" Permanent " soft top removal

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by crooster

I can't quite follow the motivation for doing this. If you are just leaving the roof down all the time, the wear and tear should be pretty minimal. And at least then you do have the roof if caught out in a sudden rain, or when you want to lock the car up outside.

Lighter weight, Sometimes its just easier to remove weight to get a better horsepower to weight figure.

Too bad you don't live down south I have a project set of humps that were bolted to a autocross car. I've been debating on selling

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by healthservices

Lighter weight, Sometimes its just easier to remove weight to get a better horsepower to weight figure.

Too bad you don't live down south I have a project set of humps that were bolted to a autocross car. I've been debating on selling

I'm aware it would make the car lighter, but how much lighter than removing the top, then adding back the weight of the speed humps? Is he going to remove the spare tire? At any rate he's not going to race the car. Seems like a lot of work for questionable benefit. Oh well, whatever blows your hair back .

[flaps10]

Removing weight can have amazing results. Back in college when I was hopping up a VW bug I stripped off bumpers, running boards and all the seats but mine. The car accelerated better, cornered better and stopped better. Those last two results never come when you just boost horsepower.

Incidentally it is something Porsche exploits from time to time

With airplane design there is a saying "Sweat the ounces and the pounds take care of themselves".

I've pondered something similar, but more extensive to my car. The A/C system is hideously heavy and the condensers block airflow to the radiator (they certainly don't help, other than possibly serving as expensive stone guards).

Toss the A/C system for probably 40+ pounds, then remove: Old sound insulation, the top, the stereo and speakers.

Install lightweight exhaust, wheels and tires, smaller battery, lightweight seats.

Basically RS the crap out of it. You could call it, oh I don't know: A sports car. If I want civilized I'll climb in the Touareg.