too dangerous? Try a mustang GT- those things need to be outlawed…well, at least at cars and coffee anyway.

I agree that's its the driver- too dangerous? no. Just be prepared for what it does when you lift the throttle suddenly mid corner because you've driven beyond your experience.

Be prepared for fuel/maintenance costs and factor insurance as well into your purchase. Buy the best tires you can afford.

good luck
darcy

 

Back when I first started driving almost every vehicle featured rear-wheel drive (at least those options that I could afford and were locally available). I "learned to drive" in my Dad's old El Camino with "three on the tree" (a 3 speed manual transmission with the shift lever located on the steering column). But my true "driving lessons" came along courtesy of the first car that I owned: a 1972 Triumph Spitfire. It was definitely a far cry from a S2000. But it was a roadster, it was within my budget and I had to have it. It was fun — when it was running, most of the time anyway. Being that it was my only car I drove it year round. This was in rural Illinois. That meant dealing with small snow drifts building up in the seats when I left it parked outside. It also meant finding someone (since it was so small, it usually only took one other person) to help me push it back onto the road when I slid out in the snow. It was amazing how easily that car would slide in the snow, seemingly at speeds matched by kids on their bicycles. But it was also fun, until I found myself in an embarrassing spot, like in someone's front yard.

After five decades behind the wheel, I have yet to be involved in an auto accident that caused damage to either myself or the vehicle I was piloting (knock on steel). Had the Triumph not been so woefully underpowered, I seriously doubt that I would be able to make such a claim. Although the Triumph was a slug, even without the aid of inclement weather, the back end spent some time being kicked out around corners (most times intentionally, but certainly not all). Perhaps I was lucky that I grew up riding dirt bikes and was already familiar with such sensations. Growing up with motorcycles was a great benefit to me when I started driving in other ways as well since the novelty of speed had already played itself out to some degree before I ever got behind the wheel of a car. Still, driving that Triumph led to a number of white knuckle moments. Had I been driving a different car or maybe if that Triumph had another 30hp (that would have been a 50% increase, lol) I'm sure that I would have at least done some damage to the car, and more than likely to myself as well.

I like the suggestion of the Mazda Miata. If I were to somehow travel forward in time and found myself facing the same choice of "what to drive" today starting out, I suppose that there is a chance I'd end up with a Miata. Impractical as it was, and despite all of the hassles, I loved the Spitfire. (It met it's demise at the hands of my brother who had borrowed the car. It seems that he ran it into a pole of some sort while out on a date, unlike the car, he and the girl were okay.) The Miata is pretty much the spiritual successor to the Triumphs of old. I think a Miata is at least worthy of your consideration. Sure, the driver has a lot to do with it as others have said— but if you're drawn to a car like the S2000, then chances are there's a part of you that is going to find the power and overall handling characteristics of the car a bit more enticing than you might be able to imagine at this point. If you have to have a roadster, a Miata still qualifies. You could surely have a blast in one. No doubt you could also get yourself into a lot more trouble with a Miata than a 1972 Triumph Spitfire (especially if you consider being stranded in the middle of nowhere somehow dangerous). Obviously there are no guarantees, but the Miata could potentially land you in less trouble than a S2000 relatively speaking. You could also rack up your share of driving lessons in a Miata for a lot less than in a S2000. (And you'll figure out if you really want to live with a roadster on a regular basis before shelling out the money for an S2000). Oh, you also probably wouldn't have a hard time selling the Miata should you decide later on that you still really wanted a S2000.

All that said, I probably wouldn't have taken much advice from my current self back when I was learning to drive, lol. Regardless, whether you end up with a S2000, or something all together different, I wish you good fortune out on the road.

 

My recommendation to you would be to consider a Miata or BRZ/FT-86 (less power, narrower tires), get into autocrossing it for a year or two, especially an auto-x school day if you can find one, and get some great experience with car control. After that, if you still want an S2000, go for it, but you could also get an S2k straight away and still do the auto-x stuff. I think getting some experience with car control regardless what you will drive is invaluable.

The S2000 is great but it will do whatever you tell it to, and if you tell it to do the wrong thing, it won't hesitate. 50/50 weight distribution, low polar moment, rwd, and before 2006, no traction control, mated to high hp/lb ratio - the S2000 is very responsive and there aren't many nannies to hold you back. Its a great car.

 

I just looked at your profile and you are 29? Is that accurate? I think many of us assume new driver means a 16ish year old. Pretty big difference and one to maybe call out. I think if you are new to driving you may still consider learning on something more forgiving and cheaper. Some further classes aren't a bad idea either.

