Reduce the weight of your car by...

[Slick Rick]

read the third post
http://www.vxronline.co.uk/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=714

 

[ExigeEvan]

The rear seat thing, It is rare that I fold them down, but it has to be said that when folded they remove a bit of weight. Vertical seats exert more downward force because the energy is focused on a smaller surface area. When horizontal, the weight is spread and so is less per Centimetre squared.

Wow! That must mean our Previa is faster to 60 when we fold up the rear seats!

He also thinks all this will save a couple of seconds to 60

 

[Perfect Balance]

I don't understand how he came up with the conclusion that folded seats are lighter. Sure, it might have a lower center of gravity, from the 2lb back rest folded down, but to just magically disappear? Wow, so that means our family minivan can be turned into a lightweight sports car. And buses too.....the possibilities are endless!

 

[Danoff]

My god... that's increadibly stupid. Yes, folding your seats might alter your center of gravity (slightly) - which might imperceptibly affect handling. However, to think that it reduces weight is just... wow.

F=ma

That's:

Force on the car = Mass of the car (including folded seats) x acceleration.

 

[3-Wheel Drive]

Often I put the rear seats flat, this reduces weight. (Like why you crawl flat across a frozen pond so as not to break the ice)

AAUUUGGHH!!!

pressure =/= weight

Whether you stand or lay on ice, your weight will not change, wou'll be xxx pounds either way. Pressure and weight are related (Pressure = weight / contact area), but they are not one in the same. This also means that inside a car it makes no difference. Yes, the seats exert less pressure on the car, but the weight is still there, and the car's contact area with the road is still the same (the tires).

Let's look at it using Braintrust's example of the ice:
It's like laying or standing on a 5*5 foot sheet of plywood that is laying on the ice. While the pressure you exert on the board may vary, the ultimate contact with the ice is with the board, which will always be the same. Either way it is your weight divided by the 25 sq ft of plywood. The pressure you exert on the plywood makes no difference, 120lbs over 1 sq ft = 120lbs, and 12lbs over 10 sq ft = 120lbs. That constant weight will always be divided by the 25 sq ft of wood to determine the actual pressure on the ice itself. That's 2 constant numbers, meaning the pressure YOU exert on the ICE will be the same wheter you sit, stand, lay, or kneel, and therefor the pressure the SEATS exert on the ROAD is the same under any circumstances.

And again, pressure does NOT equal weight, so there is no reduction in weight done, thus further contradicting him. Pressure doesn't change handling, only weight (which equals mass * gravity) It's is mass that will affect inertia, momentum, and the forces exerted, which are the things that will affect the handling.

 

[Famine]

We came across this on Barryboys quite some months ago, and are still extracting mileage out of it even today.

As if the 38psi tyres weren't bad enough...

 

[Evolution.]

This guy fails. I mean, come on. What a retard.

 

[Danoff]

Pressure doesn't change handling, only weight (which equals mass * gravity)

While I don't want to defend this guy, since he obviously needs a physics lesson or three, I would like to point out that weight distribution also affects handling. Folding the seats will take the 20 lbs in the seat and move it closer to the floor and possibly closer to the center of the vehicle. That alters the weight distribution and can (however minutely) affect handling. Obviously any improvement in acceleration is right out.

 

[Perfect Balance]

While I don't want to defend this guy, since he obviously needs a physics lesson or three, I would like to point out that weight distribution also affects handling. Folding the seats will take the 20 lbs in the seat and move it closer to the floor and possibly closer to the center of the vehicle. That alters the weight distribution and can (however minutely) affect handling. Obviously any improvement in acceleration is right out.

More like 5 lbs, and they are usually molded with some kind of styrofoam and have a spongy material for padding. Also, unless they are acually resting on the flat part of the seat, the part it's attached at will still be holding all the weight.

At least I think so.

 

[Ev0 4 drifter]

haha!! what an idiot!

 

[slider-s15]

haha!! what an idiot!

Ev0 be nice! weight distribution is important thats why mid engined cars work so well. any ways rear seats are always a pain when deciding what to do. i think folding is the best option to keep practicality and at least improve looks if not performance.

 

[Dave A]

I hope your not being serious, folding your rear seats down will haev no noticable effect on your cars performance. It will minutely lower your center of gravity. If he lost a pound of body weight he'd have a much bigger effect.

 

[Law93]

haha!! what an idiot!

HAHA! I know right!?!!? that word says it all!

 

[Der Alta]

A friend of mine has an old integra that he dearly loves. He's always looking to reduce the weight of his car. When in "Racing Mode" he wears lightweight shoes, minimal amounts of clothing, no jewelry, removes anything not bolted down to the car, no CD's, removes the donut and jack from the spare.

Problem is, he's 5'10" and nearly 280lbs.

I've suggested the concept of a diet, numerous times.

 

[ken2903]

better add "ability to fold down rear seats" to the GT5 wishlist

 

[Keef]

A friend of mine has an old integra that he dearly loves. He's always looking to reduce the weight of his car. When in "Racing Mode" he wears lightweight shoes, minimal amounts of clothing, no jewelry, removes anything not bolted down to the car, no CD's, removes the donut and jack from the spare.

Problem is, he's 5'10" and nearly 280lbs.

I've suggested the concept of a diet, numerous times.

A Diet? Naaahhhhhhhh... That donut tire probably weighs about 30 pounds. He could probably lose 30 pounds easily, especially since he's shorter than I, but weighs twice as much as me. I happen to have a perfectly slender "racer" body, but I'd pass out after 10 minutes from exhaustion driving a real race car.

Oh, and that Opel guy's an idiot.