Let's "feel" lighter

Without expensive and drastic weight reductions, what can be done to make our heavy cars "feel" lighter? I have the stock suspension and I'm considering going to the ROW 030 setup. Would that help due to better chassis stability and maybe better turn-in? I already have the lightweight carrera wheels, and I'm not willing to spend several thousand for even lighter wheels. I came from a 2,800 lb, RX8 with 50/50 weight distribution and miss the nimbleness of that car. But that car wasn't for me...p-cars are forever in my future. Some day I'll also have a 2,500 lb air-cooled 911 to complement the 996 DD, but that's a different discussion. This has probably been brought up 1,000 times prior, but just putting it out there for suggestions.

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What do you mean by better turn in and chassis stability? And why do you want it [for the track?] You can get better turn in with an alignment adjusting your front toe. As far as weight, the easiest things to try getting lighter seats (saves ~100lbs) and lighter mufflers (saves ~30 lbs). Going extreme, you can remove rear seats and sound deadening from the rear and get another 100-150 lbs out. Also, it doesn't help to have a 150 pound glass roof messing with your center of gravity -td

Drive a Cayenne around the block a couple of times, and then take your 996 out for a spin. I assure you it will feel very light!

Go to the gym.

Feel lighter without removing weight? Humm.... well you could put 17" x 7, 8 wheels on it with 215 front tires and 235 on the rear. Run with 40 and 46 PSI. I will guarantee the car will feel lighter, respond quicker to steering input, etc. Oh... I never knew our cars felt heavy. I admit, I've never driven a Miata, and it's been years since I've had my MGs, Minis, Sunbeam, XKE, etc. I know, funny answers to a funny question.

Just noticed you own a Targa. I can't relate, I go topless most of the time. Now I can just imagine, your car is like driving with a person sitting on your roof or like driving down a twisting canyon on a sport bike with a passenger standing up on the pegs.

Actual weight reduction as mentioned will lighten the feel of your Porsche, and rear seat removal is very simple to reverse if you want to actually carry anyone who might fit back there. They don't weigh much, yet they lighten in the rear of the car and that's good. Lighter wheels or any other unsprung weight reduction should contribute to 'better' handling, and I would recommend the ROW MO3O over stock. My 1960 Bugeye Sprite that I owned for 30 yrs. felt light because it was...17??+ lbs. and a very 'twitchy' steering, almost too sensitive.

Date thinner women

I'm not sure I'd agree that our cars are heavy by modern standards! Typically, a lighter feel is accomplished with less rotating mass, and then less weight at the extremities. Sounds like you don't have much room to maneuver there. But I'll say this: If you want it to feel light, find a track and drive it faster. They feel like they drop about 800 pounds above 160kph or so.

Well two things you are driving the Targa, I have one too, and that glass increases the overall weight of the car quite a lot. Secondly you don't want to make the suspension too stiff as you risk the possibility of ejecting the glass from the roof. This is something I have been warned about as I was about to track out my suspension but was told of a couple of incidents where the car becomes so stiff that it will eject the glass. I don't want the poor sod behind me getting the scare of his life thinking my targa has an ejection seat, and secondly I don't fancy paying for a new roof......

Get a Miata!

There is only so much you can do to lighten your car before it becomes a track car! I would think lighter rims would save 5-10lbs per wheel (without going $insane$ on rims) over OEM, lighter battery, lighter exhaust cans are the easy items. Then things get expensive, such as carbon front hoods, lighter body work, lighter rotors, OEM wing changed to aftermarket and OEM suspension pieces changed out for high buck aftermarket, carbon seats etc. If your not going to track the car I wouldn't do much more then the rims and maybe the exhaust/header changes. I think you'll find that for a street car - the first hundred pound savings can cost a few thousand (rims, new cans etc.) and the next hundred pounds costs 3X the first hundred pound savings! Don't ask about the next hundred pounds after the first two. Race cars are a lot easier as the parts stripped off can be sold to other owners for their street cars. Then the second wave of upgrading on the race car begins with the Moton's and gets way Diamond American Express card serious soon after. As your car is a Targa and has a fixed weight level that will always be a little higher then coupes (unless you go mad!) - I'd leave it to a few changes that can be unbolted and OEM put back on if you change your mind/sell the car. My 2cents.

