What makes the FC so heavy?
09-23-07, 08:06 PM
#26
Freebasing mountain roads
The Gross vehicle weight of my FC is 3595lb, its 2700 on my 93 Miata. The Miata's curb weight is 2070lb, and the FC is about 2600lb depending on options such as A/C, PS, PW, and others. I have been wanting to convert mine to manual steering because its lighter and has a quicker ratio. As for the FC being way bigger than the MX-5, It really isnt. The 5 is 156.3" long and the FC is 168.9" (S4) the S5 is about an inch longer. As far as width, there about the same.
09-23-07, 08:38 PM
#28
clutch artist
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yea crash standards really put a damper on cars these days in my opinion. those huge bumpers look retarded. i think people just need to realize that riding around in fast moving metal is dangerous and big fat bumpers wont save you if you are an idiot and change lanes without looking. I think those fatass bumpers are a ploy to make people feel better about buying SUVs, as they now looker less gigantic by comparison to the 2008 model sedans.
09-23-07, 08:51 PM
#30
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09-23-07, 09:06 PM
#32
the doors are pretty heavy, but probably mostly b/c of the glass..
my S4 TII weighed 2800 lbs even with no weight reduction beside AC removal, with a mostly full tank of gas. and it was even a little rear biased. I suppose the 51/49 front/rear bias rating you always see is with empty gas tank
my S4 TII weighed 2800 lbs even with no weight reduction beside AC removal, with a mostly full tank of gas. and it was even a little rear biased. I suppose the 51/49 front/rear bias rating you always see is with empty gas tank
09-23-07, 09:15 PM
#33
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Im riding light. No A/C Gutted Interior and Dry Iced out the sound deadening material.
Even when I get the Roll cage in, and swap over to a fuel cell, I bet Im roughly @ 2400-2500 lbs.
Even when I get the Roll cage in, and swap over to a fuel cell, I bet Im roughly @ 2400-2500 lbs.
09-23-07, 09:24 PM
#34
Original Gangster/Rotary!
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Our FC's ARE heavy
the GC WRX STi for example
is lighter than the FC AND FD... and it's a bloody awd 4 door saloon car!
i dropped the Rear subframe on my FC..
that THING IS MADE OF RECYCLED ANVILS...
rear sub complete with diff axles and brakes..
it takes 3 ppl to carry the damn thing.. and it still takes a ton of effort...
it was sooooo much heavier than my friends S13 rear end...
mine became impossible to put back on... I had to put the car on a Lift.. and Lower it onto the Subframe.. rather than raising the subframe on to the car..
it's rediculous
I wonder what you could get an FC's weight down to if u used CF hood, fenders, doors, and all lexan windows completely gutted.. one non recling bucket.. sheet metal Dashboard..
not much u can do about the underlying stuff tho..
the GC WRX STi for example
is lighter than the FC AND FD... and it's a bloody awd 4 door saloon car!
i dropped the Rear subframe on my FC..
that THING IS MADE OF RECYCLED ANVILS...
rear sub complete with diff axles and brakes..
it takes 3 ppl to carry the damn thing.. and it still takes a ton of effort...
it was sooooo much heavier than my friends S13 rear end...
mine became impossible to put back on... I had to put the car on a Lift.. and Lower it onto the Subframe.. rather than raising the subframe on to the car..
it's rediculous
I wonder what you could get an FC's weight down to if u used CF hood, fenders, doors, and all lexan windows completely gutted.. one non recling bucket.. sheet metal Dashboard..
not much u can do about the underlying stuff tho..
09-23-07, 11:13 PM
#36
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Hood 60 lbs
engine emissions crap (air pump)??? Estimated 10lbs
power windows 5lbs each (heavier than non power)
sunroof 22lbs (high up, bad for cg)
power seat belts 15lbs each
powersteering 25 lbs
dash 35lbs heavier than S4 dash
rear hatch 100lbs+ or so
twin exhaust (cats, emissions again); conservative 25lbs
assorted sound deadning 15lbs total
lets do the math, that's close to 302lbs and we have not went bare bone; no A/C, Heater core, radio...
Me personaly I just compensate by making more power (for a street car) I want to be comfortable if I had a track car that would be something else all together
To each his own I am sure there is some happy median for good power to weight
engine emissions crap (air pump)??? Estimated 10lbs
power windows 5lbs each (heavier than non power)
sunroof 22lbs (high up, bad for cg)
power seat belts 15lbs each
powersteering 25 lbs
dash 35lbs heavier than S4 dash
rear hatch 100lbs+ or so
twin exhaust (cats, emissions again); conservative 25lbs
assorted sound deadning 15lbs total
lets do the math, that's close to 302lbs and we have not went bare bone; no A/C, Heater core, radio...
