[BlueDubbinTDI]

Originally Posted by ZDan

Thing is, it's a helluva lot easier to add 10% power than it is to subtract 10% weight. I'm a huge stickler on weight, but for a street car you can just about forget about taking out any amount that would be meaningful, that you could FEEL, while maintaining streetability. Most important thing is to start with a car that is already reasonably light.

I'm always annoyed with factory "special lightweight" models that remove useful things like A/C and stereo only to shave ~100 lb. off of the car that they designed to be too big/luxurious than it should have been in the first place. In particular, Boxster Spyder. "OOOH, no cupholder, it's a REAL serious lightweight race car!" While it weighs 95% of what a normal Boxster S with stereo, A/C, and a real convertible top weighs, and the same as the base Boxster with those features. BFD! Also, it remains a good 300-400 lb. more than a Miata, 800-900 lb. more than an Elise.

Also, the new Z/28. OOOH, it only has one speaker to SAVE WEIGHT! Meanwhile, it's still a 3800 lb. pig. It's like a very bad joke. Do people actually think it's neat to be able to point out their car doesn't have stereo sound in the name of saving about one tenth of 1% of their car's weight?! Idiots...

Anyway, light weight is very important, but it's just about impossible and can be very expensive to "add on" after the fact.
Designed-in from the get-go, lighter weight is CHEAPER. Don't make the car too big and heavy to begin with!

Kudos to Toyobaru for doing a great job on the twins.

I like the post. I like what VW is doing to their next GTI. Its losing 200 pounds due to massive R&D to get every ounce off and adding over 50tq with a new engine while also adding like 2mpg. I believe its going to be 210hp/250tq (VW numbers are at the wheels) and 3000 pounds from the factory. I REALLY cant wait for that car to release..then again..im a German fanboy more than JDM lol. This car kinda fell into my lap but it just feels so right. I wish the Europeans could make an affordable machine like the twins. The closest thing to it is the $80k Jag F-Type...