1996 Golf Mk3 GTI 8V - reducing weight

[simon44]

Hi, has anyone got any advice on reducing weight from the MK3? I've got a completely standard 3 door and I'm mulling over reducing its weight a little. Perhaps changing the front seats to lighter bucket seats (if I can find some at a reasonable cost), removing the spare and possibly some of the interior trim. If anyone has any advice and thoughts I'd be interested to hear them!


I'm also looking to make a few light performance mods including a decent oil from the guys at Opie and a K&N panel filter. Are there any other light mods that will add performance?

Many thanks for your help.



Simon

[VR6_Wherry]

I've completely stripped the interior of my car and i can honestly say it does feel a little different when driving it.

Get the lot out, door cards, rear seats, carpet, underlay, head lining, Aircon....what ever you can but remember your going to have nothing in there and it won't look great at all. To be fair it's not worth it IMO....

The only reason i have done all that is to replace the carpet underlay as i was sourcing a leak and it's ten times easier with a blank canvas. It will be back to normal within a couple of weeks however.

[Wayne]

Welcome to the site, you will lose some weight but not a lot also day to day comfort will suffer.

[Deano2711]

Try Weight Watchers   

[Paul86S2]

It is very worthwhile performance wise.

As an example a standard 16v has 128 bhp per ton. If you reduce the weight by 100 kgs the bhp per ton goes up to 140, and if you reduce the weight by 130 kgs (as I have in mine) it goes up to 145 bhp per ton.

Reducing the weight increases the power to weight ratio and makes a big differance. As an example on a short straight on a track I can usually hit 100mph by the braking point with my wife in the car, without her I can hit 106mph. Before anyone says she must be a fat munter she weighs about 60 kgs.

It all depends on what you want the car for and how much you can take out without sacrificing comfort, safety, etc.

Mine is mainly a track car and anything not needed or to expensive to replace with something lighter has gone.

Paul

[Len]

Try Weight Watchers  

Not as funny as it seems! I weigh approx 110 kgs so a lighter driver beats me everytime!
And carts? well forget it!

[Jimp]

Paul86S2, do you have a thread about your track car by any chance? Interested in seeing what you have done with it 

[simon44]

Thanks guys. So, I'll start with a diet for me right after Christmas! GTI_Wherry, when you stripped yours was there anything that you removed that was heavier than you expected?

Cheers,


Simon

[Paul86S2]

Paul86S2, do you have a thread about your track car by any chance? Interested in seeing what you have done with it 

Just added one at:

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=138331.0

Paul

[A7 UFO]

you've stripped 130kgs from a mk3?  I wouldn't have thought seats, door cards, flooring and headlining would amount to that much.