I hope you're not accusing me there Wilee - the majority of owners do not believe the S2K has any understeering qualities whatsoever whilst I have been arguing from day 1 just how bad the understeering tendencies are.

The understeer characteristics of the S2k are more noticeable at low to moderate speeds (i.e. under 100km/h) rather than higher speeds.

[Edited by 2kturkey on 05-30-2001 at 05:10 AM]

 

[/QUOTE]

I hope you're not accusing me there Wilee - the majority of owners do not believe the S2K has any understeering qualities whatsoever whilst I have been arguing from day 1 just how bad the understeering tendencies are.

The understeer characteristics of the S2k are more noticeable at low to moderate speeds (i.e. under 100km/h) rather than higher speeds.

[Edited by 2kturkey on 05-30-2001 at 05:10 AM] [/QUOTE]

I do not want to accuse anybody here,but this car has a oversteer characteristics at low speed (under 100km/h).

example 1: take a look at the best motoring video where the drift king of Japan(a professional racecar driver) drive our beloved S2000 through some mountain road. Speed is at most 120km/h. He demonstrated how easy to have our car in 4-wheel drift in a corner with(zero counter steering) and even with countersteering drift. A low speed understeer car like you said can hardly be put in that mode.

example 2: try going in a tight turn not too hot(no ABS and brakes screaming) and apply more throttle in the turn.
You will feel the back end coming around due to the torsen differential.(that's power oversteer)

example 3: A long time ago,I had driven my S2000 way too fast on a local mountain road before I had to entered a 70 degrees turn. I brake hard and the ABS and my brakes, tires scream for 3 seconds and my mind is blank, thinking I played too much and I would total my new car since there is zero runoff area but a solid concrete wall. At the entrance of the turn I turn my steering wheel accordingly with my subconscience. The car made it through the turn luckily.
I had driven many street cars that none of them will turn in at that kind of speed but S2000 can.

I hope someone with better english skills or experience can tell me whether my assumption is right or wrong.
Is there any standard procedure to test whether a car understeer or oversteer????

 

Most any car will understeer to a degree if you overcome the traction of the front tires on initial turn-in. Increasing air pressure in the front tires will help this happen. The addition of a larger front sway bar will also help this happen.

I agree that the S2000 will understeer if you "overcook" a corner and I have done it many times before. However, I have found that the car will then transition to a hint of oversteer as speed is scubbed off by the front tires and turn in becomes greater.

 

Glad I'm not the only one with this problem, I've experienced almost no oversteer (but when it's there, its scary in this car), but plenty of understeer. In my case, I know I enter the corners too fast, this car inspires me to do it, but I know the consequences...scrrruuubbbb. I also never check tire pressure (insert flame here), and I'm sure the ill effects of my handling are from the above stated.

Andrew

 

Thanks for all of your input guys.

I did want to clarify a bit so that you did not get the wrong impression of my driving although it has been helpfull understanding the difference between over steering and under steering.

I typically brake hard just prior to a corner (preferrably while going strait so I don't slide) then as I'm going through the corner I apply more and more power to see what the limit is. It seems as though the front tires start to give before the rear tires do unless I gun it and then it all depends on the angle of the turn and the traction my rear tires are getting. Sometimes my rear will slide a bit (not much) but mostly the front tires will give first. when I get done and take a look at my tires the tread is feathered on the outside.

I did learn an important lesson though on Mount Palimar when I did a 530 degree spin (I flashed back to Planes Trains and Automobiles while my friend in the passenger seat screamed like a little girl). NEVER HIT THE BRAKES IN THE CORNER.... You might die or at least soil yourself.

 

Hesitation on turn-in or accelerating during turn-in or high speed entry or applying power just enough to shift weight but not enough to create rear wheel slip angles ==
Understeer.

Too sharp movements of steering wheel or lifting off abruptly or apllying too much power ==
Oversteer

My opinion is that this is a Neutral car but so sensitive to even minor inputs that different people have different statements about balance. Definately not an easy car to drive fast but one of the most involving . Every time I make a less than perfect turn I sure know it with this car , whereas with a normal car average good and perfect turning is hardly noticed. ( as far as balancing goes ).
On the other hand ,if you do it right the S2000 is one of the most rewarding!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by MadDogSkip
[B]Thanks for all of your input guys.

I did want to clarify a bit so that you did not get the wrong impression of my driving although it has been helpfull understanding the difference between over steering and under steering.

I typically brake hard just prior to a corner (preferrably while going strait so I don't slide) then as I'm going through the corner I apply more and more power to see what the limit is.

 

Wilee, if you want a classic example of understeer here it is.


There is a constant radius uphill 270 degree hairpin near where I live - it is the tightest corner for miles around. It is marked 25kmh but I usually take it at around it 85kmh AT THE LIMITS OF ADHESION. It is a blind curve (big hill in the middle) but I know it well (I drive that way home from work at least once a week) and I know when I can start to feed in the power for exit. In these circumstances the S2K will always try to push wide rather than track as I steer it. If this isn't understeer then tell me what is!!

BTW, I can give you many other examples, including my track experiences. Even my track instructors tell me the Stook understeers compared with Porsches etc..

 

Uphill unloads the front tires so it shifts the car from nuetral balance. Downhill will be more of a challenge with oversteer.

 

Just finished the 600 mile break in on my s2k and was greatly looking forward to seeing what the car could do on a rolling highway up in Vermont this past weekend. I got the car up to 130mph and the car definately lost some stability at that speed. My s2k doesn't have a front spoiler - I wonder what if any effect that would have? Any other comments on top speed reached in your s2k?