IMO the car is balanced REALLY well, you just have to know your limits, and the limits that the conditions allow, it is squerly in therain, and the cold, I have not seen snow yet but it is coming. A few auto-xs ago, I ran in the rain, TBH I was really surprised how aggressively you could run in the rain at sub 40mph (I won, and I think I won by 1.2sec maybe, was much better then others there). Even knowing this I the other day 180'd and ended up sliding up a small curb. Link : https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...&threadid=88072 : Sometimes the limits do not come on gradually, but most the time I can feel the "limit" coming, but I think this is mainly because I have crossed it enough to know the limits of the car. Buy it, auto-x it, and learn how to control it, if done right, this is a car to be reckoned with by all means.

Steve
V8-What?

 

Yes at least Auto-X it. I learned a lot when I took mine, it was the first time I ever throttle steered a car...

 

Lots of people complain all the time about the handling characteristics of this car. They claim the backend has a dramatic tendency for oversteer. There are also people who claim the S-02 tires are terrible in the rain. I like Chipperman made some adjustments to my toe settings in the rear and keep my alignment checked. I love how the car handles, to date it has been very predictable, including 100 miles in the rain on worn S-02s at Watkins Glen Int'l. Raceway.

And yes, all cars will spin if ht from the rear slightly off center. I would not let a potential rearend accident determine your decision to buy or not!

 

Does the amount of fuel in the car change the handling/balance? What about weight reduction??

One time I removed the dead weight in the trunk, and let the tank go down to 3 bars as a test. I hit second really hard and the rear kicked out a little. As for handling, no changes in the curves.

 

See my previous post and the one above by Triple H. The rear toe is really crucial. When you get it right the car can be under or oversteered at will with the throttle. I ran an autocross Sunday in the rain and it was great. This may sound stupid, but my fastest time in the rain on a fast course was 2 seconds quicker than in the dry. It was so simple to take the 180's in a full slide. Have fun.

 

The car is 50/50 but it has a tendency to oversteer, which is fun! 3 months ago i was new to manual and rear wheel drive. Now, after 4 very very agressive S2000 meets, inluding Fall Colors, I know the limits and how to slide a car or control induced oversteer. Road courses, Auto-X, and just spinning around in a parking lot in the rain will dramatically improve your confidence. I am getting bigger tires (width) which will be great. Some small suspension mods can help too, and playing with the toe can control it too. Its not as bad as some make it seem, it's rear wheels drive, oversteer is part of the game. SLOW IN THE RAIN, the will spin very easily if VTEC'd.

 

the s2000 does have 50/50 weight distribution, but i've heard the rear end gets kinda light (as in aerodynamic lift) and squirrely/floaty around 130mph...

 

IMO, the car is REALLY stable at speed. I have had her up to 140 more then a few times, and I feel as attatched to the road as anyother car I have been in, is not "floaty" at all. What is scary to me is how stable it feels at 130+, I think there is a big possibility of it creating a false selse of confidence. Going to track the car next year at Mid-Ohio, then I will find out the limits on higher speeds.

Steve
V8-What?

 

I think the model year also makes a difference. I've driven a couple 2001s and the rear end felt much looser than my 2002. Honda made some suspension changes in '02 which made the rear end more stable and predictable. Of course, in rain or cold with the S-02s, the rear end can still get a bit squirrely if you're not careful.
They've apparenly made some change in '03 as well, although I'm not sure what difference that will make in handling.

 

cars with heavy back ends over steer much easier then the s2k, ei carrera will step out before an s2k will but the carrera feels very progressive and controllable at the limit