How much weight can you feel?
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Banned
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Sarasota, Florida
How much weight can you feel?
You cant really feel 1 horsepower, just as you cant really feel one pound.
So about how much weight can you really feel a difference?
Can you take out the spare tire and compressor and feel it?
So about how much weight can you really feel a difference?
Can you take out the spare tire and compressor and feel it?
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Drive around until the fuel tank is near empty testing handling and performance then fill the tank with fuel 100 plus pounds should be very obvious in braking and cornering but straight line is tough to feel. Same with adding a passenger.
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From: saratoga, ca
actually, its more like 1hp for 10lbs and the absolute best test was my NOS with the dead pedal switch. i could be cruising at 50mph and then hit the 50hp button. its not much!
anyway, i race all the time between empty and 1/2 tank. you cant feel it. in fact, my best laps have probaby been split between last few laps and first few laps!
(ie plus or minus 8 gallons, or about 50lbs )
now, put a passenger in there, and certainly, you can "feel" that!
MK
anyway, i race all the time between empty and 1/2 tank. you cant feel it. in fact, my best laps have probaby been split between last few laps and first few laps!
(ie plus or minus 8 gallons, or about 50lbs )
now, put a passenger in there, and certainly, you can "feel" that!
MK
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In a 1000 pound formula dodge, a 110 pound guy will easily pull me on the straights. [ I'm 220 #]. I notice the weight difference in the 1980 vs 89 928s. The 80 feels more nimble. 10% is a lot - 3% is not so noticable. My 2000# Fiat would audibly groan when my wife got in. No joke, Hence the 928.
This also really has a lot to do with where you put the weight, the suspension, and the power to weight ratio being altered. I have a 2500# turbo Fiat with 40% more torque across the rev range, and it is much harder to note the difference with a passenger. It also has more suspension travel, and a better weight distribution with a passenger. A Viper ? Fuggedaboudit.
This also really has a lot to do with where you put the weight, the suspension, and the power to weight ratio being altered. I have a 2500# turbo Fiat with 40% more torque across the rev range, and it is much harder to note the difference with a passenger. It also has more suspension travel, and a better weight distribution with a passenger. A Viper ? Fuggedaboudit.
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The first few hundred are not as remarkable as the last few tens!
The best way I've read to compare it to horsepower is to take the factory curb weight / horsepower, say 12:1. From there, every 12 lbs you take out, you've 'gained' one horsepower. You can feel ten horspower=120lbs.
Warning! Weight loss is addictive. Acceleration, braking, and handling* all improve with less weight.
Spare, tools, and compressor are about 60lbs, and at the far back end, so you should feel that. I leave mine out, unless I'm driving on trips.
* Weight which is farther from the center makes a proportionally larger improvement in handling.
The best way I've read to compare it to horsepower is to take the factory curb weight / horsepower, say 12:1. From there, every 12 lbs you take out, you've 'gained' one horsepower. You can feel ten horspower=120lbs.
Warning! Weight loss is addictive. Acceleration, braking, and handling* all improve with less weight.
Spare, tools, and compressor are about 60lbs, and at the far back end, so you should feel that. I leave mine out, unless I'm driving on trips.
* Weight which is farther from the center makes a proportionally larger improvement in handling.
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From: Comox, BC
Originally Posted by Daniel Dudley
In a 1000 pound formula dodge, a 110 pound guy will easily pull me on the straights. [ I'm 220 #]. I notice the weight difference in the 1980 vs 89 928s. The 80 feels more nimble. 10% is a lot - 3% is not so noticable. My 2000# Fiat would audibly groan when my wife got in. No joke, Hence the 928.
This also really has a lot to do with where you put the weight, the suspension, and the power to weight ratio being altered. I have a 2500# turbo Fiat with 40% more torque across the rev range, and it is much harder to note the difference with a passenger. It also has more suspension travel, and a better weight distribution with a passenger. A Viper ? Fuggedaboudit.
This also really has a lot to do with where you put the weight, the suspension, and the power to weight ratio being altered. I have a 2500# turbo Fiat with 40% more torque across the rev range, and it is much harder to note the difference with a passenger. It also has more suspension travel, and a better weight distribution with a passenger. A Viper ? Fuggedaboudit.
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Three Wheelin'
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From: Clearwater Beach, Florida
I can always feel a 20 lb difference in weight...consistently. As for horsepower, much more difficult for me to feel differences, probably because hp is not constant and the little diffrences in hp don't help me turn better or worse in a tight corner...that's just me though
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HP is not constant and pick your rpms... but weight differences add up quickly in cornering. Unfortunately, it is easy to lighten a 928 at the rear, not so easy up front. I seem to recall someone stating there is a 45 POUND ?! aluminum brace behind the front bumper cover?? I can tell a radical difference between our 3500 pound and (former) 3000 pound 928.
Mark
Mark
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From: saratoga, ca
your HP is close enough to constant, Lets call it averaged!, so acceleration is directly proportional to HP, but for a given HP, rate of acceleration goes down as speed goes up (proportionately)
So, it always cracks me up when folks say, "man, my 3rd gear pulls the hardest".
so as with velocity, as weight goes up accleration goes down proportionately too!
so, you are right, the weight is effecting handling and braking while the HP to weight ratio only effects acceleration.
everything always goes back to the Hp vs torque discussion. But why shouldnt it. if it didnt matter SO much, our cars would just be sitting in the garage with us reclining in our leather seats listening to the radio.
Mk
acceleration = HP / (mass x velocity)
Holbert car not happy with loosing 2 seconds /lap, racing R5 class with POC at 3300lbs
So, it always cracks me up when folks say, "man, my 3rd gear pulls the hardest".
so as with velocity, as weight goes up accleration goes down proportionately too!
so, you are right, the weight is effecting handling and braking while the HP to weight ratio only effects acceleration.
everything always goes back to the Hp vs torque discussion. But why shouldnt it. if it didnt matter SO much, our cars would just be sitting in the garage with us reclining in our leather seats listening to the radio.
Mk
acceleration = HP / (mass x velocity)
Holbert car not happy with loosing 2 seconds /lap, racing R5 class with POC at 3300lbs