Me personaly I just compensate by making more power (for a street car) I want to be comfortable if I had a track car that would be something else all together
To each his own I am sure there is some happy median for good power to weight
09-24-07, 09:18 AM
#39
Engine, Not Motor
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All this comparison to the Miata doesn't make a whole lot of sense. The Miata is a much smaller roadster, the FC is a larger sports coupe. Things like a roof, a few feet more body and a rear hatch glass tend to add weight.
Also the FC is a well made car. Subframes are very thick (Maybe that's why we can put down 500+ HP and not worry about tearing things up?), body panels are thick and structural, etc. The car could have been made lighter but it would not meet crash standards (and anyone who has been in a serious accident in an FC knows how well they stand up).
The FC is simply a well made car. How many other Japanese sports cars from the '80s are around and not rust buckets these days?
Still, it's not like the car is heavy by any means. There will always be a lighter car. Every car on this forum is a pig compared to my 1800 LB Insight, but it doesn't mean they are heavy.
If you want a heavy RX-7, look at the S5 vert or the early SAs (with 200+ LBs of thermal reactor exhaust).
Also the FC is a well made car. Subframes are very thick (Maybe that's why we can put down 500+ HP and not worry about tearing things up?), body panels are thick and structural, etc. The car could have been made lighter but it would not meet crash standards (and anyone who has been in a serious accident in an FC knows how well they stand up).
The FC is simply a well made car. How many other Japanese sports cars from the '80s are around and not rust buckets these days?
Still, it's not like the car is heavy by any means. There will always be a lighter car. Every car on this forum is a pig compared to my 1800 LB Insight, but it doesn't mean they are heavy.
If you want a heavy RX-7, look at the S5 vert or the early SAs (with 200+ LBs of thermal reactor exhaust).
09-24-07, 09:45 AM
#40
Shoot the Gap
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Amen Aaron!
Our cars are tough. As for the comparison to the FB. A guy i know hit a lady who pulled out in front of him. H was doing like 55mph, and without the full roll cage, he might have lost his feet. They're just not as tough.
True. But i know a lot of people who have s13's that they drift. The car might be lighter, but i've drifted s13s and FCs and i'll tell you what, FCs are just way more solid.
Our cars are tough. As for the comparison to the FB. A guy i know hit a lady who pulled out in front of him. H was doing like 55mph, and without the full roll cage, he might have lost his feet. They're just not as tough.
True. But i know a lot of people who have s13's that they drift. The car might be lighter, but i've drifted s13s and FCs and i'll tell you what, FCs are just way more solid.
09-24-07, 10:58 AM
#43
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heh,heh!..You forgot to Mention all that Military Training there GoodFella!..Tossing Privates and Corporals all over the place can give you Muscles in no time flat!..and now for some Thread info:the steel FC hood is 56 lbs,and the aluminum I believe is 23 or 28.!
09-24-07, 11:27 AM
#44
Amen Aaron!
Our cars are tough. As for the comparison to the FB. A guy i know hit a lady who pulled out in front of him. H was doing like 55mph, and without the full roll cage, he might have lost his feet. They're just not as tough.
True. But i know a lot of people who have s13's that they drift. The car might be lighter, but i've drifted s13s and FCs and i'll tell you what, FCs are just way more solid.
Our cars are tough. As for the comparison to the FB. A guy i know hit a lady who pulled out in front of him. H was doing like 55mph, and without the full roll cage, he might have lost his feet. They're just not as tough.
True. But i know a lot of people who have s13's that they drift. The car might be lighter, but i've drifted s13s and FCs and i'll tell you what, FCs are just way more solid.
09-24-07, 02:05 PM
#45
the FC is heavy because the mazda engineers in charge of the FC project could not remove anymore weight without compromising the integrity and driveability of the car.
I think the final project was called "ounce per head" where every mazda engineers disassembled a complete FC and were told to remove 1 oz. each from anywhere in the car.
And comparing an FC rear end with a 240 rear end is like comparing J-Lo's *** with Paris Hilton's ***.
I think the final project was called "ounce per head" where every mazda engineers disassembled a complete FC and were told to remove 1 oz. each from anywhere in the car.
And comparing an FC rear end with a 240 rear end is like comparing J-Lo's *** with Paris Hilton's ***.
09-24-07, 05:58 PM
#49
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unless your car is track only dont worry about it. The car is not that heavy, however if you must I do feel there are a few things here and there that can be done to trim the fat with out to many compromises
at your avatar!!