I just picked up an 06' 9. Before I had this car, I had a MY04 s2000. I have to say that awd is awesome and I'm loving it, but in tight corners the s2000 would be able to outhandle it.

Here is the clencher for me tho, you have to be on target 100% with the s2000 or you will oversteer. Even a 1-2 shift @ redline in an s2000 will break traction.
Just watch some best motoring videos.

Anyway evo's rule! I would never go back to a honda again.

 

alright, get ready for a long post.

Here's my 2cents.

The reason for a stock Evo having the chance to beat a S2k is exiting, for most part. Albeit, I will not be suprised if a good driver beat an idiot Evo driver, and I'll explain why the word "Idiot".

A little bit of cornering stuff after hours and hours of GT4. When you drive a RWD car, the apex comes late. (Apex is where you approach the corner closest to the inside edge of the track) So for a RWD car, when you approach a corner, you step on the break, at this point all the weight of the car is hauled to the front of the car, if you turn and step on the gas, or WOT, too early(Wide Open Throttle), your car will oversteer, and go off the track. So what RWD car (with front engine) like S2k, you have to wait patiently until your weight is swing back to the rear and then you can gentally floor it.

So back to exiting. Since S2k is very capable, nice chassie and good handling, it maybe able to take a little bit more speed when exiting a fast corner but not a slow corner. So for a RWD car, the apex comes late, meaning when an AWD/FWD is on WOT(flooring it), you are still waiting for your apex to arrive.

And for why Evo is even better at exiting is because Mitsu use computer to sense weight transfer and using viscous coupling(correct me if not so) to transfer power to the wheels bear the most weight, so it efficiently accelerates out of a corner faster than everything else. I actually feel this when doing a fast corner, when the engine power transfers, you'll feel it.

Lastly, Evo is a powerful car. S2k is powerful too, but look at the torque. That horsepower is achieved by reving the engine up so high. Still s2k's engine is unbelievable for the reason that it's a 2.2L engine cranking out almost 250HP, that's more than 100/Liter!! That's very efficient, but not much torque.

So for the most part S2k can lose to evo is 1) late apex, late WOT, 2) Mitsu focus more on exiting speed by tranfering engine power to weighted wheels, and 3) S2k is not as powerful as evos. So with a good driver, I dont' see why not a S2k can beat an idiot driven Evo. And thus you can say that an Evo is somewhat more "idiot"-proof, because it has and early apex and better handling weight transfer.

By idiot I mean this: "Jack Lanier ends his column on cornering technique with 'Either you’re a fast guy or you’re an idiot. There’s no middle ground.' "
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=106488

More driving technique: http://www.sccawiregrass.org/course2.html


And by no means am I an expert in driving, just want to share my thoughts

 

i dont think the time comparision on Top Gear are credible because they don't test the car under the same condition. some cars were tested on a wet track unless they only posted the time when the car was running on a dry track.

 

why not just get an s2000 instead??

 

i agree. they try to do this as accurate as possible by having the same driver drive around the same track which is not bad. however, it is not fully accurate if it is done in differenet days (weather is a MAJOR part in racing).

 

because we like the evo better?
becasue it is a 2 seater?
because it is not as good in foul weather?

 

because i need the back seat for my son and awd for snow. if i could have a second car, no doubt it would a s2k or NSX if i could afford one.

 

the main advantage of AWD is the ability to put power to the ground (on launch or exiting corners), it doesn't improve stoping, lateral G's or acceleration at speed but it does increase vehical weight. now a rwd car has the weight advantage which will improve stoping, lateral G's and acceleration at speed.

 

sorry but this line takes away all your credibility.

video games do not = real life.

 

No contest i would say in stock for Evo all the way.

Even if s2 hangs with it in the corners first sight of straight its gonna be left sittin still.

 

It might take away the credibility, but it does not take away the truthfulness.

And if you stopped reading right at that line, that shows your ignorance No offense.

 

umm the evo...who the hell voted for s2k

 

My understanding of handling is more of the feel of the car as opposed to the actual performance. It is the connection the driver has with the car he or she is driving. It is car feeding information to the driver, and the drivers input reflecting on what the car is doing.

I read an asian magazine where they compared over 50 cars for the best handling. Not best performance but best handling. There were many different catagories, FWD, RWD, AWD, exotics, etc. but the overall winner was what the editors felt handled the best, again not best performing.

The overall winner was a close tie and was given to the humble miata. Yup thats right, the best handling car was given to a miata (the porsche gt3 was close to it though). The evo did win its category, was somewhere in the top 10. As a side note the TVR tuscan scored a very fast lap time, though the testers all agreed it was the scariest thing making the car go fast(good performer, bad handling).

I have never driven an S2000, would want to try, though from what people have been saying how it is sublime to drive then all of a suddent the tail goes out, that does not sound like a good handling car???

 

Wow. Just.....wow.

Not to be rude, but I doubt your 2 cents are buying much, especially if you base your philosophies off of a video game.

Cheers, man.