Miata??!!!! ha, I would buy a ITR before that, well I would buy an ITR before a lot of things, but no Miata

 

On mountain roads, the limit is still my courage, not the ability of the car. Once you learn to keep your foot on the throttle during curves that seem to be too tight for your speed, you will outperform any of the pseudo-sports cars out there. IMHO, the S2000 is an incredible car in twisties.

 

Actually at apex my speeds in the ITR are usually faster -- now AFTER the apex when I can get on the gas in the S2000 and not ask too much of the tires (read understeer) the S2000 is faster. But from braking to apex the ITR wins.

Aside from that -- the s2000 loves to oversteer. I was trying to drive the M coupe today like the stook -- no. Where the s2000 allows the rear end to rotate and just begs you to stab the go pedal the damn kraut mobil wants to stay planted (perhaps it is the V700's or the suspension). I am not saying either is better -- well maybe the s2000 as oversteer is fun.

If you are looking for a mountain carver -- why not a new BMW M coupe? A little more $$ but hey they run 12's stock now with the 315hp motor .....

 

Well I was 99% on getting an E46 M3, but it hit me...they are just too damn much for me right now. and they are kind of heavy, but there will always be a part of me wishing I get one!

0-60 in 4.65!!!! and handling to match!!! oh man, don't get me started on the M3!!!!


also, steve c, you think the ITR out handles the S2000? or is it just the S2000, needs more rubber? because the ITR is high on my list also...

 

Beyond numbers, I just can't say enough about the FEEL when pitching it through corners.

 

ive read somewhere that s2kz can take 30mph turns at like 60. dun remember exactly what review that was...but if thatz true....thats incredible.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by penguinboi
[B]ive read somewhere that s2kz can take 30mph turns at like 60.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by penguinboi
[B]ive read somewhere that s2kz can take 30mph turns at like 60.

 

If you want to turn up the heat on all the cars metioned above, purchase the S2000, install suspention up-grades including Bilstein ajustables on all fours, and watch others in the rear view .

I've been kick-in tail at Road Atlanta and either pulled away from and have been on the bumpers of 911-turbos, Boxster S, M-Cobra, and even 300 Twin-Turbos in the curves. As stated earlier, the car is not to forgiving, so you have to be careful.

Remember, as the car turns right, the left tire spins faster to push you through the curves and vise-vesa. On aveage, I can take most turns 10 to 15 mph faster that other high proformers that cost more than twice as much .

The S is the best bang for the buck! Hands Down.

Happy Shopping

"Sssss" in VTec

 

Hey Shea-bird,

It's me again. The S2000 handles much, much better than our SE-R. Not as great as some cars, but quite well for a roadster. Been doing some back-to-back comparison today.

1) more balanced, less understeer, due to RWD and 50/50
2) virtually no body roll
3) better road feel thru double wishbone than macpherson struts
4) you can lay down the power coming out of turns. even with the SE-R's LSD, i find i lose a lot of power on exits
5) geared lower, so you can always find the right gear. 3rd in S2000 is good for 67, but well past 80 in SE-R.
6) it's very tossable. pitch it into any turn, just as long as you don't let the back around.

Some things I think the S2000 doesn't do that well:
1) steering feel is a little numb, especially compared to M3 or Boxster. this is especially apparent over imperfect road surfaces
2) in transitions, the SE-R is comparable. i mean in the middle of an ess, when the car is kind of floating between cornering left & cornering right.
3) hard to keep a confident line through a curve when you're sitting on the VTEC fence, deciding when to punch it.
4) SE-R has more gusto in leisurely low-RPM corner exits.

For some reason, I still feel like the Miata "handles" better. I know you can push an S2000 around a track faster, but the Miata just feels more nimble, direct, and communicative. Not enough to prefer it over the S2000, but it's food for thought.

The S2000's handling is better than the SE-R's by leaps and bounds. At anything less than 8/10ths, though, it's much more a matter of feel than actual speed. If I'm not really pushing it, I can take the SE-R through curves 90% as fast as my S2000, but it's just not as fun. The SE-R attitude in mountain roads is reluctant tenacity, whereas the S2000 exhibits eager playfulness.