After being on this forum for a while now I've noticed that A LOT of people are obsessed with weight of a car. Even I'm guilty to an extent worrying about how much certain cars weigh. I have a question that I wouldnt mind getting a little input on.

Question 1:

If Honda wanted to make an s2000 into a 4 seater coupe how much do you think it WOULD weigh? (Its at about 2800lbs now) There has to be a reason why the s2000 dosent weigh as much as a Civic.

 

3200 pounds, 3100 pounds minimum.

2800 + 100 (hardtop) + 100 (seats) + 100?

 

RX8 weighs about 2950. Its engine weighs less, I assume. So that puts it, say, something over 3000 lbs, so maybe the 3100 figure makes sense. And no, I don't know enough to really know whether using the RX8 has any logic, but it's maybe ballpark.

 

Wow, I didnt know an RX8 was so light!

 

I guess it isn't - I just checked Edmunds - which says 3045.

 

Base with no sunroof is less than 3000 pounds but leather and sunroof add another 100 pounds.

I'd light for a 4 seater RWD car. Hard to compare with something else.

 

That's for a heavily (no pun intended) optioned car. Base cars will be in the 2900s -- in Stock autocross trim (low gas, light exhaust and wheels) they're in the low 2800 lb. range. For comparison's sake, an S2000 prepped to the same level weighs around 2700 lbs.

 

Of course I am obsessed with weight. I eat at Subway everyday

But seriously weight is very important. It is basic physics and gravity. Other factors contribute to a car's performance of course -- tire choice, suspension, gearing, to name a few -- but minimizing weight is one easy thing designers can plan ahead for with a car from the beginning.

The s2000 is certainly not the lightest car in the world. But it is lighter than most of it's direct compettitors, which I think helps contribute to its fun feel.

That being said if you want to make your car lighter, there are some good speed shops out there that would be happy to help guide you.