RE: You Know You Want To: Honda S2000
Discussion
Captain Muppet said:
Why no coupe version Honda? I'd have bought one years ago if there was.
Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
[RaymondTerrific] Come on boffins, let's get this sorted. [/RaymondTerrific]
The steering is due to a crappy EPS system. It cannot be modified, the only options are to run no PAS (Very heavy steering) or swap the entire system out for an RX7 hyro PAS system (not easy).Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
[RaymondTerrific] Come on boffins, let's get this sorted. [/RaymondTerrific]
Basically, you either put up with it or buy something else AFAIK.
I've been driving my '00 S2000 for 1,5 years and 11.000 miles now and it's growing on me. After the initial new car feeling wore off I didn't really like it that much. Harsh, noisy, twitchy and tiny on the inside. But after decent tracking, new tyres and brakes and learning how to drive it, I'd say it's an incredible car at certain moments. Can still be quite awful when you're not in the mood though!
As for handling, well the term is often misused I suppose. The car has got loads of grip and can corner incredibly quick, but only when in the hands of someone that knows how to use it and how to catch it when it lets go. It doesn't give much feel and feedback in the wheel and often makes you feel uncomfortable when pushing on. Learn how to use it though and it's great fun :-)
One thing I didn't like much on the earlier models is the interior. Especially the carpet covered center tunnel and the all black dash. It's easily modified though with some leather on the tunnel, nicer mats and a later radio cover. Mine now looks like this:
As for handling, well the term is often misused I suppose. The car has got loads of grip and can corner incredibly quick, but only when in the hands of someone that knows how to use it and how to catch it when it lets go. It doesn't give much feel and feedback in the wheel and often makes you feel uncomfortable when pushing on. Learn how to use it though and it's great fun :-)
One thing I didn't like much on the earlier models is the interior. Especially the carpet covered center tunnel and the all black dash. It's easily modified though with some leather on the tunnel, nicer mats and a later radio cover. Mine now looks like this:
Edited by Jurgen on Thursday 13th September 12:36
Captain Muppet said:
Why no coupe version Honda? I'd have bought one years ago if there was.
Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
[RaymondTerrific] Come on boffins, let's get this sorted. [/RaymondTerrific]
Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
[RaymondTerrific] Come on boffins, let's get this sorted. [/RaymondTerrific]
brilliant!"I'm going nut brown from all the brain rays being emitted by our boffins!"
I'd love one, I've always lusted after them since I was given one for a couple of hours by a guy in vehicle management.
Only a few 'small' issues stopping me.
It has less seats than I have people in my family.
I drive 18k miles a year.
I couldn't fit a bike in it, never mind the 3 I get in my Accord Estate.
And we've got a small drive for 1 car and already have 2 on a road where parking is tricky now.
Only a few 'small' issues stopping me.
It has less seats than I have people in my family.
I drive 18k miles a year.
I couldn't fit a bike in it, never mind the 3 I get in my Accord Estate.
And we've got a small drive for 1 car and already have 2 on a road where parking is tricky now.
Captain Muppet said:
Why no coupe version Honda? I'd have bought one years ago if there was.
Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
Steering - isn't any different from most modern 'sports cars' - it's 2.5 turns lock-to-lock, so quick and direct. It's just rather numb...which can be improved by reducing the castor - did that on mine, lost some of the glutinous, artificial weight and gained a little genuine feedback in the process. Nothing like an Elise, but no worse than a Mk3 MX5, Mk2 Z4, etc...Are there any fixes for the steering and handling? A chap I know had one and he said you were never sure it was going to do the same thing through the same corner twice. That's the sort of thing the aftermarket could sort with bushes and dampes isn't it?
Handling - is NOT a big problem, not unless you've just come out of a fwd hot-hatch and try and drive it like one, or you're a journalist pushing too hard because it's someone else's motor!
It was set-up to be an agile sportscar. Not a shopping trolley. TVRs are far more of a handful, but they get the "Man's car" reputation - go figure! Fully-adjustable camber, castor and toe makes it easy to adjust to your preference too. At the limit it IS snappier than an MX5 (notably so) or a Boxster, but it's perfectly recoverable* - I'd suggest much more so than an Elise or VX220. Fitting (very affordable) cross-braces (upper and lower) help stiffen things up and improved feedback through wheel and seat too. As for predictability - not perfect, but that statement sounds like a geo or driver problem.
My only complaint with the suspension was that at HIGH (!!!) speeds through bumpy b-road corners the rear didn't seem to settle 100% - slight side-to-side porpoising that made you back-off to ~8/10ths. Which on the road were probably more sensible (if still illegal) speeds, to be fair.
