weight saving?

[alric]

ok got my logbook through for my Exige S and it says 1010kg unladen weight. Thats crazy for a Lotus Mr Chapman will be turning in his grave!! It has the touring and sport pack. Basically what can I do to get rid of weight? I've already ordered an exhaust that is 8kg lighter than standard. Was also thinking of getting the electric windows changed to wind ups but i doubt that would loose much weight? Also thinking about getting some of the 7 twin spoke alloys. Are these much lighter and how much are they from lotus? Anyone think of anything else I can do?

Thanks in advance.

[shangani]

Exige S is a heavy beast. Exhaust helps - OEM one is a lump of pig iron.

Electric windows are lighter than windups. Forget the weight - just enjoy the car.

[therossatron]

Apparently the electric windows are lighter than the wind up mechanisms. The light weight alloys save 8kg all round I believe. Maybe a few carbon fibre bits?

[Lotusnick S2]

Do you want to swap with a lightweight S2 111s???


On a more serious note, I agree with Andrew

shangani said:

Forget the weight - just enjoy the car.

[TonyHetherington]

shangani said:

Forget the weight - just enjoy the car.

Yup. Unless you're doing timed laps around a twisty circuit, you won't notice ANY differnece on the road. And if you did, as soon as you fill it up with petrol or put a passenger in it or put the shopping in the boot; £5000 of carbon fibre and magnesium is negated by a lardy brother-in-law.

[BigNath]

www.thedietchannel.com/atkins.htm

With a bit of

www.carlimits.com

Should make all the difference in the world.

[shangani]

The best way I could lighten my car would be to skip lunch.

Naaahhh! Too late - already ate. If you want to race the car, get worried about weight. Otherwise you will spend plenty for no palpable return in your perception of how the car goes. Newer models are getting heavier - fact of life. Fortunately I am able to overcome the limitations of my car through my god-like driving talents.... or not!

[beachbum]

I looked into this when I got my 111R, in a nut shell its expensive.

The easiest option is the exhaust, saves weight, makes the car sound substantially better and according to some, even increases performance a little too.

After that, its pretty much Carbon Fibre all the way, which is truely expensive and in reality not that many people supply the stuff either.

Seats may be an option ?

[stu hill]

Driving naked. Clothes are really heavy!

[Alric]

haha thanks for your help guys i best go on a diet then much cheaper.

I will also look into the 7 twin spoke wheels.

8kg saved with them wheels and 8kg saved with exhaust. not too bad. :-)

[shangani]

Still only 1.5% - really not going to make a huge difference. You need to lose 50+kg of weight, perhaps more before it will feel different. A passenger in my 111s adds 10%!

[stampede]

shangani said:

...... A passenger in my 111s adds 10%!

Depends on the passenger, but I find it very noticable when I have someone else along for the ride.

S690

[TonyHetherington]

Alric said:

8kg saved with them wheels and 8kg saved with exhaust. not too bad. :-)

That is importantly 8kg of unsprung mass too. (with the wheels)

Like Shanganananananananai says though - put a passenger in and it's 10%. Put my bro in, it's 15% and my car feels MUCH slower!

[Alric]

Yeah everybit helps i guess. Yes i can deffo feel the car is slower with a passenger.
And yes iam deffo enjoying the car etc but round the nurburgring every kg lost could make the difference when your on the edge ;-)

Where do you get those wheels from then, Lotus dealer? or Lotus Sport?
Is weight reduction in unsprung mass more important than normal weight reduction then? Im guessing it helps suspension geometry etc?

[uldis]

Or get an S1 Exige and tune it.
Mine weight 766 Kg with all fluids and 1/2 tank of fuel. That is with the std wheels, I also have a set of Magnesium Speedlines for track.
Combine that with 220 odd horsies...

[piooly]

My sport 160 feels slow as piss when I have a passenger on board. I dont notice much difference with the girlfreind though as she's on 7 stone, but when a fat mate gets in, difference feels massive....

[shangani]

All my mates are fat (like me).

[Alric]

Thats what im amazed at, why an Exige S1 is 250kgs lighter than a S2 Exige S. Surely the engine difference isn't 250kgs ? Both fibreglass small cars etc

[alexarm]

where do you start !!

Take out / change the following...

carpets
heater
a/c unit
galss windows / change to perspex
radio / cd
change wheels (lighter ones)
Change brakes (ali belled)
take CAT off (put on CRP)
Rear silencer (put on lighter better one)
Change seats to carbon ones with no padding
Make a load of holes in the clam (above front wheels / rear clam to let out)
Take off rear grill / panel and replace with an eliminator kit.
Take out all sound proofing

The list goes on !! Thats a fair few KG's lost there, but also a horrible road car.

Basically its a lardy car, but still very nice.

Alex

[philz]

therossatron said:

Apparently the electric windows are lighter than the wind up mechanisms. The light weight alloys save 8kg all round I believe. Maybe a few carbon fibre bits?

I've got wind up windows in my 111R, how much of a job is it to add electric ones? (for weight saving, honest )