 

What all these posts are getting at is performance driving, and becoming a better driver at handling the unexpected, you need to push a car to its limits, and beyond, so you can experience how it reacts, and learn what to do, what not to do. Karate experts practice the same move over and over, so it becomes second nature. So when they need to execute a move in combat, they don't have to think about it. They can be thinking three moves ahead, without having to think much about the move they are performing now. To get to that level with driving dynamics, you have to practice them. In a SAFE environment.

A car that has really high limits, and that reacts blindingly fast to minor inputs, is counterproductive to this sort of learning and practice. But a car like a Miata is ideal for this. Limits can be explored at lower speeds. when limits are exceeded things happen slower, with more time to feel them starting to happen, more time to react to them, more time to observe how your actions result in whatever response occurs.

There is a reason even the best race drivers don't start out in Formula 1. You have to learn to be instinctive in your responses to be able to survive once you get into cars where things happen faster than you can see them happen.

This is why everyone is pointing you to something like a Miata or FRS. Its less about the motor, and more about the chassis and how razor edged its responses (but its certainly partly the motor!)

 

I learned stick in my ap1 and it was my first rwd car. With that said, I do admit that I don't do crazy stuff on the streets, it's my second car so I don't drive it in the rain.

When I do get caught in the rain with it I do slow down. What I have found is that when you start pushing the car it is easy to go overboard and it will be too late by the time you notice if you aren't experienced.

If you drive defensively the way they teach in driving school, I doubt you will feel the famous snap over steer.

Would I recommend it as a dd? Not in a million years.

BTW Tires are really important. Don't underestimate them ever.

I had a moment where with 6/32 during a heavy downpour at low speeds (70 km/H) for a highway I felt the tail wanting to get loose. Had I not cared and gone faster in those conditions I'm certain the car would have lost traction in the rear.

That's one of the many reasons why I would not advise it for a dd.

At the end you do need to realize the type of car you have and respect it.

 

I have no idea how old you are or what your experience is. I can say that I agree with the majority of this advice. 1: get Miata (screw what the haters say) 2: auto-x and have a blast for a few years then 3: either turbo the miata or get an older S2000.

My first car was an Oldsmobile for two years until I could afford a Miata. I had a blast in the Miata and took it autocrossing a lot. Next came a turbo miata and I autocrossed it too. The miatas spanned about 8 years. They aren't the most powerful, but I still wish I had one even now (in addition to the S). I autocrossed them, I street raced them, I did tonight's in random parking lots, I took trips, crashed, fixed, and modified them. I got to where I could kick the back end out into a controlled slide/drift pretty much at will in those things. They were a blast!

Then came the S. First was mint. Lasted 5 years until I learned first hand why everyone here stresses the importance of tires. I wasn't on the forum much back then. Now I'm over a year into S number 2. I'm 32 now and would still daily the S if I didn't have a company car. Now I don't have to take it to Wal-Mart and I'm ok with that.

I've got more experience behind the wheel now than any other time in my life. Still can't drift the S like the Miatas. It's happened quite a few times on accident and it was perfect and beautiful every time. But every time I've tried intentionally, I've spun it. I figure it's because the car is so much more expensive than a Miata that I don't push the limits often and therefore havent had as much experience on the edge with it. Haven't autocrossed either (yet), have only tried drifting them twice, and rarely find roads open enough to push the S with (what I would call) relative safety.

The S is a heck of a lot faster, but you have to be a heck of a lot more careful. You can definitely let loose and play a little more in a Miata. The S is an amazing car, but the Miata is awesome too.

 

so let me get this straight
calling s2000 a very good handling car despite it being a bitch on the corners and having to be a professional driver in order to actually drive it
i spun out 3 times since i bought the car 6 months ago. not even doing anything crazy just accelerating a little bit part throttle on good all season performance tires
its similar to german car owners claiming their car is reliable( when you meticulously maintain it at the dealership)

lets get real here.
having to get a degree in s2000 driving does not make it a great car.
being pretty much the only RWD honda besides NSX is what makes this car great car by default... unless you can afford nsx
the engine though is a different story , engine is impressive


here are some other lies people tell to themselves:
mp3 sounds as good as cd if you listen to it on a cheap stereo
all motor d series can be fast, if you racing against other d series single cam
fat chicks are good too, if you lower your expectations
s2000 is a great handling car, if you are a world class driver and it never rains where you live
you can always trust your government they're there to protect your rights and freedoms

 

If you have spun 3 times already then you are doing something wrong... You dont have to be a world class driver to realize the cars handling is above most average cars. Sounds like you just need more experience. Maybe you should just sell the car and get something front wheel drive and i dont say that to be insulting but it sounds like you are not experienced enough to handle the cars characteristics.

 

You have the lowest IQ of any member of S2ki.