Bearing in mind that a fair few S2000's end up going through hedges etc, i reckon that they should be sold from new with some sort of warning IMHO. When i bought mine in October 2004 i knew to be especially careful through the winter months because i had discovered a wealth of information about the subject on the various performance car forums including this one. However, i wonder how many people buy an S with little or no knowledge of how they perform or indeed, how they can bite if one is not careful. As we all know from being on this forum, even experienced S drivers have come a cropper for one reason or another. What are your views folks ? Geoff.

 

Honda's sales would drop dramtically if they were to put a warning on the car

 

Warning about what?

It's a RWD sportscar with 240bhp and no tc.

That should be warning enough, especially if you accept that for the vast majority of drivers, this will not be their first car.

I'd like to see some stats on prangs, because I'm not convinced that more S2000s are crashed than other comparable cars.

You say that some experienced drivers have come a cropper.

Rather more have not.

 

gad. AFAIK There were just as many winter smashes on the 200SX forum, although I didn't frequent it very often.

 

Was chatting to a colleague the other day who wants a TVR - I mentioned the Academy Day and the lift-off oversteer in particular, and he was amazed that if you lifted off part way round a corner you might spin

 

Surely the thing with the S is that its snap oversteer, and not as gradual as some other powerful rear wheel drive cars.

 

my old boss did the same thing with a Griffiths 500 on the second day he had it. Part exed it for a Merc C class AMG the next day

I also agree with Gad going through hedges backwards is not exclusive to S2000's. It is the preserve of the unwary or uneducated!

Any car can give snap oversteer if pushed past the slip angle of the tyres and over the limit! Usually by too much steering input! The S is progressive! Ask all those that have done training days!

 

Several FWD hot hatches (and not-so-hot ones too) I've driven (and spun) have had far worse snap lift-off oversteer than the S2000 has.

 

Honda employees who wish to have an S or a CTR on their preferential car scheme have to go on a driving course prior to delivery .
The only 2 cars on the fleet that have this condition.

But basically , as Gad says , it comes down to common sense , but i guess that Honda are just covering their ar$es

 

The reputation surrounding the S2000's handling and its tendency to 'bite' is greatly exagerrated IMO.

It is a powerful sports car just like any other - and needs to be driven with care and consideration in poor conditions, just like any other sports car.

As has already been said, I've driven hatchbacks with far more evil handling tendencies than my S2000.

IMO the S2000's handling is quite benign and the car gives you plenty of warning that you are beginning to annoy it. If drivers will insist on pushing on despite this (intentionally or not) they should brave the potential consequences.

All this talk about scary handling gives the car a bad reputation and no doubt puts many people off buying (which is either good or bad, depending on your angle!).

Andy