Honda S2000 track car ?
Discussion
I'm thiking of getting one with the view of tracking it. Apart from the obvious performance difference, how do they compare to say MX5s in the handling department ? Ideally I would like something with coilovers and properly set up. Is there any specialist marketpalce for those cars ?
you may not find a big difference in pace on shorter twistier circuits but the S2000 would have an advantage in raw pace on longer tracks by virtue of its superior power.
People often bemoan the S2000 for having no feel in the steering but i never found mine paticularly bad. You will no doubt read that the S2000 is very sensitive to geo setups so, if you were to fit aftermarket suspension parts, you should have no problem in dialing in a setup to make the most of the chassis. Id suggest this, along with brakes, would be where you would gain a not insignificant amount of pace, adjustability and handling to an already good car.
In terms of the "experience", ive not driven an mx5, however there isnt much that would come close for the money to a fully wrung out S2000. Should you desire, there are also a whole host of engine and exhaust mods you could do, however you may wish to do some research here as something like a spoon can would perhaps violate noise regs at some circuits
The S2000 is one of Honda's last greats, now the vtec engines have all but been relegated to the sidelines. It isnt as torquey as the ivtec motors, but, wrung out for all its worth, its epic
People often bemoan the S2000 for having no feel in the steering but i never found mine paticularly bad. You will no doubt read that the S2000 is very sensitive to geo setups so, if you were to fit aftermarket suspension parts, you should have no problem in dialing in a setup to make the most of the chassis. Id suggest this, along with brakes, would be where you would gain a not insignificant amount of pace, adjustability and handling to an already good car.
In terms of the "experience", ive not driven an mx5, however there isnt much that would come close for the money to a fully wrung out S2000. Should you desire, there are also a whole host of engine and exhaust mods you could do, however you may wish to do some research here as something like a spoon can would perhaps violate noise regs at some circuits
The S2000 is one of Honda's last greats, now the vtec engines have all but been relegated to the sidelines. It isnt as torquey as the ivtec motors, but, wrung out for all its worth, its epic
I used my old S2000 on trackdays and sprints.
Although the S2000 probably doesn't handle as well as a MX5 (never driven an MX5) I'm sure the extra power would come in useful, particularly on the longer circuits, personally I enjoyed it on track and would certainly recommend one.
When sprinting there was a guy in the same class as be in a slight tuned mx5 on semi slicks and I was using a standard S2000 on R888's around the tight airfield sprints he'd beat me as the mx5 seamed very agile and I'm not too proud to admit he's the better driver but round the circuits where the S2000 could use it's additional power I'd normally beat him, although he did used to look like he was having a hell of a lot of fun in the mazda.
Although the S2000 probably doesn't handle as well as a MX5 (never driven an MX5) I'm sure the extra power would come in useful, particularly on the longer circuits, personally I enjoyed it on track and would certainly recommend one.
When sprinting there was a guy in the same class as be in a slight tuned mx5 on semi slicks and I was using a standard S2000 on R888's around the tight airfield sprints he'd beat me as the mx5 seamed very agile and I'm not too proud to admit he's the better driver but round the circuits where the S2000 could use it's additional power I'd normally beat him, although he did used to look like he was having a hell of a lot of fun in the mazda.
Had an mx5 and an s2000 and used both on track a quite a bit. The s2000 is a lot faster (you can keep pace with most other cars) the mx5 is generally one of the slower cars there but that’s not to say it’s any less fun. The feedback is a lot more obvious in the mx5 and it’s very easy to adjust on the limit (not least because the limits are at lower speeds). The s2000 is more competent (wider tyres extra weight helps add grip in faster turns etc) but it takes more practice to get a feel for the signs when you near the limit.
I have also owned an Elise and now use a Boxster, both these would also be on my list too, although sounds like you want a front engined rear wheel drive set up.
My s2000 had eibach springs on stock shocks with a fast road geo setup it was pretty good and a lot cheaper than coilovers. They handle best when not lowered too far (ask on s2000 forum for reasons why). Everything on s2000s costs a lot more than mx5s for some reason so running costs on the mx5 would be considerably cheaper.
I have also owned an Elise and now use a Boxster, both these would also be on my list too, although sounds like you want a front engined rear wheel drive set up.
