Overweight Cars

04GT

New Member

Oct 8, 2003

284

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Southwest Ohio

Mar 12, 2007

#1

• Mar 12, 2007

• #1

With all the improvements in technology with respect to plastics and alloys, why are all the new cars so ****ing heavy?

If everyone is so ****ing worried about fuel consumption, why not reduce the weight of the average car by 1000 lbs?

I think part of it is that the auto makers all want to use "common architecture" to save cost, but that makes the cars heavier because they share so many parts with the SUVs.

At least Ford is making the new Focus 60 lbs lighter to improve fuel economy. Now chop off another 500 lbs...probably would get 50 mpg.

 

RedDaemon

10 Year Member

Mar 31, 2005

3,470

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108

Atlanta, GA

Mar 12, 2007

#2

• Mar 12, 2007

• #2

the faster the cars become the lighter the materials will just make it more dangerous

there is truth to this but this isnt the only reason why theyre heavier

the cost of lighter materials is also more expensive

 

04GT

New Member

Oct 8, 2003

284

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Southwest Ohio

Mar 12, 2007

#3

• Mar 12, 2007

• #3

Cost certainly plays a part, but economy of scale should make lighter materials cheaper if mass produced.

There's so much emphasis on entertainment, communications, and convenience features in cars too. They are putting ****ing fridgerators in cars now to keep your beverages cool...unbelievable.

 

[Twitch]

Member

Mar 30, 2005

168

0

16

Montreal

Mar 12, 2007

#4

• Mar 12, 2007

• #4

04GT said:

With all the improvements in technology with respect to plastics and alloys, why are all the new cars so ****ing heavy?

If everyone is so ****ing worried about fuel consumption, why not reduce the weight of the average car by 1000 lbs?

I think part of it is that the auto makers all want to use "common architecture" to save cost, but that makes the cars heavier because they share so many parts with the SUVs.

At least Ford is making the new Focus 60 lbs lighter to improve fuel economy. Now chop off another 500 lbs...probably would get 50 mpg.

Click to expand...

You know what needs a diet, the GT500

 

04GT

New Member

Oct 8, 2003

284

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0

Southwest Ohio

Mar 12, 2007

#5

• Mar 12, 2007

• #5

[Twitch] said:

You know what needs a diet, the GT500

Click to expand...

yeah, always cracks me up to see the specs page on the Mustang specs...

V6: iron block

GT 4.6: aluminum block

GT500: iron block

 

Mustang5L5

That is…until I whipped out my Bissell

Mod Dude

Feb 18, 2001

43,264

17,950

224

Massachusetts

Mar 12, 2007

#6

• Mar 12, 2007

• #6

Cars get heavy when you start adding rear view cameras, DVD-based Nav systems, heated 24-way power seats with air conditioning, tilting rear bench seats and on and on and on with stupid creature comforts.

 

RedDaemon

10 Year Member

Mar 31, 2005

3,470

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108

Atlanta, GA

Mar 12, 2007

#7

• Mar 12, 2007

• #7

you mean like this maybach?

 

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bigcat

start with the upper hole, and if more traction is

May 1, 2005

3,015

1

79

7200 feet

Mar 12, 2007

#8

• Mar 12, 2007

• #8

SAFETY features, like crumple zones and other impact absorbing features that you will never see add tons of weight to the bare chassis. then add in all the "extras" that have already been mentioned, and you have a heavier car than the basic vehicle from 20 years ago.

 

Penguin

Active Member

Oct 23, 2003

115

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SC

Mar 13, 2007

#9

• Mar 13, 2007

• #9

bigcat said:

SAFETY features, like crumple zones and other impact absorbing features that you will never see add tons of weight to the bare chassis.

Click to expand...

My first thought exactly. It's like back in the 70's when all the cars got new bumpers. They were huge, and weighed like 80lbs more than the bumpers they replaced.

 

Shiroelex

There's nothing worse than aut

Founding Member

Aug 23, 2001

728

1

27

Westland, MI

Mar 13, 2007

#10

• Mar 13, 2007

• #10

Lighter will help with the economy, but it just makes the car unsafe to drive, and it feels cheap. My friend's girlfriend drives a 91 Suzuki Swift GT, and it's soo incredibly light. It just feels very shoddy and frightening on the freeway. It does get like 45mpg though. The car has practically nothing. Manual EVERYTHING, and it has one belt. It runs alternator, waterpump, then crank. That's all that is under the hood. So simple.

 

streetstang03

unModerator

Dec 27, 2003

0

1

0

the dark side of the moon/home of the 1999, 2003,

Mar 13, 2007

#11

• Mar 13, 2007

• #11

[Twitch] said:

You know what needs a diet, the GT500

Click to expand...

no kidding

 

StangYellow

Founding Member

Sep 11, 2002

1,052

1

39

Mar 13, 2007

#12

• Mar 13, 2007

• #12

Mustangs short of the Mustang II... have always been in the portly 3100-3300 range. Newer cars have sound deadening material, endless computer system wires, and added bracing for collisions. Id rather have a heavy car with some structural integrity than to be caught in a Mini Cooper that would cause me to die on impact.

 

04GT

New Member

Oct 8, 2003

284

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0

Southwest Ohio

Mar 13, 2007

#13

• Mar 13, 2007

• #13

Anybody wanna buy a rear seat? I may have one for sale real soon...FOR CHEAP!

 

myponyrocks

I have more billet on the Stang than most women ha

Apr 18, 2004

1,219

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37

Mar 14, 2007

#14

• Mar 14, 2007

• #14

safety, ridgitity (sp?), and ride all require not so light parts.

 

68stang351

Founding Member

May 16, 2002

850

9

39

Savoy TX

Mar 14, 2007

#15

• Mar 14, 2007

• #15

Back in 1990, appearently they cared enough about weight to do away with the armrest on the console, and the remote fuel door release, which maybe only saved them a couple of pounds.

Now, you can buy a Mustang that approaches 4000 pounds (Shelby)

 

'13_ImpactBlue_GT

Angry Little Elf

Mar 30, 2005

872

2

98

Where the men are men and the sheep are nervous

Mar 14, 2007

#16

• Mar 14, 2007

• #16

Penguin said:

My first thought exactly. It's like back in the 70's when all the cars got new bumpers. They were huge, and weighed like 80lbs more than the bumpers they replaced.

Click to expand...

Yeah, actual METAL bumpers...not this cardboard crap we have now. Good example is my dads 1974 Cheby flareside PU, 400 small block (170hp ), big azz metal bumpers, 3 speed on the tree, vinyl seats, no air PS PB PW nothing. They bought it brand new for $1500 and their 74 VW SuperBeetle for $3000.........how times have changed.

 

S

Saleen4971

New Member

Mar 26, 2003

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Setauket, LI

Mar 15, 2007

#17

• Mar 15, 2007

• #17

liek everybody said. airbags, crumpelk zones, computers and wiring weigh a LOT when you ahve so many of them.

if you took a base shell with no electornics or safety features, and compared it to a vehicle from the 70's you woudl be amazed at how much more rigid the cahssis is, and how much lighter it is. the safety features add a HUGE amount of weight.

emissions can always be reduced SOMEHOW. they are much less concerned about weight IMO. weight can be offset with more power, and getting good emissions with more power isnt difficult at all.