Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Weight of Modern Sports Cars

[LarryT (l02turner]

   Speaking of Lotus - I owned a Lotus Europa back in the early 70s - the 
pedal well was so small and the pedals so close together that I had to 
remove my shoes to drive!  Weighed in the neighborhood of 1100 #s if I 
remember the trucking invoice correctly when it was delivered - even with 
only 85hp from a Renault 4 cyl (C. Chapman evidently had a quirky sense of 
humor) it ran like the dickens.  Works out to 12#'s/hp -  quite a bit better 
than the 21#s/hp in my MGB!

   But the build quality was nothing to write home about - unless you were 
writing a comic book.  Things were constantly needing fixing - "character 
building" was the name of the ownership process I believe.

   But when it was running right, and the road was open, it was an amazing 
car to drive!

Sincerely,
Larry T  (74 911, 91 300D 2.5T)
www.youroil.net Oil Analysis Kits &
Porsche Posters/Weber parts
Test Results - http://members.rennlist.com/oil/



.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "LS" <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com>
To: <l02turner [at] comcast.net>
Cc: <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 29, 2008 6:14 PM
Subject: RE: [Ferrari] Weight of Modern Sports Cars


> Modern electronic add ons such as traction control, ABS, NAV systems and 
> the copper wire associated with these is where the lbs come from.
>
> Most modern cars are disgusting fat pigs as a result.
>
> God bless the Lotus Elite.
>
> LS
>
> LarryT wrote:
> > Howdy -
> >     Was watching a program about modern sports cars and the said the 
> > doors were steel but most of the rest of the body panels were carbon 
> > fiber which kept the weight down to a "lean 1660 Kilos" - *lean* ?  isn't 
> > that roughly 3500#s - I know 580hp can help power to weight a lot but 
> > that seems like a lot of weight (a Lambo was being discussed) for a 
> > sports car.
> > If CF is used extensively where is all the weight coming from?  I 
> > *assume* the engine is some exotic light weight stuff - as is the tranny 
> > I woul think.  Yet it weighs what a  90s MB E Class did (IIRC).
> > I'm pretty sure this is common - using weight saving mat;s and ending up 
> > with a car still over 3000 #s.
> > Just goes to show - the most important number to use when discussing 
> > new/old cars is power to weight - my 66 MGB weighed around 2000#s with 
> > 95hp for a P-W of 21#'s / HP - and while the acceleration wasn't earth 
> > shaking it still made fo a fun car to drive.
> > Anyway - I guess EPA and safety stuff makes for some heavy add-ons
> > Sincerely,
> > Larry T  (74 911, 91 300D 2.5T)
> > www.youroil.net Oil Analysis Kits &
> > Porsche Posters/Weber parts
> > Test Results - http://members.rennlist.com/oil/
> > Learn how to make $$ on the Net!
> > http://l02turner.sixfigprog.hop.clickbank.net/
> > .
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