Ditto. I'm also 6'2" Didn't even even start it up for that reason.

 

I ran 14 laps at Road America with an S2000 in my class. It was a joking how bad I could pull him coming out of the corners. And in the braking zones I was so far in front of him that even if he could out brake me, it didn't matter.

Not a realistic comparison base on real track world experience.

 

S200 is like the RX-7s I used to drive: nimble, razor-sharp inputs, nice small-car feel, ergonomics. At least the FD RX-7 was a perfectly neutral handler. No so the S2000. It is twitchy at the limit and that gets worse with speed.

Neither car is a match for the C5 or C6 on a road course or in the canyons on the stock tires. Once you put race rubber on a Corvette, it is one of the meanest track cars you can have. Even Vipers can't keep up (unless the driver is a semi-pro). S2000 is not even in the same class. More like an E36 M3.

 

we test drove and negotiated on one before buying my wife's C5
Sewing machine in an mini car verus real engine in a real car... nuff said

 

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

The Vette is also a front-mounted mid-engine design. The front of the engine is right behind the front axle. Also with a, Porsche 928-like, rear mounted transmission it has a virtual 50/50 weight distribution.

I never drove an S2000, but drove Porsches and owned a 996 C4. The following are my thoughts as far as handling perceptions.

As far as handling I think it is more a question of user-interface. The steering ratio is smaller than other sports cars like the Miata/S2000/911, so for the same turning angle you need to have a larger steering input (turn more). If you adapt to its inputs it handles just as well, if not better. I had a 911 C4 and before I bought my current '08 C6 I came to this forum and asked lots of questions. Often, I was seen as a troll because I questioned handling issues and other things. I ended up renting a C6 in order to compare it back-to-back against my 996 C4 in the twisties. I realized it required larger steering inputs, but the chassis handled superbly and BTW... this is a very stiff chassis.

When someone tries a C6 and then tries a Miata/S2000/911 it will feel initially less directness, and that's the smaller steering ratio. One may always prefer a more direct steering... but, actually, the C6 choice makes more sense and is safer for day-to-day road use. I remember that in my 911 I could not slack in steering as the car would move out of lane with the slightest wheel change.

At the end of the day one may prefer a more direct design/smaller car, vs the C6 design, but in my view it is a user interface choice, not that the Vette handles worse. If it did... I would not have switched from a Porsche 911.

Also size... the C6 appears larger/wider than a Porsche 911. In reality it has the same length/width. It appears larger because it is lower (by 2 inches). Driver's position makes a difference in perception too. In a 911 the driver seats, roughly, in the center of the car and has a more front-row view of the road in front. In a Vette the driver seats further back of center, with a more detached view of the front. This makes also a difference, makes the car feel bigger when it is not.

When all is said and done, these are all great cars, built with different philosophies and all should be appreciated. Some prefer one and others prefer different ones, and it's just fine.

 

I owned an S2000 for a few years. I have also driven the Z51 C6 more than once. The S2000, handling wise, is better, power there is no contest. Overall between them both I'll take the C6 any day of the week. I'm 6'2" and that C6 cockpit makes up for what little handling you lose. I don't buy into any blind fanaticism whatsoever. And I would say the Vette bang for the buck is as good as it gets, period. It's a phenomenal automobile. Yeah the S handles better but that is much easier to do when the thing is smaller, lighter, and a whole lot less power. The Vette has a rather large increase in power over the smaller car. I like to think of the S2000 as the more nimble little brother of the two. The Vette is definitely the big brother with a lot of muscle compared to the more agile punk brother who doesn't have quite the strength

 

How about CHEvette vs. CORvette? Now THERE would be a comparison!

 

As the saying goes. "it's more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow"

You can run th s2K harder by keeping your foot in it longer... Can't do that in the vette without breaking some law within .5 sec

 

hater j/k btw nice gf the cars not bad either



the S2000 still sucks

 

Sorry buddy, the hydro-formed rails of the C5/6 are some of the best in the world when it comes to overall chassis rigidity.

 

LOL @ Bug Vs. Vette

 

Having owned both all I can say is that the S2000 is reliable, no squeaks, rattles, and will never leave you stranded.

 

Thats great buddy, but did I comment on the C5/6???? No, I didn't.

 

Lesson 1: you're not allowed to say anything handles better than the Vette on this forum! The Vette owners who only know how to drive their cars in a wide continuous circle or watch their G meters on grooved on/off ramps will start quoting figures like the S2000 having a .88 skidpad versus the Vette's .98, etc.

Lesson 2: anything smaller (shorter) than the Vette is a chick car.

Lesson 3: people who have never driven whatever non-Vette car you are comparing will chime in claiming "I drove one of those and my SUV handles better" or "I like the XYZ brand, but that car is a real piece of junk".

Lesson 4: If it ain't a Corvette, it's junk.

Lesson 5: In every one in 50 posts, there will be someone reasonable with some constructive input. If you are unable to find those posts, see lesson 4.

Mike

 

I'm on my second S2000. The Honda is terrific fun, both on the street and on the track. Playing with the snickety six-speed and the 8000+rpm redline never gets old. You can wind out the engine on the street in the lower gears and not get to "arrest me" speeds. The sharpness of turn-in can also be enjoyed on every drive.

On the track, the S2000 is a momentum car. It rewards smooth inputs of steering, braking, and throttle application, and will punish ham-fistedness. Learning to drive the S2000 competently on the track makes you a better driver. Lap times won't match monster motor, point-and-shoot cars, but the track experience in the S2000 is still hugely rewarding.

The biggest dynamic weakness of the car is the lack of good feedback from the steering. It makes it hard to judge the cornering limits, and this has contributed to a lot of messed up S2000's.

 

I had to get rid of my Y2k C5 and traded it for a Turbo Mazdaspeed Miata. One of the guys at the track asked me to compare the cars. My reply was:
The C5 got better gas mileage (the C6 is still better)
The C5 was quicker 0 to anything
The C5 had better brakes
The Miata redlined in 6th gear at 132mph (4.10 gear)

He then asked me if there was anything better about the Mazdaspeed and I told him it took 3 quarts less oil to do an oil change.

 

Then what are comparing the S2000 to, a BMW Z3???

 

quite untrue. I've read comparison's with Lotus's, Caymans, even Evo's and Sti's to some degree that made sense to compare and drew little of the venom the Solstice comparison received. All these cars are known for their handling. However putting a Solstice or
s2000 in the same sentence with a vette is where you lose credibility and draw all the comments wondering why you bothered.

 

The Cayman S got 3:09.5 versus the Soldtice's 3:15.5 on Car and Drivers's Lightning Lap. That puts the Cayman in another league why exactly? I love all these blind "cannot compare" statements from people who haven't a clue (don't have seat time in both cars).

Mike