The Official Honda S2000 Thread
Honda+Blue=My garage
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 43
From: DFW TX
^^^^^
It was.
I. Am. Hooked. Am going back later this summer to redo the course in my own car, or will do another lapping experience.
Signing up for autocross post-haste.
I keep hearing "eyes up", "look ahead to where you want to be", "trust that the track is there in a blind curve", "when in doubt, both feet out" in my dreams and everyday driving now.
I drove the autocross in one of their AP2 S2000s. Wooooooooooot! And I enjoyed the tiny bit of extra torque compared to my AP1.
I video'd my first laps around Mid-Ohio at the end of the day via Google Glass. Will upload when I get a chance, it needs editing as the raw footage is 30 minutes.
Driving a sports car on a track, fast, is HARD work. Hats off to pro racers everywhere, I had no idea it was that tough.
It was.
I. Am. Hooked. Am going back later this summer to redo the course in my own car, or will do another lapping experience.
Signing up for autocross post-haste.
I keep hearing "eyes up", "look ahead to where you want to be", "trust that the track is there in a blind curve", "when in doubt, both feet out" in my dreams and everyday driving now.
I drove the autocross in one of their AP2 S2000s. Wooooooooooot! And I enjoyed the tiny bit of extra torque compared to my AP1.
I video'd my first laps around Mid-Ohio at the end of the day via Google Glass. Will upload when I get a chance, it needs editing as the raw footage is 30 minutes.
Driving a sports car on a track, fast, is HARD work. Hats off to pro racers everywhere, I had no idea it was that tough.
It is tough doing multiple 20-30 minute sessions, but the fun is so very worth it. If you ever hit DFW, look me up and we can hit one of the loacl tracks here.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 23,362
Likes: 4,273
From: Los Angeles
i would recommend to get some new suspension setup and wheels/tires ASAP.
I love AP1 but they are sometimes a little too dangerous to drive.
The fishtail happy suspension + skinny tires are kind of scary sometimes.
I love AP1 but they are sometimes a little too dangerous to drive.
The fishtail happy suspension + skinny tires are kind of scary sometimes.
If you are not being a dummy on the public road, it's fine!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 23,362
Likes: 4,273
From: Los Angeles
Not just on public Road.
Mountain road or track, AP1 is dangerous to drive with stock suspension and stock tire size.
AP1 handles very different from AP2. AP1 will catch you off guard at any sec, where AP2 is a lot more forgiving.
Maybe dangerous to drive is not the right word.
Mountain road or track, AP1 is dangerous to drive with stock suspension and stock tire size.
AP1 handles very different from AP2. AP1 will catch you off guard at any sec, where AP2 is a lot more forgiving.
Maybe dangerous to drive is not the right word.
Senior Moderator
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 20,067
Likes: 4,698
From: Cleveland area, OH
I think "dangerous" is not the right word. "less forgiving" is more accurate.
Because I have driven an AP1 for six years now, I have learned to respect the beast. I'm on 18's with slightly wider than stock rubber, so I think that has tamed "oversteer" somewhat.
In addition, Honda made the first suspension changes to tame the "snap oversteer issue" in the 2002 MY and continued minor tweaks every year or two until production ended.
Because I have driven an AP1 for six years now, I have learned to respect the beast. I'm on 18's with slightly wider than stock rubber, so I think that has tamed "oversteer" somewhat.
In addition, Honda made the first suspension changes to tame the "snap oversteer issue" in the 2002 MY and continued minor tweaks every year or two until production ended.
The only think I'm having trouble with is the transition from my 6spd accord's shifting points to this one. I always feel like I'm shifting to high or low in the rpms when driving at a regular pace.
My accord liked the 3k mark for smooth shifts.. Of course it had less than 7,000 to redline..
Any input?
My accord liked the 3k mark for smooth shifts.. Of course it had less than 7,000 to redline..
Any input?
E92
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 93
From: socal
It's a combination of a few things that made the AP1 a lot twitchier. The original tires were narrower in the front than standard 205s are now, so by putting modern 205s on the front you're changing the balance a little more toward oversteer. Also the rear sway bar is waaaay to stiff compared to the front, and the rear toe curve is weird which causes a lot of bumpsteer and issues with people spinning out. The spring rates and sway bars were changed every couple years to make the car's balance a little better, and the bumpsteer issue was fixed for the AP2.
I recommend that you have some fun with the car as-is, and then get some 17x9 wheels with sticky 245 or 255 tires all around, along with a thick front sway bar, and get the mx5 rear bar as well. You can get a bumpsteer kit which fixes that issue, but it isn't as big of a deal as the narrow ass 205 tires that come with the AP1.
I recommend that you have some fun with the car as-is, and then get some 17x9 wheels with sticky 245 or 255 tires all around, along with a thick front sway bar, and get the mx5 rear bar as well. You can get a bumpsteer kit which fixes that issue, but it isn't as big of a deal as the narrow ass 205 tires that come with the AP1.
E92
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 93
From: socal
The only think I'm having trouble with is the transition from my 6spd accord's shifting points to this one. I always feel like I'm shifting to high or low in the rpms when driving at a regular pace.
My accord liked the 3k mark for smooth shifts.. Of course it had less than 7,000 to redline..
Any input?
My accord liked the 3k mark for smooth shifts.. Of course it had less than 7,000 to redline..
Any input?
That's actually quite a bit better. Still have to get used to hearing 4k rpms at a normal shift.. But it did get smoother/easier.
So far no complaints.
I could stand to have a better spot for my phone but it's not too much of a hassle.
So far no complaints.
I could stand to have a better spot for my phone but it's not too much of a hassle.
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 45,641
Likes: 2,335
From: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
E92
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,039
Likes: 93
From: socal
(edit: was a bit wrong about the scca roll bar reqs unless I misread them. either way you're good without one)
Last edited by TommySalami; Apr 28, 2014 at 09:02 PM.
Edit: after some reading, it seems too aggressive. Bummer too. They don't make the wheels any more narrow..
Search continues.
Last edited by Rockstar21; Apr 28, 2014 at 10:19 PM.
The Third Ball
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 50,493
Likes: 5,869
From: Los Angeles, Ca
Unless you're car is modded to gills putting in you a in a specific class...and its not.
Roll cages become requirements when you're starting to get into really fast events i.e.: drag racing - when you expect to break into a certain time bracket.
Probably certain classes of road course as well.
Here's 9" wide (rear only) w/ 245 tires.
I think it looks perfect the way it is right now - not really a fan of doing 9.5" unless you roll the fenders quite and plan on stretching the tires.
Stretching tires on a S2000 is just plain silly.
yes, I think im over that phase.. at least for this car.
I like the idea of making it more fun to drive, instead of just looking better in pictures.
17's seem plenty big enough especially with this tiny set of 15's on it now..
I do want to lower it though, at least 1.5-1.75" I cant stand wheel gap, no matter the type of car.
I like the idea of making it more fun to drive, instead of just looking better in pictures.
17's seem plenty big enough especially with this tiny set of 15's on it now..
I do want to lower it though, at least 1.5-1.75" I cant stand wheel gap, no matter the type of car.