S2000 Winter?

"Long Live the Longdoor" (victoryred08)
08/28/2016 at 12:29 • Filed to: None

Has anyone had any experience with a S2000 in the winter? How does she do with snow tires?

DISCUSSION (9)

jdrgoat - Ponticrack? > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:41

I drove one shortly on a frontage road. It wasn’t mine, just drove it for work. It seemed to be just fine. I don’t remember it being easier or harder than my GTO on snow tires.

Snow tire all the things, and you’ll be surprised.

LOREM IPSUM > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:43

Although I have no first hand experience with this vehicle I’d say that a competent driver would likely have no problem daily driving one of these in winter, on dedicated snow tires... assuming the snow didn’t get too deep.

Probably a shit-ton of DORIFTO fun, actually.

Hoccy > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:44

Having most of the power in the high RPM’s should make it easier to keep traction? You can’t really go wrong with snow tires anyways, especially if you have slightly narrower tires.

Textured Soy Protein > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:47

Not the same but I drove a DD’d Miata for 4 years in Wisconsin.

With performance winter style snow tires it was ok but I ended up replacing them with studless winter tires to get more snow traction. Studless winter tires have the dry handling capabilities of jelly donuts, but they got me through most of the winter fine.

There was plenty of tail-out action but the slides were generally controllable and some of them may have been intentionally provoked by me.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:48

My only issue with wintering an s2k would be rust from the salt. I have no problem winter driving my Miata because it's cheap and rather replaceable. An s2k is significantly more expensive! But yeah if money were no object, then it seems like it would be fun to winter drive.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 12:49

I don’t ever see S2k’s by me (i live in NJ so we actually have winter) from November on.

whoarder is tellurium > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 13:34

You need snow tires and weight in the back.

Ground clearance will be another issue.

Source: drives a G35 coupe in the snow

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > Long Live the Longdoor
08/28/2016 at 14:58

After driving nothing but RWD cars in the winter for the entirety of my 18 years of driving, I’ve developed the opinion that, with the exception of deep snow, cars that are sporty in dry weather are the best winter cars when equipped with appropriate tires. You’re not going to plow through deep snow, so just get a set of performance winter tires that matches your summers in size and drive the car like a sane person. I’d be willing to bet you will be quite surprised by what the car can do.

I’ve witnessed several SUVs and trucks spin out or get stuck trying to do what I was doing, the most recent of which was a range rover that did a full 720 on the NJ turnpike while trying to make the exact same lane change that I had just completed safely on a sleet covered road.

ateamfan42 > Long Live the Longdoor
08/29/2016 at 13:16

I expect you’ll get a few comments from Miata owners, since there are so many of us. Obviously less power than an S2000, but similar handling characteristics (and ground clearance).

Snow tires are MUST (but I would argue winter tires should be used on any vehicle, really). The LSD makes things fun and helps ensure both rear wheels will be turning. If you can get a hard top, I highly recommend that too.

A low sports car is not going to go through anything deep, but on plowed roads with proper tires, a machine with great handling can be more stable and predictable than a tall tippy SUV.