I'm crazy about dings on the Si, my friends tell me I'm "a little b*tch about my car" but whatever none of them pay for theirs. With an S2000 I would probably be even worse. Getting the S after graduation or later sounds good to me.

 

These guys are right on about getting more experience on the Si before upgrading to an S. I know, at 17, that's the last thing you want to hear, but trust me, you don't wanna be one of the guys with an "I wrecked my S2k" thread. I just recently got my S2k at age 30 and it's managed to scare the shit out of me a couple times in the 2.5 months I've had it. (And I've been driving RWD cars for 13 years now).

Also, they're dead on about not bringing one to college. My '84 T-bird was vandalized in a college parking lot for being "too nice" (yeah, I know, right?). I shudder to think what a bunch of drunk assholes would do to an S2k.

 

I don't think there is anything wrong with how to drive to limits with an s2000, as long as it is on the autox field. I learned how to drive performance wise with mine. Go karts and Forza helps a lot too

 

+1. Fortunately it sounds like his parents won't let him get a bike at this point anyway. A bike is not nearly as forgiving of mistakes as a car is. On a bike, the slightest error in throttle or brake input while turning, or failing to avoid road hazards such as gravel or oil will end in an accident that may very well total your bike and result in serious injury or death to yourself. Even the greatest rider can't avoid accidents 100% of the time, the biggest hazard of all is other vehicles and all you can do is try your best to anticipate what they will do and stay out of their way.
Don't get me wrong, I love bikes... but I'm glad I didn't have one when I was a teenager because I would probably be crippled or dead.
To the OP, I say keep the Si for many of the reasons that have already been mentioned and look at buying an s2k or something similar down the road when you are out of college with a steady job. I would have killed for a car like the Si when I was a teenager... my first car was a 1988 Corolla (FWD) with over 200k miles and 90hp with an auto transmission. Count your blessings for having such a nice car at your age and enjoy it!
[/quote]
Notice I said RACE. Implying that a race track would be involved, not the street. Gravel and oil aren't found in abundance at the track. As far as skills go and learning them they come at the same pace on a bike because you ride at your limit, which is not THE limit.
I'm currently racing supermoto. Kids from 4 or 5 years of age and up are out on the same track I am. They seem to make it around the track pretty well. What wouldn't work for either of you at 17 might well work for the OP. Its an option, as I see it, the more the merrier.
[/quote]
I'm sure we can go back and forth on this forever... the supersport bikes that adults generally race on a track are a whole different ball-game than what the 4 and 5 year olds are racing. Not to mention that I SERIOUSLY doubt the OP will buy a bike and then never take it anywhere but the track. The consequences of a mistake on a bike are much more serious than a car, that is something a lot of people take for granted (and why you see so many idiots riding around without proper gear) Obviously he is free to make his own decisions, but going from driving a few thousand miles on a Civic to racing a bike on a track is a steep learning curve for anybody, it isn't just a matter of maturity and that isn't what I was implying. It's all moot anyway because he has clearly stated that a bike is not an option right now.
[/quote]
We can go back and forth on it. There are all kinds of bikes and classes to go racing on and in. The 250 class is by far the largest and least expensive class to race in. Tires last the longest, speeds are the slowest, and injuries are the fewest. There is a place for all. You actually have to take the time to go and see, and not just pass judgment on something you don't know about or haven't experienced first hand. And yes the four and five year old kids race on the same bikes we do, smaller, but the same per their level of experience(supermoto).

 

^^ Most people who crash their car had no idea it was about to happen, the thought never crossed their minds and this is a problem. You have to be ready for the crash. If you are not anticipating the possibility of loosing control of the car then you will not be mentally ready to react instinctively.

Even good drivers often over-react when they suddenly feel themselves loosing control. Logic goes out the window in that moment of truth and the way you have trained yourself to react is the way your muscles will move...panic shuts down logical thinking! 95% of drivers will lock up the brakes the first time they are in a panic situation on the road. 95% of drivers will over-correct if their car unexpectedly runs off the road. You have drill yourself on how you will react in a given situation and expect it to happen for your body to react correctly. The auto-X will help you develop the proper reactions to different types of control loss.

 

Drunk and jealous people are assholes, and although my Si is in better condition than the S2K i would get, the S2K would grab more attention, which is bad. But i still think the Si looks great, and doesnt give me any cop trouble whatsover (partly why i didnt get the coupe).

I love go karts, and I was actually thinking of buying a used tacoma and getting a kart so I could drive myself to the track, but I'd never have the time as I have 6 AP classes and tennis for 2.5 hrs almost everyday. Then on the wknds and some week days I surf, so it wouldnt really be worth the money. Thats why autox is perfect for me.

