y are the coupes so damn heavy??
Originally Posted by Sukairain
At 112" wheelbase, the G35 coupe still has a 52/48 weight ratio even with the FM platform. Even the all aluminum engine block, hood, doors and trunk doesn't help much. 3500lbs weight......... Where did all the weight come from? Sound damping material? The car isn't even that damn quiet.
It really amazes me how BMW consistently make lighter cars with better weight distribution and structural rigidity. (consider the BMW uses a I-6 large steel block, it's pretty impressive)
It really amazes me how BMW consistently make lighter cars with better weight distribution and structural rigidity. (consider the BMW uses a I-6 large steel block, it's pretty impressive)
With the FM platform being shared among several Nissan/Infiniti models (even the FX SUV), I have a feeling that they had to "overbuild" some of the components which added weight.
Originally Posted by rgolden90
Thank you adrenaline rush. You and I think alike.
Other members are very closed minded because when they read my original post to this thread, they think I want to strip everything out. They didn't read it carefully which is why they made their very inappropiate comments.
As mentioned, I do not want to strip out any of my car's amnieties. I enjoy the climate control system, audio system, and comfortable leather seats. I will not replace the stock driver and passenger seats for aftermarket ones. My stock seats fit me like a tea.
However, as every fellow member is well aware of, our Gs are very heavy. Certain areas can benefit for weight reduction. For example, an excellant replacement for the plastic interior parts would be carbon fiber but cost is a factor. I could replace my wheels with even lighter weight wheels but why? The stock wheels are light already. I will not buy another wheel set which may be a few pounds lighter than the stock ones. In my opinion, that's a waste of money.
Additionally, as stated before, I replaced the stock floor mats with aftermarket ones because they are lighter weight and look much better.
I've lightened my car by at least 120lbs which is good enough. Now I'll research how to effectively distribute the weight of my car.
Other members are very closed minded because when they read my original post to this thread, they think I want to strip everything out. They didn't read it carefully which is why they made their very inappropiate comments.
As mentioned, I do not want to strip out any of my car's amnieties. I enjoy the climate control system, audio system, and comfortable leather seats. I will not replace the stock driver and passenger seats for aftermarket ones. My stock seats fit me like a tea.
However, as every fellow member is well aware of, our Gs are very heavy. Certain areas can benefit for weight reduction. For example, an excellant replacement for the plastic interior parts would be carbon fiber but cost is a factor. I could replace my wheels with even lighter weight wheels but why? The stock wheels are light already. I will not buy another wheel set which may be a few pounds lighter than the stock ones. In my opinion, that's a waste of money.
Additionally, as stated before, I replaced the stock floor mats with aftermarket ones because they are lighter weight and look much better.
I've lightened my car by at least 120lbs which is good enough. Now I'll research how to effectively distribute the weight of my car.
The biggest weight savings for most cars is usually the spare/jack (that's what AAA is for lol). I just looked at the spare/jack and it looks to weigh quite a bit - probably about 60 lbs or so.
Wheels actually make a significant difference as well - I'm not sure which model of G you have, but my coupes wheels are about 24 lbs for the 18x8's.
After some research, some lightweight 18x8's weigh in at about 18 lbs. While that's only 24 lbs savings on paper (4 wheels at 6 lbs savings each), remember that it's also rotational mass so you can effectively multiply that weight by about 4. 24x4 and you have difference of 96 lbs. You will definitely feel that difference when driving the car.
For a race day, I would probably run less fuel as well. Gas weighs about 6.2 lbs per gallon. So with a 20 gallon tank the difference between running a full tank and a 1/4 tank is about 90 lbs.
If you're even more serious, I'm sure the seats would probably be the next choice. You could also go with a lighter weight battery (they're usually about 40-50 lbs) while lightweight versions are available at about 20 lbs.
Another area you can reduce weight is the exhaust system - the stock setup is quite heavy and many of the aftermarket setups can take off 20-40 lbs.
Things like carbon fiber hoods/trunks/body pieces are also beneficial but you're probably getting into diminishing returns at that point because they're not going to be cheap and the weight savings is going to be minimal.
Last edited by adrenaline rush; Feb 12, 2007 at 12:36 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 1
From: Cleburne, TX
Originally Posted by rgolden90
Oh...no. Another jerk has appeared. Wow, am I on jerkG35driver.com? What's going on here?LOL
Everybody, GWord256(by the way, you have retarted screen name. You're not very creative, are you?) needs to be banned as well!
