LexFather

Your thoughts? I think its ridiculous such a small car weighs 3600lbs and I am a Porsche nut. Yes, the GT3 RS will be lighter but goodness, the day of the 4000 lbs 911 is coming?
The LS 430 is only 300lbs more!

Cars weigh to much and will continue to weigh more as we want starbucks machines, coke dispensers, a Dell computer, 50" t.v and Mark Levinson home stereo in our cars.

Thus gas mileage will only increase marginally, no matter hybrids or not.

Okay, guess this is a rant. Kudos to CHEVY, the Z06 is barely over 3000 lbs....

bruce van

You're absolutely right. Cars are getting bigger and bigger each model year.

It's sad to see the only people who even about making cars lighter with each
revision are motorcycle companies. They are constantly pushing the boundaries
of making sportbikes lighter than the previous version and also increasing
performance and power.

I had no idea the ZO6 was that light. That explains why it has such great
numbers. I can understand how big luxury sedans can accumulate the pounds
over time, but it's troubling to see how sports cars are also following the
same path.

The sad thing is most companies think it's easier to make a sportscar better
by putting in a more powerful engine and call it a day. I guess most people
car about HP than curb weight.

Only the hardcore drivers and weekend autocrossers ever care about weight. When they talk about aftermarket wheels, they always have to
discuss the weight of the wheel. You don't here people on this forum
talk too much about this. I couldn't even tell you how many pounds my
18" wheels are.

Lexmex

I was also surprised on the Z06. My college roommate has one and he said its just zips. Then I saw one at my track last weekend and it put up some good numbers for high altitude. People were remarking about it because it ripped a basic convertible Vette (with top up) by a good 2 seconds.

That weight of the Porsche is almost like a FWD RX300...simply ridiculous.

LexFather

When I have some time I'll post some weight numbers. Very surprising as of late. All these exotics and sports cars are heavy as hell.

4TehNguyen

iTrader: (1)

it has to get heavier, the chassis at least to handle all the power gains and new turn speeds its going to take

chuckb

3.7 seconds 0-60
193 MPH

what's teh problem again?

LexFather

HAHAHAHAHA. I am just looking for a good debate Chuck....its been quiet.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i have to agree, considering what the car is "for", i dont' understand why it's getting so much heavier as well. yes the car is still extremely fast as is, but considering that if it's say 500lb lighter. i think that would be even crazier?

Pearlpower

iTrader: (2)

Though I rarely take car mags seriously, the latest Motor Trend (?) put the 997 911T well behind in terms of being competitive. In fact the numbers really appeared to indicate something wrong with that particular car. My old 911T (930) was horrible by today standards. No low end and an incredible rush for about 500rpm along with the worst brakes you could find on a car. It was still fun though dangerous. The new one is very nice but heavy.

akhbhaat

This Turbo is for posers. You can tell just by looking at it, with all of those goofy intake scoops and oversized wheels. Enthusiasts will buy the GT3.

All of the 911 variants have gained a little bit of weight over the last couple of decades, just like everything else. But look at this way: the current 997 version of the C2 is only 10-20 lbs heavier than 1995's 993. That's a negligible change. Meanwhile, the BMW 3 series has gained over 400 lbs since 2000 alone.

chuckb

yup-who would want 480 hp and 460lbs torque when they could have 415 hp and only 300 lbs torque?

the front end is cleaner on the GT3, but that's it.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

well i have to say though, on a lot of porsche forum, real enthusiasts, they do pick the gt3 over the turbo as the best "track car". i can see why, it has a bit less power but lighter and everything is truly tuned for track.

however i would not want to ride a gt3 every day. that car is for true track, but for every day it's a pain. loud, not as comfortable, stiff, etc...

Incendiary

My impression was GT3, GT2 were more track-tuned cars. I'd pick a Turbo coupe for everyday driving.

It would be nice if the cars could go on a diet. I think the 997tt is lighter than the 996tt, though.

And BTW, how is it that this is the 6th gen of the Turbo? Isn't it the 5th?

vipermann1

I looked into the weight of the cars also, especially since Ferrari and Lambo's are also becoming heavier.


The simple answer is this:

Each year the federal government raises the standard for safety and crash tests (frontal, side, roll-over, rear, etc).

The extra strenght (safety) can only be achieve by added more aluminum or steel components. (Carbon-Fiber is still very expensive to work with from a factor standpoint).

Electronics: Car have so much in the way of electronics, thus more cabeling and wiring to support: HID lights, CD player with changer, MP3 players, power windows, power door locks, traction control, Antilock brakes, Navigation.

Just my 2 cents!

picus

That's why I like exotics that actually put some thought into weight. I was detailing a Challenge Stradale the other day and the owner was telling me he managed to shave 100lbs off the factory weight. I asked him what the factory weight was and he told me around 2600lbs, which I though was shockingly low (the inside is totally bare, except seats, but still). Anyway I thought it was cool that Ferrari was continuing to make no-excuses low-weight sports cars (even if they are making cruisers like the 599 )

FWIW, it's not a small car either. Over 14 feet long.