That is a great point, and obviously it crossed my mind a million times when i think about going to the track. But crashing the S2K all on my own fault hasn't really because I'm not an idiot and I drive very safely, but the thought of someone else almost hitting me always crosses my mind. Yes crashing it in the rain trying to drift has, haha, but I wasnt really planning on doing that because of the thoughts in my head.

 

Dude...u never should have posted this topic. Every body is telling you what you probably don't want to hear. Im 18 with my ap1 and i love it...ill leave it at that lol

 

+1. Fortunately it sounds like his parents won't let him get a bike at this point anyway. A bike is not nearly as forgiving of mistakes as a car is. On a bike, the slightest error in throttle or brake input while turning, or failing to avoid road hazards such as gravel or oil will end in an accident that may very well total your bike and result in serious injury or death to yourself. Even the greatest rider can't avoid accidents 100% of the time, the biggest hazard of all is other vehicles and all you can do is try your best to anticipate what they will do and stay out of their way.
Don't get me wrong, I love bikes... but I'm glad I didn't have one when I was a teenager because I would probably be crippled or dead.
To the OP, I say keep the Si for many of the reasons that have already been mentioned and look at buying an s2k or something similar down the road when you are out of college with a steady job. I would have killed for a car like the Si when I was a teenager... my first car was a 1988 Corolla (FWD) with over 200k miles and 90hp with an auto transmission. Count your blessings for having such a nice car at your age and enjoy it!
[/quote]
Notice I said RACE. Implying that a race track would be involved, not the street. Gravel and oil aren't found in abundance at the track. As far as skills go and learning them they come at the same pace on a bike because you ride at your limit, which is not THE limit.
I'm currently racing supermoto. Kids from 4 or 5 years of age and up are out on the same track I am. They seem to make it around the track pretty well. What wouldn't work for either of you at 17 might well work for the OP. Its an option, as I see it, the more the merrier.
[/quote]
I'm sure we can go back and forth on this forever... the supersport bikes that adults generally race on a track are a whole different ball-game than what the 4 and 5 year olds are racing. Not to mention that I SERIOUSLY doubt the OP will buy a bike and then never take it anywhere but the track. The consequences of a mistake on a bike are much more serious than a car, that is something a lot of people take for granted (and why you see so many idiots riding around without proper gear) Obviously he is free to make his own decisions, but going from driving a few thousand miles on a Civic to racing a bike on a track is a steep learning curve for anybody, it isn't just a matter of maturity and that isn't what I was implying. It's all moot anyway because he has clearly stated that a bike is not an option right now.
[/quote]
We can go back and forth on it. There are all kinds of bikes and classes to go racing on and in. The 250 class is by far the largest and least expensive class to race in. Tires last the longest, speeds are the slowest, and injuries are the fewest. There is a place for all. You actually have to take the time to go and see, and not just pass judgment on something you don't know about or haven't experienced first hand. And yes the four and five year old kids race on the same bikes we do, smaller, but the same per their level of experience(supermoto).
[/quote]
I haven't "passed judgement" about anything. Sure there is a wide range of bike racing available... you also started by saying "get a motorcycle, go race" which was very vague and could leave the OP to think he should go buy a super-sport literbike and jump on a track to "learn" driving skills. I love bikes and racing, but no matter how you spin it they are more dangerous than cars so I can't blame a teenager's parents for not wanting their kid on a bike as long as they live under their roof. You are entitled to your opinion on this as am I. Once again, it's neither here nor there because the OP isn't getting a bike...

 

[quote]I haven't "passed judgement" about anything. Sure there is a wide range of bike racing available... you also started by saying "get a motorcycle, go race" which was very vague and could leave the OP to think he should go buy a super-sport literbike and jump on a track to "learn" driving skills. I love bikes and racing, but no matter how you spin it they are more dangerous than cars so I can't blame a teenager's parents for not wanting their kid on a bike as long as they live under their roof. You are entitled to your opinion on this as am I. Once again, it's neither here nor there because the OP isn't getting a bike... [\quote]
I guess it "could" lead to a lot of things. Mostly its leading to your interpretation of what I "could" have meant. I think its very possible it could lean in the opposite direction of your interpretation of what I said.
When you said "bikes that adults race" that indicates an opinion or judgement about what adults race or racing in general. That's why I said pass judgment.
I don't have to "spin" it at all. You have an idea of what racing is, or can be at the amateur level. I'm saying (from experience) that there are many options and many don't have to start or end with a supersport bike.

 

Well in the Tc i could throw it around and have more fun with it. The s2000 actually takes a lot more skill to control, other wise you could end up losing control of it. For example the other day while driving on the freeway, i ran over a small strip of water while accelerating which caused the rear end to get upset. With out the practice i got from driving my fwd Tc around, i am pretty sure i could of easily panicked.