OK, I've been reading these forum threads such as Sondra's Beach and I've read about Scarlet 1, all these stories about loosing your rear end in the Stook. Is it that easy to loose it? I have driven a Mustang GT, I've lost the rear without going over 20mph! (ok I admit, I may have slammed on the gas a bit hard) Being that I should be picking up my S2k this month, I really don't that worry in the back of my head telling me that if I'm not careful, I will loose my butt! Oh, and another thing, is the S2k that bad in the ice and snow?

 

I think Sondra did that a little bit on purpose.

No need to be scared, it usually loses it's butt when something untoward happens suddenly. In "normal" situations, its actually quite predictable. I went into a few slides on the track and was able to get it back. It handles very well in a slide.

I think almost any car will lose it's butt if an serious error is made. Barring snow, bad tires, etc. the S2K handles wonderfully and is predictable. It also gives ample warning when it begins losing traction. The S02's will squeal and howl.

I think most of the tail happiness of owners has been due to some type of mis-judgement. I don't think there are many people here who drive the car close to the car's limit in daily use.

 

I have never lost my butt unless I wanted to(except one time in the rain and once in sand when I drove out of the dealership). Other than that I have 21,000 miles on my car no problems. Sticks like glue.

As far as cold weather 40 degrees and below stock tires will slide and spin if pushed(at all!). As far as snow....well you ever seen Bambi(the deer) on ice? That is our S with stock tires.

 

doadea,

Just gave my $.02 on the Sondra Beach post. Seems silly to post it twice...

Bob

 

Let me clarify what happened in the misadventures with Scarlet I. This was not a result of tailhappiness. It was the result of not having traction due to frozen conditions. I think the temperature that night was just below zero. And stupid me, I had the stock tires on. The enemy of the S-0's is not rain, but cold. In the cold, they simply do not get traction...they need WARMTH!

The two things I blame for the events on Jan 20, 00 are as follows:

1. Myself. I should have had the car parked, period. Believe me, you have no idea how I wish I hadn't decided to drive that night.

2. The tires. They are not designed to run in those conditions. Period.

Can you drive this car in snowy conditions? I think if you are able to drive any RWD car in the show, then sure, yes. It's very possible. But put snow tires on the damn thing! If anyone is crazy enough to drive S-02's through any kind of harsh, or even not so harsh conditions, then beware...it simply won't be pretty.

Again, it's not a function of tailhappiness, it's a funtion of tires. Also, I would bet that many people who complain about tailhappiness are coming off of FWD cars. The handling characteristics and correction procedures are VASTLY different when you are in trouble in a FWD as opposed to RWD.

It's always struck me as funny how Honda went to such pains, such as putting the engins behind the middle of the front wheels and achieving a near perfect 50/50 weight distribution...that some complain of the car's exhuberance at stepping out. Sounds like a driver issue to me, not a car issue...

I will say that the addition of the thicker front sway bar from Mugen made a nice change in my friend's S2000 that I drove at the track yesterday...if you're nervous about tailhappiness, get that bar. I will be doing some suspension mods before next season and that is one that will be doing myself...

My dos centavos...