I knew I couldn't be the only one who felt this way. Don't get me wrong, there are days when I'm glad I have VSA. My driving skill isn't quite where I'd like it to be. But in the snow, the VSA actually hinders me from getting around town, cutting power for every wheel slip... Drives me nuts!

 

Flashpro and you can have the VSA apply brakes but not cut power. That is how mine is set and it is sooooo much smoother. Additionally I have become a much better driver than before I got the S so that VSA doesn't come on often.

 

My DD is a TSX with TC/SC, and I find I anticipate it a heartbeat before or after the TS/SC steps in, so there's a double reaction/judder which can sometimes upset the balance of the car in a low traction situation. I'm no driving god, but it is unnerving. With the S, everything is predictable because the car isn't going to do anything I don't know it's going to do.

 

Being from Florida, the only thing I can really compare this to is mudding. My friend had a 1994 Nissan hardbody with RWD and a stick, and with the correct technique we would run circles past the big 4WD pickups that would get really, really stuck due to their weight. I think driving a car like this in the snow is about momentum and how you use it. Anything can be effective in the right hands.

 

Right, because VSA can't be fully turned off

 

I didn't read the previous posts about VSA and it took me the longest time to realize what TC/SC meant. I thought SC meant supercharged so I was scratching my head thinking what the hell is TC then haha
I have a friend who wants to supercharge his TSX so that didnt help.

 

You guys must be amazingly focused on the roads without your VSA on. Everyone else running no VSA crashes into a nasty ball of fire before they get to the end of their street.

None of my cars have more then ABS. And frankly it's not something I think about much. For my wife's car, it's important. I'd call her a distracted driver and I think she's closer to the average driver - not because she's a female mind you.

Statistically most of you are over estimating your driver skill. Backing up your take on how amazing you are without VSA because nothing has yet happened to you. When likely few of you have done any driver training of note, done autox or taken the car to the track to really learn how to drive. So I'd all be rather careful playing around in a car that would be crushed by most SUVs.

Personally I've driven is some very nasty conditions in a range of vehicles. In the most extreme of driving conditions, 7k+ feet, on freeway doing 20-30mph, just moments before the state police would close the freeway; I'd be generally happy to have any of the additional assistance modern technology could afford me. I was in fact heavily focused for hours which is draining. Few of us regularly train or practice such skills and I, even with years of foul weather driving, still found myself tired. You know the feeling where you're just about happy to pull over and take a nap for 30? Fully aware I'm not longer functioning at my best. That's when this like VSA can be helpful.

That said there have been a few times where having such nanny gear would have ruined my car and my night. The in ability to power through snow or to 4 wheel drift a turn could have caused a really bad night on occasion. The fact remains I shouldn't have been on the road.

The S2000 is a pretty miserable car to drive in the cold. The cabin never really gets warm, it's so low to the ground snow clearance is a problem and the power spike at vtec leaves much to be desired. Why not drive a civic?

 

It's one of the worst cars for the winter, In chicago land with the unbelievable amount of calcium chloride and other mixes liquifying snow, I don't care how much you power wash the car, and it's not like you can even do that on sub zero days it will accelerate corrosion and rust beyond measure. It can be fun to drive and at least the car is not rotting in a garage but a few winters will take their toll on all metal surfaces, painted or otherwise.
Taking a look at even 2 or 3 year old cars that go through midwest winters on a lift, is an eye opener. So many look worse than 10 year old cars.

At least the CR has hard top. Hope you are enjoying it at least.

 

Rahul, you just reminded me why I drove my ap1 AND CR year round and why I been .....not so happy this year letting my 04 park this winter. Cars are meant to be driven and I have found that the S is handles very well in the snow with snow tires. With the solid chasis, it is predictable and confidence inspiring. I feel better in my winter driven S2000s then the sloppy 4wd truck I drive. A civic is not that much higher off the ground then a S2000.

Rahul, I been in your situation (winter driving s2000, new baby) and I advise you to hang on to the S. I traded my CR when the wife was preg with our 1st. By the time our 2nd was a year old, I was shopping for my 04. I honestly didn't even needed to get rid of my CR but did it to free up funds just in case. I am more then likely gonna drive my 04 next winter. I have a carwash at my work. I can wash my car any day of the week everyday.

 

I really don't see the appeal of driving a light sports convertible in middle of winter when you have to drive extremely slow. Especially with other drivers(idiots) on the road that don't know how to properly drive.

A second car is a must with S2000 for multiple purposes(shopping,snow,etc.) I picked up an older Camry and my baby is nice and warm in the garage