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Old 04-22-2012, 05:04 PM   #116
Spaceywilly
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Subaruwrxfan View Post
Having no roof and a lighter fabric top stowed in the trunk can only help the car's handling, as long as they did engineer the car to be as rigid as they say it is.
The 370z roadster is 200lbs heavier than the coupe in the same trim. For cars that are designed to have a hard top (as opposed to being designed as a convertible and then having the top stuck on) there is no weight penalty for having a roof, and the added rigidity of the hard top will always be better for handling. Even on the Miata and S2000, which were both designed to be convertibles like you say the BRZ/FRS was, people add the hard top to stiffen the chassis. Unless there's a carbon fibre monocoque they have been keeping secret from us, cutting the roof off the car is not going to help the handling.
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