintentionally but avioded catastrophe? Stay safe out there...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 730
Likes: 2
From: Olympia
When I first bought the car I would drive like such a dumbass . I spun it once unintentionally and it set me straight after that. I was driving like something you'd see out of the fast and the furious tokyo drift movie. I came flying up to a 180 degree turn thats an entrance to the on ramp of a freeway. Made it almost all the way around when the tires slid out and off i went into the grass. There was an old lady who watched the whole the unfold I swear she was gonna grab me by the ear and beat the shit out of me.
