Weight in trunk
 

Been a lurker here for a while, running a stock (for now) 2014 BRZ I've had since february. I like loud music so I went overkill and installed two 12" subs in the trunk, along with the other associated audio upgrades and dynamat, etc. Now it feels like my car is pregnant. I mean it literally feels and handles like there's a dead body in my trunk and my subs and box only weigh maybe 40-45lbs. Now I'm looking at upgrading the car and I've ordered a set of volk ce28rt 18x9.5's and kw v1 coilovers. Think they will be able to dial out the lead butt feeling of the car with my stereo? Or is there a way I can cut some weight from the back of the car to make up for what I added?

Muffler delete is probably the easiest way (other than removing all of the stuff that was added) to lose weight on the tail of these cars. But that goes against wanting quiet inside for the stereo.

The wheels will help, but if you want to save some additional weight, an 8" wheel would do the trick and save you at least 8 pounds of rotating mass.

Handling wise I was able to dial some of it out with my FA500s dampening adjustments, but honestly acceleration still seems slightly sluggish. Good luck.

2 subwoofers... 9.5'' rims... Looks like you need a Mustang or a Challenger :)

I actually am betting you added a lot more weight than you think. A 12" JL W6 for example weighs 19.4lbs. Add that with MDF, which is used to make boxes because it is very dense, and you probably have closer to 70lbs there, if not more, plus any dynamat added (a standard 2x12" box on amazon I quickly looked at weighs 36 lbs). Don't forget the weight of the amp(s), a JL 250x1, which I am assuming is smaller than what you are running, has a shipping weight of 11 lbs. Plus wire and everything else, you probably added close to 90-100 lbs.

Additionally, it sounds like you are going to add much heavier wheels than stock. I am not sure coilovers are going to help much at all. I would bet you will still be slower and handle worse than the car did stock.

I'm switching to a greddy cs gts v2 cat back exhaust anyway. I might dump the spare tire as well in lieu of some fix a flat. I'll never use it. Acceleration I'm not so much worried about, these cars aren't that quick in a straight line. I plan on going fi eventually anyway. (Reason for 9.5's, and I like the meaty tire look) I'm over that it's the handling upset that annoys me. I can actually feel that little bit of weight in the trunk, I've never had that issue with any other car.

My wheels are not going to be heavier than stock I should be close to same weight with the lighter volk wheels and larger tires.

Let me get this straight....

You like the way the car handled from the factory. Lightweight and responsive!
You add 100 pounds of equipment behind the rear axles. You wonder why it's not as fun.
To fix this, you want to add 40 pounds of unsprung rotating mass and giant numb tires. For that beefy look! Brilliant!
Oh lets also add some coilovers! Not a bad idea but I'm assuming you are pursuing hellaflush looks. Awesome!

Now you have a car that handles far worse than stock and feels slow as hell from all the weight.

Let's add a turbo! Awesome, you've added weight everywhere!

What was this car supposed to be again? Lightweight and responsive? Should have bought a 370z I think. It's not too late.

Industrial, with all due respect, ur response is a waste of oxygen. I'm sure there is a way to make up for the weight in the trunk. I highly doubt I'm adding any serious unsprung weight with these wheels. I'm not really going for looks alone I plan on tracking this car occasionally.

Edit: I've also got a cf driveshaft on the way.

I did not realize how light the Volks are, 17 lbs, but I imagine it will be tough to find a tire weighing less than 24-25lbs. So you likely will still be adding a bit of unsprung mass, which will further detoriate the handling, although query how much.

You can do whatever you want, I just don't understand why people like you buy this car. It's obvious you would have been better served by a 370z, genesis coupe, mustang, 135, etc. You want a muscle car by the classic definition, small car with big motor. They all come with big wheels, big power and usually big sound systems.

I love volk wheels too. I have a set of ce28n (17x8 et38) and they weigh 13.8 pounds a piece... Seems like such a waste to spend all that money for a look which is a poser look to anyone that really knows anything about racing and these cars.

People like me? U have no idea what my background is man. I happen to race vintage motorcycles. I bought this car as a toy to play with tuning and messing around on the track. I can obviously just take the sub box out if I wanna ditch the weight but I'm intrigued by the challenge of tuning it out. I've got a 70 roadrunner to serve the purpose of ground pounder.

Sounds like you've got the weight pretty well figured out. I think with a corner balance you'll have it as squared away weight-wise as you're going to. Once you've FI'd it, you'll not notice the weight as much except maybe when you're going for an HPDE win ;) - and even then driving is what will make the difference.

Have you thought perhaps about some kind of custom molded enclosures that might fit under the seats? You'd easily get away with 10's under each seat since they'd be in the cabin and not the trunk. There is or was a guy on NASIOC that used to build them for the WRX/STI's, you'd take the seat out, install the box and then put the seat back in.

You'd lose weight and move the CG of that weight low and center...just an idea.