My s2000 had eibach springs on stock shocks with a fast road geo setup it was pretty good and a lot cheaper than coilovers. They handle best when not lowered too far (ask on s2000 forum for reasons why). Everything on s2000s costs a lot more than mx5s for some reason so running costs on the mx5 would be considerably cheaper.
I've tracked both MX5 and S2000 and i find the biggest difference other than the power of the S2000 is the lack of steering feel it has compared to the MX5. With the S2000 i didn't really have much clue of what the tyres were doing until it slid, whereas in the MX5 you can feel it going and catch it quicker.
As fun as mx5 owners keep telling us that their car is, its a demoralising experience on the track.
I took the wheel of my friends mx5 for 20 laps on a trackday, and although it was ok sliding it about, it's just too slow.
Clio's, red top corsa's, civic typeR's, tegs, WRX's all just sailed past me. The only thing i could compete against was a red top cavalier.
If your happy to be slowest on track, the mx5 is a great shout. If not, S2000 it is.
Stephen.
I took the wheel of my friends mx5 for 20 laps on a trackday, and although it was ok sliding it about, it's just too slow.
Clio's, red top corsa's, civic typeR's, tegs, WRX's all just sailed past me. The only thing i could compete against was a red top cavalier.
If your happy to be slowest on track, the mx5 is a great shout. If not, S2000 it is.
Stephen.
Ego growth alert !
It's not about who's the quickest on a trackday, it's about smiles per mile/ lap and both being very different cars it would depend on what you personaly like to drive and your driving style. ...... But then you already knew that
It's not about who's the quickest on a trackday, it's about smiles per mile/ lap and both being very different cars it would depend on what you personaly like to drive and your driving style. ...... But then you already knew that
Edited by wackojacko on Friday 25th March 12:31
I have seen many drivers who were pretty quick in a Formula Ford.
However stick them in a F11 & they are pretty slow. In fact some of them are slower than they were in the Ford.
It takes a great deal more ability to drive the quicker, more powerful car, & many who can get close to the limit of the lesser car, are at their ultimate limit. This often, unfortunately, applies to those who were a bit too old when they could first afford to start driving quick cars.
I believe this applies to your comparison.
However stick them in a F11 & they are pretty slow. In fact some of them are slower than they were in the Ford.
It takes a great deal more ability to drive the quicker, more powerful car, & many who can get close to the limit of the lesser car, are at their ultimate limit. This often, unfortunately, applies to those who were a bit too old when they could first afford to start driving quick cars.
I believe this applies to your comparison.
Hasbeen said:
I have seen many drivers who were pretty quick in a Formula Ford.
However stick them in a F11 & they are pretty slow. In fact some of them are slower than they were in the Ford.
It takes a great deal more ability to drive the quicker, more powerful car, & many who can get close to the limit of the lesser car, are at their ultimate limit. This often, unfortunately, applies to those who were a bit too old when they could first afford to start driving quick cars.
I believe this applies to your comparison.
That last bit makes me feel a bit sad.However stick them in a F11 & they are pretty slow. In fact some of them are slower than they were in the Ford.
It takes a great deal more ability to drive the quicker, more powerful car, & many who can get close to the limit of the lesser car, are at their ultimate limit. This often, unfortunately, applies to those who were a bit too old when they could first afford to start driving quick cars.
I believe this applies to your comparison.
Not much chance for me and my Cerbera then, got it when I was 51. Better get that indicator fixed.Sorry. In no way was I suggesting that us oldies shouldn't have as much fun as our aging hearts can stand, & perhaps a little more than that, from time to time.
However you will find we don't learn as quickly as we would have, if we had come into the best high performance cars in out teens. This makes achieving lap record times in very high performance cars a bit unlikely.
Still nothing wrong in blowing some of the kids off, even if it is sometimes more the performance of our cars than us that does it. I really can't see why the kids should have all the fun.
However you will find we don't learn as quickly as we would have, if we had come into the best high performance cars in out teens. This makes achieving lap record times in very high performance cars a bit unlikely.
Still nothing wrong in blowing some of the kids off, even if it is sometimes more the performance of our cars than us that does it. I really can't see why the kids should have all the fun.
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