Weight Saving?

[PoorManQ45]

We all know that the Q45 is a really heavy car (4200lbs?).

I have been wondering, what can be removed to shed some of this weight?

[DR.Q]

Not really sure, but I can tell you one thing: don't look for weight savings in the hood. I have one sitting in my garage and I can't believe how light it is.

[elwesso]

Agreed. I have my old one and if it wasnt so big, i could easily lift it....

Weight savings, get some new front seats.... Each seat weighs about 50-60lbs

[blender66]

I figure that just by changing the driver in the seat, I could save approximately 50-60 lbs., thereby decreasing my fuel consumption by about 20%...

LMAO! hehehe...

AC

[PoorManQ45]

I was thinking about changing out the front seats. I don't really like having leather in Florida (Read: Hot and sticky). Any suggestions? They'd have to be comfortable. How much would they cost, $100 or $150 a piece?

I wonder how much it would cost to get an enclosure made in the back seat that would convert the bench into two Bucket seats? That would probably look cool. I know that the back seat doesn't weigh much, but I always liked the looks of buckets in the back.

Any other suggestions?

Where is the bulk of the weight at? The frame? Interior? Body Panels?

[PoorManQ45]

I figure that just by changing the driver in the seat, I could save approximately 50-60 lbs., thereby decreasing my fuel consumption by about 20%...

LMAO! hehehe...

AC

That's funny, and true. I have seen a bunch of 300Lbs+ people riding in tiny cars, ie. Honda Civic, Miata, etc.. It 's hilarious. The side that they sit on is about 2~4in lower than the other side. That can't be good for the suspension.

[Q45tech]

There is no "bulk of the weight" other than the 1200 pound drive train [engine with accessories/battery, transmission, drive shaft , diff, and half shafts].the basic Q only weights 3960-4040 pounds without fuel and driver.

Rear muffler, front seats, AC system, bumpers...................other than drive train components, frame and seats, every individual item can be handled by a child .......they weight so little. Except the bulky rear and front glass.

It's an interesting experience to strip a car of body panels and 90% of it components.........to just a shell, you realize that every ounce on every of the 10,000 parts counts. An ounce is 28 grams so every gram counts.Shaving a single gram off every part would save 22 pounds

Look at the fight new cars have to shed a few pounds.

Interesting to study the new Accura RL [which with RWD/4 weel] tops 4050 pounds with a V6.

Modern cars use aluminum front and rear subframes and suspenion arms to save 20 pounds. There are 61 pounds of liquids [not counting gasoline] in a car.

[911/Q45]

About 20 years ago one of the hot rod mags did this with an old Caddy. They progressively removed virtually everything not needed to make it down the 1/4 mile and ran it along the way. After torching off all body panels and most everything else, they got that pig into the 12s!

[PalmerWMD]

Agreed. I have my old one and if it wasnt so big, i could easily lift it....

Weight savings, get some new front seats.... Each seat weighs about 50-60lbs

Agreed!

Fred..

[dareo]

The Q is heavy. If you take stuff out that makes the Q heavy it will no longer be a Q45. Lose the sound deadening, the leather, all the electronic stuff and its just a big old stripped down car. Get yourself a Honda CRX if you wanna lose some weight.

[sijoko]

For maximum accelaration, it is better to reduce rotating weight than static weight.

First, get the lightest wheels and tires. The forged wheels from the early Q45t would be nice.

Then go with the carbon fiber driveshaft and a billet torque converter. Both would reduce rotating weight by around 40 lbs.

-sijoko