Remembering the 2003 Honda S2000
The 2003 Honda S2000 is a two-door convertible. When this model was introduced in 2003, people revered it for its aerodynamic design. Although it is pleasing to look at, the car has a relatively small cabin, so it cannot accommodate more than two people and huge people. Despite its small cabin, the convertible is great in terms of handling. According to Hot Cars, the reason for its good handling is its perfect 50:50 weight distribution. That means you can take corners without losing control; however, driving the car is not easy. So, you can only enjoy this benefit once you have mastered this car. Thankfully, there is still much more to be admired about this car. Below are five features of this classic model.
Side-Impact Door Beams
An area most people overlook in terms of safety is the passenger’s safety in case of a side-impact collision. Their safety is at risk due to the general minimal space between the seats to the point of impact. According to Auto Accident, some of the injuries passengers can sustain from side-impact collisions include femur fractures, concussions, lung punctures, and the list goes on. To minimize such injuries, the car’s side-impact door beams will reduce your chances of sustaining serious injuries. Side-impact door beams can either be made from steel or aluminum. However, steel makes the car heavy, which is terrible for fuel economy. That is why Honda chose aluminum because it is a lightweight metal. The beauty of the metal is that it offers the same protection as steel. The side-impact door beams increase the stiffness of doors so that they absorb the impact of the collision and redistribute its energy. Consequently, they resist inner intrusion.
Drive Type
The car relies on a rear-wheel-drive transmission system. This transmission system has been around since the 19th century and remains popular in most countries due to its advantages. However, according to Slate, front-wheel drive is more prevalent in the United States than rear-wheel drive. Here are some benefits that the country may be missing out on by not using this system. First, it generates rapid acceleration from a stop position. When you accelerate, the car’s weight is transferred to its rear. With the extra weight on the vehicle’s rear, the wheels are jammed into the road, which leads to increased traction—the more the traction, the faster the acceleration. Additionally, it has no torque steer, which is common with front-wheel-drive cars. Torque steer occurs when a car veers to the left or right due to heavy acceleration. The phenomenon occurs in front-wheel drive since the drivetrain is connected to the steering wheels.
Wheel Type
This car is equipped with alloy wheels. Due to their visual appeal, most car manufacturers began replacing steel wheels with alloy wheels in the 1980s. Their appeal is based on the pattern of the rims and their gleaming nature, which you will notice in this car’s wheels. However, alloy wheels do more than making your car attractive. Alloy wheels are much lighter than steel wheels, which leads to an excellent fuel economy. The wheels put less strain on the car’s suspension system, which means you will use minimal energy to drive the car. Contrast that with steel wheels, where the driver will consume much fuel struggling to move the car. Since the wheels put less strain on the suspension, you will also be able to accelerate much faster. It again boils down to being able to move the car due to its less weight.
Four-Wheel ABS (Anti-Lock Brake Systems)
Four-wheel ABS aims to prevent the wheels from locking during emergency braking situations. As a result, the driver can maintain control over the car’s steering. This feature is only helpful to a driver who knows how to use it correctly. So, you have to practice driving with it to be fully acquainted. Above all, read the car’s manual before you practice with the feature. When using this feature, ensure your foot is always on the brake. You have to step firmly on it while also tapping on it continuously. By stepping firmly, we do not mean pumping the brakes. If you pump the brakes, the feature will be turned on and off. Since ABS already pumps the brakes for you, it is not necessary to do so. As you use the ABS, you will hear mechanical noises or feel slight pedal pulsations. Fortunately, there is no cause for alarm since these sensations indicate that the ABS is working correctly.
Wheelbase
The average wheelbase of a car is 176.4 inches, while this car’s wheelbase is 94.5 inches. That means the car has a small wheelbase. Most people prefer cars with long wheelbases due to the vast space they offer, but you will be amazed to discover the benefits of this car’s small wheelbase. At some point, you may have come across a double-parked car. This is a very inconvenient situation since you will likely have nowhere to park. However, it won’t be the case with this car’s small wheelbase. A car with a small wheelbase means it is generally small, so you can park in small gaps left by double-parked cars. Additionally, if you accidentally double-parked with this car, there would still be enough space for other cars to park in the parking lot. Also, cars with small wheelbases are easy to turn in corners or the other lane. If you try turning with cars with long wheelbases to the other lane, you will take longer to reach it since you have to wait for the entire car to be in the lane. However, with this car’s small wheelbase, you will take a shorter time to turn.
Conclusion
The 2003 Honda S2000 is a classic car that is still as effective as most modern cars. For instance, it is exceptional in terms of safety and speed. Though the car does what it can to keep you safe, remember it is you to make an effort to keep yourself safe. We saw how its ABS is only as good as the driver operating it. As for speed, we saw how alloy wheels achieve that. Even with its good speeds, you should still drive at moderate speeds.