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Doh!

Or 1969 Mini weight...

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I could stand to lose 20 lbs. I'll let my wife know fellow Rennlister's said she should go to the gym! or maybe not.

Barn996 1960 Sprite 1318# http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/d...=8175&i=2#menu

Lighter rims and tires are an effective way to make your car feel faster and lighten your wallet. It is amazing the difference in the same size tire. Continental seems to have the advantage here. The Conti 3s 2s DWSs and DWs all have a fairly decent weight advantage over most of the competition. 17 Volk or BBS RGRs will make a dramatic difference to. You can sometimes shave 10lbs per corner with the right setup. Now that is assuming that you are switching from gravity or low pressure cast wheels to 1 or 2 piece fully forged wheels and going to a lighter tire. If you go to tirerack.com, you can compare the various weights of different brands of tires.

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This isn't a funny answer at all, it's the right one! I think the OP wants that light car steering feel, and smaller wheels will do that for you. I just replaced the lobster forks on my 997 with Sport Classics and you feel the extra weight of those wheels in the steering and sometimes the clutch. On my wife's Boxster the steering is featherweight and nimble on 17s, more so than my Box S was on the 18" MY02 lightweights. To OP--there's no noticeable handling penalty for 17" on your Targa, tires are cheaper, and the wheels can be had for a song. Go for it and don't look back!

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Thanks fpb111...I thought my bugeye was 1700+ lbs NOT 1318lbs. Thanks for the info.

I like these black Vorsteiner wheels http://www.vorsteiner.com/Wheels/1PieceCast/01/3.jpg , but not sure how much they weigh. I would like to stick to 18s for summer, but maybe a lighter weight wheel. However I already have the "lightweight" Carrera 18s. If I could loose 5 lbs per corner that may help.

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I notice how light and nimble my wife's Boxster feels as well. I always think that my Carrera feels great, quick steering. and light. But then a quick blast down the street and around a couple of turns in the 17" shod Boxter, and my car feels like a tank in comparison. I may get a set of 17s just to try. I doubt you'd even notice the difference in traction on the street even driving fairly aggressively.

well I vote NO on the ROW - not gonna do it for ya.. the X73/X74 or some combo of lower springs and bigger sway bars will make a differance - alignment is a majoy plus - I put in the CF GT3 Euro seats and some other things and to honest my car felt great....till I got in the 86'.... now I am thinking I would buy q 71-73 next time I can tell you - drive a 997 C4S and you will think your car is already light !

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Funny thing is, the reference wheel for the design of the 996 suspension was 17". I think the 18" is regarded not as the best wheel for the car, but as the best compromise between looks and performance.

Optical time delay and integrate? I sense another nerd in our mist.

Drive faster

If you are after "feel" the first step should be to inspect all suspension bushings and motor/tranny mounts to make sure they are all still within spec. Worn bushings and mounts can generate a lot of slop which makes the car feel heavy and non-responsive. Then, get a good alignment, possibly to settings that are more aggressive than stock. Given that you are starting with a Targa, getting actual weight out of the car may seem pointless... but you could always try some of the following and see if the car "feels" better in your opinion. If not, reverse. If so, win! CHEAP Items lbs. remove all 4 floor mats -5 remove spare tire + toolkit -30 LW battery (e.g. Oddessy 925) -20 remove rear seatbacks -20 empty glovebox & cabin -7 drain wiper fluid -11 run 1/4 tank gas (-11 gls @ 6lbs ea = 66lbs lighter than full tank) -66 remove stereo, install center console delete -23 total cheap items (182) EXPENSIVE stuff install GT3 seats (pair) -40 LW mufflers (pair) -35 LW Flywheel -15 TRG Carbon Fiber hood -21 Grand Total (272)

If your weights are accurate, then 182lbs is significant on the cheap. Unfortunately, 1 passenger pretty much negates that reduction.(unless you track a lot). Good info.

182 lbs. feels like an additional 50hp.