IMHO the ideal roadster would be a hybrid MX-5 and S2000 - the aggression and powertrain of the S2000 with the poise, feedback and 'entry-level rwd' handling of the Mk1/2 MX-5.
* Granted I'm not a really hairy-chested type of driver, but I never span mine in 3 years and 22k miles, including driving in rain and snow (doughnuts don't count as spinning if they're deliberate in a car park...). Couple of tank-slappers mind...
I used to work for Honda, so always been a fan, love the engines, handling on the pre-facelift models could be a bit scary at times, but as mentioned, there are some options to improve.
Have to say though, you can vet a BMW Z4 3.0 SI for not alot more than a decent S2000 and I think I would rather have that. Particularly because you can get a coupe.
Have to say though, you can vet a BMW Z4 3.0 SI for not alot more than a decent S2000 and I think I would rather have that. Particularly because you can get a coupe.
aspen said:
Would love one of these, unfortunately I'm too tall though 
Ditto, had a spin in the drivers seat of a mates - knees were hard against the dash, had to have the roof down, and the (not active) rollover bar came up to my ears. Great looks, great engine, not suitable for lanky people.HeMightBeBanned said:
As a piece of engineering, the S2000 really appeals to me. But would I own one? No, for the simple reason that everyone I know who has owned one has crashed it and mostly they're better drivers than me. Why tempt fate?!
Really? It's my 1st RWD car (although have driven quite few others) and i'm not a race driver. But i've driven mine in all kinds of weather, have done 2 track days (1 in the wet!), have driven it in anger in the Alps (including Stelvio) and generally drive it pretty hard. I've spun it once, but I was playing a bit on an industrial estate and the tracking was way out back then. With decent tracking (try the Honda UK settings for the '99 - '01 models) and decent tyres there's nothing to worry about (unless you really don't trust your own driving style!)I don't get all this crap about the handling.
The fact is they're a high power(light weight) RWD car, most are crashed because people don't know how to drive them properly. The one person I know who crashed one lifted off mid corner and didn't understand why he went backwards into a ditch.
Most people who buy them would be better off in a mx5 with 100+less bhp, at least they can be assured that they won't crash from going too fast
The fact is they're a high power(light weight) RWD car, most are crashed because people don't know how to drive them properly. The one person I know who crashed one lifted off mid corner and didn't understand why he went backwards into a ditch.
Most people who buy them would be better off in a mx5 with 100+less bhp, at least they can be assured that they won't crash from going too fast
jason61c said:
I don't get all this crap about the handling.
The fact is they're a high power(light weight) RWD car, most are crashed because people don't know how to drive them properly. The one person I know who crashed one lifted off mid corner and didn't understand why he went backwards into a ditch.
Most people who buy them would be better off in a mx5 with 100+less bhp, at least they can be assured that they won't crash from going too fast
Likewise The fact is they're a high power(light weight) RWD car, most are crashed because people don't know how to drive them properly. The one person I know who crashed one lifted off mid corner and didn't understand why he went backwards into a ditch.
Most people who buy them would be better off in a mx5 with 100+less bhp, at least they can be assured that they won't crash from going too fast
I owned one for a few years. It was my realistic dream car. I had to have one, so when I could afford one, I went round a few dealers looking for a test drive (I was 25!). Everyone refused me unless I was willing to buy for certain! (I'm disabled so I wanted to make sure I fit and was comfortable driving it first), but all the dealers gave it the "scary handling sir, you need to be careful"
In the end, I bought one Private, picked it up in the snow, drove it back and enjoyed a good few years driving in it. It was my first RWD car apart from a volvo 740.
Its like any car, drive it like a dick and it will spit you off, but I never had one scary or untoward moment in it. I was slightly worried when picking it up as I spent years on S2ki reading the scare stories about dodgy handling, but it was all b
ks. I drove it sensibly and I was fine.It also wasn't too bad to insure through flux at 25 (£800).
I also learnt the dealers know f
k all after 2 quoted me for a cambelt change when phoning about a service! Took it to Rob at Garage R in Barnsley in the end!Jurgen said:
Luckily insuring an S2000 is pretty cheap in Holland, you just pay at least twice as much for the car itself (You lot have no idea how lucky you are with used car prices compared to the rest of europe!)
Same here (in France) but I would rather spend more money on the purchase price (most of which you'll recover) than burning it on insurance! (You lot have no idea how lucky you are with used car prices compared to the rest of europe!)Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff