I was flipping through the latest issue of Road and Track this weekend and ran across the summary of cars and their performance numbers in the back of the magazine.

The slalom numbers really caught my attention...here's why:

S2000 - 65.9 mph
Corvette Z06 - 67.1
Ferrari F50 - 65.7
Ferrari Modena - 67.4
Ferrari Modena Spider - 66.6
Lamborghini Diablo - 66.4
Lexus IS200 - 65.6
Porsche Boxster S - 65.6

Some damn impressive company, if I say so myself. Of course, all the standard qualifications apply...drivers, conditions of the course when the test was performed...etc. etc. etc. But all in all a very solid showing for the S2000. I, for one, am proud to be ranked among these other cars -- some of the finest cars in the world are in that list!

 

Wasn't there a car mag that had the S2K listed at 70.1mph for the slalom or something like that? And the only other car out of the hundreds in the "cars reviewed list" that managed 70+ was the Modena or something like that? I thought that was the most impressive S2K ranking I've seen.

 

it was motor trend...they also show the s2000 at 5.2 sec 0-60

 

I need me some driving lessons from them

 

Try this:
1) Dump excess weight (fuel <4 bars, no spare, driver on a diet).
2) Raise tire pressures to ~36 (cold) all around.
3) At a standstill, rev to 7.5K. You may have to grit your teeth.
4) Simultaneously, sidestep the clutch and stand on the gas. I can't overemphasize this point: you must well and truly dump the clutch. Not "raise your foot very fast", or even "raise your foot REALLY fast"; I'm talking "move your foot and leg sideways out of the path of the rising clutch pedal." Get it? This should let the clutch grab, not slip.
5) Hold on, keep the gas pedal planted, try to keep 'er in a straight line, shift at redline.

If you experienced any clutch slippage in step 4, try again but dump the clutch at 8K (grit your teeth harder). OTOH, if you experienced too much wheelspin, decrease the revs to 7K. For a given day, a given surface, a given weight, a given tire pressure, etc., the ideal launch rpm may vary from 5.5K to 8.5K.

For testing, the MT guys probably had to use full fuel, stock weight, and "recommended" tire pressures; that just means they'd have to dump at a higher rpm and risk more clutch wear. Or maybe their driver weighed 97 lbs.

Cheers,
John

 

Those numbers are why I ignore the people who criticize or complain about the S2000 not having enough torque. And the wonderful thing is, I can afford it! Thank you Honda for your 50th birthday celebration gift to us!

 

Hear hear!

 

Damn, I feel much better