Everybody, GWord256(by the way, you have retarted screen name. You're not very creative, are you?) needs to be banned as well!
And no my screen name isn't creative. Its the same as my AIM name, MSN name, Yahoo name, ICQ name, Probe Talk name. I'm not going think of a new screen name just to use on a forum.
Originally Posted by ScapGF
Lol, I am chill. I just think it is funny when people flip out when someone doesn't agree with them or thinks what they are posting is out of whack.
Anyone who gets worked up over something like this needs to relax and have more fun with it, this is just the internet man.
Anyone who gets worked up over something like this needs to relax and have more fun with it, this is just the internet man.
stop fueling the fire over there. no body want to turn this into such a hostile environment
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by rgolden90
I wanted to buy the lightest weight coupe which is the base model with no options. I read that the premium package(which includes sunroof) adds around 50-80lbs to a base model.
So knowing that and I think paying $2500 for premium package is not worth it, I decided to buy a base '06 model this past summer.
Soon after I bought it, I removed carpet mats, spare tire and jack, and trunk mat. I also drive on a 1/4 tank of gas most of the time.
As a result, I definately feel a noticable weight difference from my last G which was a fully loaded '05 coupe.
According to the G website, a 6mt coupe weighs 3524lbs. I think it now weighs(with a 1/4 tank of gas) around 3400lbs.
If I remove the rear seat, I'll definately remove a decent amount of weight. Has anyone weighed the rear seat? If so, how much does it weight?
So knowing that and I think paying $2500 for premium package is not worth it, I decided to buy a base '06 model this past summer.
Soon after I bought it, I removed carpet mats, spare tire and jack, and trunk mat. I also drive on a 1/4 tank of gas most of the time.
As a result, I definately feel a noticable weight difference from my last G which was a fully loaded '05 coupe.
According to the G website, a 6mt coupe weighs 3524lbs. I think it now weighs(with a 1/4 tank of gas) around 3400lbs.
If I remove the rear seat, I'll definately remove a decent amount of weight. Has anyone weighed the rear seat? If so, how much does it weight?
Evil Bastard
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 778
Likes: 0
From: Columbus/Cleveland
regardless of whether or not it is an absurd notion to even attempt to gain any significant performance from losing some weight, can we get back on topic?
whether you initiated the "name calling" or are reacting with more insults to education or what have you, this is turning out to be another classic G35driver thread. Yes, that's a bad thing.
So, how about we get back on track?
A list of traditionally well known sources for weight:
1. all luxury related items: radio, AC, sound insulation, power steering motor, etc etc etc.
2. Back seats, and OEM seats in general.
3. Items in the trunk: spare, tools, jack, etc.
4. OEM wheels - rotational mass item
5. OEM rotors - rotational mass item
6. Sunroof (if applicable)
Now, of those things, losing items 1 and 2 might be bad for some of you who think that the G35 is anywhere near as good as lexus/acura. It's not, but to each his own. For me, I think nothing would be lost by having aftermarket seats, and some of the better aftermarket seats are quite comfortable, so I would count #2 as a viable option. The back seat, I would consider taking out the significantly heavy parts of it (someone mentioned the seat back plate?).
As some have already stated, and yet go unanswered, is the fact that rotational mass (wheels) is possibly the easiest, fastest, and most effective way to add lots of performance without making things look like crap. If you just HAVE to have huge wheels, then this does not apply to you. Some performance wheel manufacturers make extremely light wheels that look quite good. SSR made some very light, strong, and great looking wheels. A company called sportmax makes wheels that are as light as 11lbs (and I think that was for 17"s) correct me if I am wrong though.
whether you initiated the "name calling" or are reacting with more insults to education or what have you, this is turning out to be another classic G35driver thread. Yes, that's a bad thing.
So, how about we get back on track?
A list of traditionally well known sources for weight:
1. all luxury related items: radio, AC, sound insulation, power steering motor, etc etc etc.
2. Back seats, and OEM seats in general.
3. Items in the trunk: spare, tools, jack, etc.
4. OEM wheels - rotational mass item
5. OEM rotors - rotational mass item
6. Sunroof (if applicable)
Now, of those things, losing items 1 and 2 might be bad for some of you who think that the G35 is anywhere near as good as lexus/acura. It's not, but to each his own. For me, I think nothing would be lost by having aftermarket seats, and some of the better aftermarket seats are quite comfortable, so I would count #2 as a viable option. The back seat, I would consider taking out the significantly heavy parts of it (someone mentioned the seat back plate?).
