Considering the G35 or Rx8 or 350Z. Love the look of the G35 but it's heavy. I track race Miatas so I am accustomed to something light and flingable...something that feels like a race car. I really like the grunt and the look of the G35 but would like to occassionally take it on the track and that weight is the issue. Wondering how much weight can be extracted easily. Has anyone weighed the seats? Gone racing dry cell with the battery, aluminum coilovers, carbon fiber parts, etc? Total weight reduction? I know folks generally buy these as their luxo cruiser but surely somebody has looked at the weight issue with an eye on track days. Please advise...

I would keep the streetable character of the car (with its comfortable interior) but would be really interested in seeing the final corner weights from somebody that has put in the time to prepare one of these properly. Thanks,

Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com

 

The car is already pretty lightweight for it's size. It's about the weight of a BMW 3-series, but with the size of a 5-series.

You're never going to get it to be as tossable as a Miata.

I'm not sure what kind of diet you can put it on, though.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

The car is already pretty lightweight for it's size. It's about the weight of a BMW 3-series, but with the size of a 5-series. (Or were you talking about the Coupe, which is actually smaller and heavier than the sedan?)

You're never going to get it to be as tossable as a Miata.

I'm not sure what kind of diet you can put it on, though.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

Thanks for the response but understand that the G35 is not light for its size at nearly 3500 pounds. Take a look at a RX8, that car is light for its size at under 3000 pounds in base trim. I did not say anything about trying to get to Miata weight, not suffering any delusions here about getting 1000 pounds out of a G35. But even a few hundred pounds, even a hundred pounds, would make a noticeable difference on track days (to paraphrase several immortal drivers: weight is the enemy). Moreover, the balance is critical which is why I asked if anyone has properly corner balanced their G35. The car has sporty potential, certainly sombody has taken a hard look at the performance realities of this car?

Anyone actually trying to prepare one of these for track/autocross would look at this issue and that is the question. What do the factory wheels weigh? What do the seats weigh? The factory suspension bits, etc. Anybody?

Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com

 

To clarify, looking at the G35c, not the four door.

Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com

 

Well, you can lose~100 lbs in the exhaust if you replace with a full exhaust. Trunk can be stripped for another 40-50 lbs. seats will be approximately 40 lbs (a little lighter than my dog's 50 lb bag of pedigree), you can lose easily 10 lbs per wheel up to 15 lbs for some serious cash by buying light weight wheels.

other than that 8 lbs maybe for windshield washer fluid, running at 1/4 tank is about 70 lbs less than full tank (low level is at 3.5 gallons remaining).

Pretty much everyone on here can drop 20 lbs off their personal weight, me I could drop 50 and still be in pretty good shape.

that sounds like for about 3000.00 (some will be recovered by eating less) i can drop my raceweight by about 350 lbs, which is about 0.2-0.3 seconds in the quarter mile

headers 600.00
single exhaust catback 400.00
wheels 2000.00

This is assuming the resonator in the coupe is as heavy as the one in the sedan (~52 lbs)

Better Life thru Chemistry

 

I hear the 5-spoke sedan rims weight 22lbs each. I'm not sure about the coupe, but I'd imagine they're cast and they're heavy. I've found some aftermarket rims that are the same 17x7, 45mm offset as the stock sedan sport rims that are barely over 15lbs. That's almost 28lbs in unsprung weight right there.

You can also start with a stripper version of the car with no sunroof or the extra weight brought on by all the extra luxury features of premium packages, etc.

2003.5 G35 Sedan Desert Platinum/Graphite Premium/Sport/Aero/Nav/Winter

 

of course the car has sporty potential. It's a skyline. The car is way different then a miata. Stance is higher, wider and more wider. With that power you wouldn't want a feather weight car, something has to keep the car down. The RX8's weight makes up for the lack of torque.

Are you talking about fully degutting the car?

BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

If you are considering making a good track car I would start off with the 350Z Track model, which is about 130-200 Lbs. lighter than the G coupe.

 

Hi Folks, thanks for the useful information on weights. A 52 pound resonator, holy smokes! I could easily make an entire stainless exhaust with ceramic cores that was under 20 pounds and still not wake the neighbors, or be even significantly louder than stock. IT was my hope that there was some significant fat that could be easily trimmed easily and apparently there is...

I know the 350Z is about 200 pounds lighter and perhaps a more logical choice if I go with an FM platform car. But I really like the look of the G35 much more, less boy racerish, much classier look. I also like doing something different.

Not looking to strip interior. But, I might swap in 14 pound seats for track days, rims that weigh under 15 pounds, aluminum instead of steel shocks, etc. Assuming I could get the weight down to the Z's level then the longer wheel base of the G would make for greater high speed stability and a fun track toy that could match and surprise other hardware....

One last critical question, anyone actually corner weighted one of these G35c's???? IF so, please post results and what it took to get decent corner weighting. Thanks,

Brian Goodwin
Good-Win Racing
www.good-win-racing.com

 

I agree...The 350Z is the top pick in my opinion...Handles extremely well, is lighter than a G, and Nismo is already working on track-only models...There are so many ways to lighten it and so many mods available it's sick...You don't even need to spend the extra cash on a Track model- you can get an Enthusiast or Performance if you're going to do heavy modding and remove and upgrade most stock parts...I'm in the process of modding my friend's Track model, and the car still amazes me...Love my G, really like the Z...Wouldn't take an RX-8 if you gave it to me, unless I was going to enter a demolition derby and destroy it...

"All the Power in the World resides in the Eyes..."

 

Actually it is more like 3400 pounds and the 330 is 3200 and the G is 10 inches longer. What are you talking about?

 

talking about rx8's, has anyone looked at the rx8 forums for fun? It's pretty funny what some of the members say about the 350z and G35coupe.

BS G35C 6spd navi/aero/prem

 

is the sedan really lighter than the coupe? id gladly try to race my sedan...with some mods of course. wish i had it a bit wider though. thad be nice too.

 

each car will be different with options chosen, obviously

but the advertised weights put the coupe slightly heavier than the sedan

I will go to the truck stop and weigh mine. the scales are good to +/- 10 lbs

Better Life thru Chemistry