Thanks for that, agreed that its a great way to the track at reasonable cash just for the record what do they do quarter mile and 0-60?


Bit like scalelectrics then only kidding

 

Captain, I never take offense about a car

Everything that Telum said. As a track car it's probably right in the sweet spot on the money/speed/fun scale. Anything faster is considerably more expensive. For fun track days I often run with the porsche club. I surprise an awful lot of expensive Porsches, at how fast the car is. The handling is truly sharp, tending toward controllable oversteer. Exactly how track cars are fastest. The steering is particularly accurate and direct. The shifter/transmission flat out embarrasses any other manual out there, and that's no hyperbole. The downside of the car is utter lack of torque, though the horsepower/liter is very high. (Until the Ferrari F430, the S2000 was highest HP/liter normally aspirated production car available). Unfortunately, to fit in my race class, my car actually has the HP electronically limited to 210.

On a track, it'll spin. Lift throttle oversteer spin is a reality. It doesnt tolerate ham fisted Driving, and the early cars have No electronic nannies (theyre all turned off on mine, except ABS). Best way to put it is: it's very direct, with outstanding feedback, a little raw, a little edgy, but outstanding at teaching proper track driving. Honestly on a technical track like mid ohio, I'm relatively certain it's faster than my V8 vantage (admittedly a street car)8

On the street, it tends to be quick, but a bit underpowered. A slight bit unrefined in creature comforts, but a great ride on a sunny day, or warm evening with the top down. If you ever go to a place like Tail of the Dragon, it is the absolute perfect partner.

The reputation of the car is that it's for young guys. Well I'm not young anymore, but I think I'll always have one. The thing gets under your skin, it fights above its weight class, and that makes it special.

 

0-60 and 1/4 mile are the worst attributes of the car. It has Hondas race style Vtec. It comes on like a switch at about 5500 rpm. So the car is less powerful below that. Only way to get quick launches is to rev, and clutch dump. Not a recipe for longevity of the clutch and differential.

That said, if you're good 0-60 is low 5's, about 5.2, 5.3. Not sure on 1/4 mile, never tried that.

 

The S2000 is perfect roadster IME
My last one (4th) had a 12psi supercharged and coil overs. 425 BHP in a perfectly balanced manual roadster. Not a lot kept up with it.
I swapped it for a 4.7 Vantage roadster, but it was no where near
Moving to a V8VS roadster with light weight seats got a lot of that character back. It just needed more power to complete it, hence the Bamford Rose 550 BHP conversion

 

having raced supercharged S2000s and turbocharged s2000 with 420rwhp, vs my front engine V8 racers, I can say the vantage is up to the task. the problem is most don't understand hp curves and shift points. with the Vantage fairly close ratio gear box, it is kept in its max hp range. So, if you have near the same HP for both cars (and the same weight the car will accelerate the same) generally, the s2000 is lighter, so that's the advantage, not the engine torque values. as I mentioned, hp at any speed DICTATES rear wheel torque. in other words, if you have the same HP at any same vehicle speed, you have the same torque at the rear wheels (regardless of engine torque values)
Simplifying it, it's all about HP/weight.

 

On the track, technique is everything. the car is a precise machine and has little margin for error on the track. but, I assure you, having pushed it to the limit at the track (as a street car), its very stable and safe.
it has NO lack of torque, vs any other car, because its close ratio gear box assures its in the max HP range. lack of torque means nothing, if the HP is the same as something comparable. mentioning 430s, and Porsche 911s and others that have near 8000rpm redlines, and their lack of torque, is ignoring the basic physics of the powertrains of these cars..... if you have the same HP at any vehicle speed, you have exactly the same torque at the wheels, regardless of the engines torque rating.

 

Thank you all for your replies! Will be checking my tire pressure tonight, I'll consider getting an alignment, and I'm already researching new front tires.

It is truly amazing how many of us also own S2Ks - think that says something about those cars. Mine is a 2000 (purchased in 1999) with about 98K miles on it. Never had any problems with it, and it handles like a bat out of hell.

 

Not the greatest picture, but here it is...

 

I have noticed my Vantage is dramatically different driving experience just changing tire pressure 4lbs. Door seal states that the car should have 33lbs in the front and 36lbs in the rears but 37/40 respectively and the car is much smoother and quiter. I haven't noticed a center wear issue yet. Just play around with it and see what you like.