Age old debate: speed vs comfort

[She loved E]

So I'm about to embark on an interior swap (tan pleather -> black leather) and I'm trying to decide what else to do while I'm at it. I know I'm going to run RCAs and power under the carpet for an eventual sub install (removable).

Then I saw Mtriple's badass build and his dynamat/fiberfill install: http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ination&page=9

So now I want to do that. Then I start thinking (cause the parts car I'm pulling the interior from has it) why don't I upgrade all the components with premium ones too!

But then again all this stuff adds weight, and kinda ruins the minimalism of my 318. I think my car's slow now... wait til I add 100 lbs of extra crap.

All that to say... what have you guys done when it comes to speed vs. comfort? We can't all have both like some of the heavy hitters around here. Which way did you go & why? Are you happy with the results?

Kyle

[StereoInstaller1]

In my opinion, keeping things simple is the name of the game. My car is a DD, and sees far more commute than any 22 year old 288,000 mile car ever should.

My install is VERY heavy, like about 100ish pounds, but is so much fun that it is worth it to me.

The single 10 boxes I build weigh 35 pounds, empty. A decent woofer, 2 amps and wiring weighs about 20 pounds.

According to the fabled Jordan Sarette, the sound deadning/weight balance trunk tar weighs 57 pounds (IIRC)...if your car came with it...so a absolutely fucking TERRIFIC stereo that takes up very little actual useable room basically breaks even, weight wise.

That is my take on that subject, FWIW.

Luke

[BTP325ic]

fuck that 100lbs in your trunk too much for me one 12 or 15 with a nice wiring job is good for me.

[StereoInstaller1]

fuck that 100lbs in your trunk too much for me one 12 or 15 with a nice wiring job is good for me.

You have not heard my system!

I DO have only 1 12.

[BTP325ic]

looks sick........... i know a slut that has a e46 M3 with a JL sub in the middle seat its pretty ckean.

[StereoInstaller1]

Thanks. I figure if was gonna worry about 40 or 50 pounds, I could start with my fucking belly...

[maximumangle]

shiiiiiiiiiiit. sweet install!

ive always gone with speed over comfort. anything to catch an extra mph or .01g in the corners. but hey, im still young. i can still put up with it

[TexasTerp]

I'm with Luke, My 280k car is my daily. I'm just doing everything I can to make it look good and unique while still being able to make drives like the one I'm taking to New Hampshire in 10 days.

[She loved E]

My friend actually has a good philosophy now that I think about it... slow & low.

Too bad I like to go so fast :p

[Iain]

You could gut some stuff out of the car to save weight while leaving other things in, but this is a half-arsed way to do it in my opinion.

I have a '94 280,000km-old Subaru Legacy wagon that I add 1000km per-week to getting to/from work. Auto, 2.2L, soft suspension, cheap fuel costs, throw bulky parts in the back and it only cost me $2000 with 12 months registration (Aussie dollars, so probably $1k or less in US currency and our rego is worth nearly $AUD1k per year out here).

Get a cheap POS daily driver that you don't like. You won't be tempted to mod it, you can leave your E30 off the road while you fix it and you can gut weight out of the E30 to make it faster while not caring if it is going to be comfortable. Sure, 2 lots of rego and running costs will hurt you, but this is the best way to do it.

When pulling weight out of your car you want to remove it from up high, and from the very front and rear - you want all your weight as low and central as possible (weight in the trans tunnel is ok, a 50lb lump on the roundel at the front of the car is uber bad, geddit?)

My suggestions for a compromise of weight/speed:

- Remove sound deadening, but leave carpet over the top to make it bearable.

- Remove as much trim as possible, including rear seat-belts and what-not. Turn your car into a 2seater for 90% of the time. If you need to take people somewhere, just bolt your shit back in. you would be surprised at how the weight of a few bolts here and there adds up. Same goes for shit light centre console trim, glovebox, etc. You can pull a LOT of weight out just by ditching this shit (and all the carpet/shit in the boot)

- Rip the air con out. You have windows. I hope you have a sunroof.

- Go small on the stereo. Maybe only run speakers in the front.

- dry cell (Odyssey or Braille) battery in the boot. Batteries are dead weight.

- Lightweight wheels FTW

- Ditch the jack & spare wheel in the boot. Buy a can of tyre mousse.

- Look at replacing the stock exhaust - particularly the stock muffler. These seem really heavy for some reason (heavier than other manufacturer's exhausts)

- Give up the beer & get fit... no what am I saying? Never, NEVER give up beer, ok? (unless its that Budweiser shit you guys drink over there. That stuff is FUCKING HORRIBLE and the creator should be drop kicked off a very high cliff into a pit full of sharks and tax agents)

PS: you seriously should just have a cup of concrete and harden the fuck up. Gut the car properly.

[StereoInstaller1]

What the fuck do you have against sharks?

[Iain]

What the fuck do you have against sharks?

They're racists.

The "Great White" shark, eh? What makes your being white/dirty grey have to do with being better than a tiger shark or a mako? Even has one of those KKK-like pointy noses. I'm sure it would light burning crosses on other sharks' reefs, the filthy rotter.

Sharks - fuckin' racists.

[She loved E]

tyre mousse ftw

[maximumangle]

Y

- Give up the beer & get fit... no what am I saying? Never, NEVER give up beer, ok?

Ditch the beer. Start drinking rum. or better yet vodka. that way you can have fun, get fucked up and stay skinny :up: