Tested: 2008 Honda S2000 CR

From Auto and Driver

From the April 2008 concern of Car and Driver.

CR stands for “club racer,” conjuring up the superior outdated times when men drove their sports activities cars to the track, raced them, and then, if the racing gods were smiling, drove them house all over again. And that’s the strategy driving this limited-edition S2000 (Honda programs to create 1400 of them).

That indicates bigger spring charges, firmer damping, stiffer anti-roll bars, a faster steering ratio (13.8 versus 14.9), and stickier tires with a bit extra rear footprint (255 compared to 245). The CR has a extra aggressive spoiler up entrance, a huge wing perched on the decklid, and a hefty brace spanning the perfectly at the rear of the seats. Which is where by the soft leading commonly stows, but the CR does not have a person. A detachable difficult major addresses the cockpit. No leather, to preserve weight. Who wants frills? This is a track-working day toy. You can have A/C and a stereo if you have to (our take a look at motor vehicle didn’t). Incorporate $1000.

The strategy is to toughen the S2000’s already challenging sinews and hone its already eager reflexes. Take it to the circuit or the autocross, increase gasoline, and go. That’s the thought. But in apply, we have a couple reservations.

For a person, this go-quicker S2000 doesn’t go more rapidly. In simple fact, it is basically a small slower—0-to-60 mph in 5.7 seconds, the quarter-mile in 14.4 at 99 mph compared to 5.5 to 60 and 14. at 100 in the quarter for the past S2000 we examined [“Extreme Sports,” July 2004]. The CR is a bit lighter than the typical automobile, but like other Honda sporty editions, it has not been presented additional electric power, and in this situation, there is minor to be uncovered: The S2000’s 2.2-liter 4 is generally maxed out. Over and above that, the aero drag that goes with the racy entrance spoiler and major rear wing is no plus for sprints.

That’s a person reservation. For an additional, the CR’s defining dealing with trait, centered on very hot laps at Grattan Raceway Park in western Michigan, seems to be relentless understeer. To be good, understeer inspires self-assurance. When you’re sure the rear stop will remain at the rear, it’s a great deal less complicated to attack corners. On the other hand, mulish resistance to flip-in isn’t a as well as for speedy lap periods.

Tale continues

Then once more, the CR’s Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires have the grip of an insurance salesman—0.95 g on the skidpad vs . .88 for that frequent S2000—which is comforting in substantial-pace corners. People corners put that wing and entrance spoiler to get the job done, much too. These are practical aero items, as unique from mere cosmetic add-ons.

Also, our Grattan lapping was part of a working day that entailed other missions on the monitor. Had we been capable to devote time to experimenting with tire pressures and toe configurations, it’s likely our impressions—and lap times—would have been a lot more positive.

But these tweaks can be designed with any car or truck, and they propose achievable CR-package deal enhancements. For instance, how about adjustable shocks and anti-roll bars? We’d swap that overstated wing and spoiler for adjustability in a New York minute.

Some thing else that could be enhanced is the exhaust take note. The anemic whoosh of the regular S2000 is appropriate, we suppose, due to the fact the vehicle has to satisfy a broader array of customers. But in a motor vehicle that calls by itself a club racer, we assume a little a lot more tailpipe amplitude is surely in get.

The S2000 CR lists for $36,935, $2000 additional than the S2000. Even with audio and air, it is a vehicle that wouldn’t be so a great deal entertaining to live with. We suspect that investing in stiffer springs, adjustable shocks, and more aggressive tires on a normal S2000 might yield much more satisfactory all-all-around benefits.

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