As some have already stated, and yet go unanswered, is the fact that rotational mass (wheels) is possibly the easiest, fastest, and most effective way to add lots of performance without making things look like crap. If you just HAVE to have huge wheels, then this does not apply to you. Some performance wheel manufacturers make extremely light wheels that look quite good. SSR made some very light, strong, and great looking wheels. A company called sportmax makes wheels that are as light as 11lbs (and I think that was for 17"s) correct me if I am wrong though.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: Moorestown, NJ
Basically what Jinubo said....if you like the luxury aspect you are sorta stuck. If you don't mind stripping down the back seat and removing it then you have some options. I'd recommend getting some lightweight wheels...like works or volks.I put work emotion cr kais on my last car,they were 18's and weighed 18lbs a pop,my factory 17's weighed 24lbs a pop. So getting lighter wheels would be a start. Brakes,don't know,the new brakes will probably weigh more.
Originally Posted by ScapGF
You have to be joking. As if plastic is sooo much lighter than carbon fiber!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 30,341
Likes: 9
From: Cambridge, Ont. Canada
Now that the crap has been culled, can we keep on topic and be nice please.
If there's any more issues in this thread, there will be some heads roll...
Let's help out the OP with some good tips. Weight saving is an interesting yet difficult subject and one which can be very beneficial in many ways...
Eemon10, be patient and stay tuned for more useful posts. You've got a few good replies, let's hope more are forthcoming.
Colin.
If there's any more issues in this thread, there will be some heads roll...
Let's help out the OP with some good tips. Weight saving is an interesting yet difficult subject and one which can be very beneficial in many ways...
Eemon10, be patient and stay tuned for more useful posts. You've got a few good replies, let's hope more are forthcoming.
Colin.
Charter Member Florida G35 Club
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 6
This thread needs some deleting of posts to be worth reading in its entirety so I hope I am not repeating a previous post. The 2004 6mt Base model like mine is 3435lbs. No I don't miss the sunroof, bose...etc.
The saved weight from the lack of sunroof also adds about an inch and half of clearance for my helmet during track days. That weight saved is also at the top of the car were it can be felt the most during cornering.
Now can I feel the less weight?...Probably not...especially with my instructor in this particular picture! But I did save $2500.00 and tipped the scales just a bit toward owning a practical sports car and not a GT coupe. As time rolls on I envision Nismo or similar lightweight wheels and two piece slotted rotors which should save some rotating mass. I will not be stripping my interior for the street, but do the normal removing of stuff for track days. I could lose some 15 pounds myself as I read someone stated.
06 coupes are published at a weight of about 100 pounds heavier. The new 08 150 even heavier still. Add the normal premium package weights and all I can say is 03 and 04 base coupes are the least painless "light weights" you can drive day to day. Then again try to find a base coupe!
No one is crazy for wanting to knock off a few pounds. It is just what is right for you and your car. Oh...I didn't order a base coupe for the weight, it was for the extra head room. I have learned through this sight that I apparently also avoided some squeaking/creaking sunroof issues.
The saved weight from the lack of sunroof also adds about an inch and half of clearance for my helmet during track days. That weight saved is also at the top of the car were it can be felt the most during cornering.
Now can I feel the less weight?...Probably not...especially with my instructor in this particular picture! But I did save $2500.00 and tipped the scales just a bit toward owning a practical sports car and not a GT coupe. As time rolls on I envision Nismo or similar lightweight wheels and two piece slotted rotors which should save some rotating mass. I will not be stripping my interior for the street, but do the normal removing of stuff for track days. I could lose some 15 pounds myself as I read someone stated.
06 coupes are published at a weight of about 100 pounds heavier. The new 08 150 even heavier still. Add the normal premium package weights and all I can say is 03 and 04 base coupes are the least painless "light weights" you can drive day to day. Then again try to find a base coupe!
No one is crazy for wanting to knock off a few pounds. It is just what is right for you and your car. Oh...I didn't order a base coupe for the weight, it was for the extra head room. I have learned through this sight that I apparently also avoided some squeaking/creaking sunroof issues.