Helium filled tires.

marketing :(

Take a large dump before u drive. Better than deleting modern amenities.

Clever integration for the win.

Plastic 5 gallon fuel tank.

Sometimes the choices made can be difficult to quantify.

Maybe target inertial properties of the car influenced muffler specs.

Without removing functionality or increasing cost much, they could have made the front fenders and roof out of a modern plastic. These are supposedly now strong and durable enough to be used. Also, make the trunk out of aluminum instead of steel. I'm not sure if the bumper beams are already aluminum or not (does anyone know?) but if they aren't then that would be a big one.

The wheels could definitely be lighter. They should use Enkei, OZ, or BBS's flow-forming cast techniques to make them lighter and stronger with minimal increase in cost.

Also using OEM-grade Brembo calipers would be a little lighter and higher performance with a small cost increase and perhaps switch to a dedicated e-brake so that we can upgrade to two piece rotors front and rear or use co-cast/dual cast type discs.

Other than that, maybe include a stock AGM type battery which is typically a little bit lighter and leak-free. And I think since the release of the FR-S, Denso has come up with a lighter AC system so that might save a bit.

I would like forged aluminum suspension arms/links/knuckles but that might raise the cost a bit too much.

But yeah, these things would lower center of gravity, improve weight distribution, and enhance performance with little to no increase in price.

Factory could set me up with a gym membership.

Muscle weighs more than fat. But losing weight yourself doesn't do much to the performance of the car. You are generally centrally located in the vehicle and not a part of the unsprung weight or rotational mass. The target areas for weight would be up high, in front of the front wheels, behind the rear wheels, and everything that is part of unsprung weight and rotational mass. Also, I would prioritize things that would positively effect f/r weight distribution - so on this car, I wouldn't focus too much on things that are lower down towards the rear (like spare tire or fuel).

Bullshit. Strap 70 pounds of lard in the passenger seat and get back to me on that.

does briste even own a 86 or is he one of those weird lurkers

Haha... dunno but I wonder if there's a per-thread quota on saying "bullshit" legitimately, or otherwise. ;)

Even thinner paint?

Within reason... I was responding to those who were saying that they can go much faster by taking a crap or working out a bit. Of course a whole nother body's worth of weight will make a difference.