which is better to reduce sluggishness

[sebassttiann]

ok i have a 98 GS with Apexi N1 exhaust. i just added about 100 pounds of stereo equipment to the car. now car is extra sluggish and acceleration reduced intensely. now i knew this would happen when i did this but damn. so question is, is it better to reduce weight in other parts of the car to increase my acceleration or is it better to buy parts that increase HP. now i know a big turbo kit or something would fix the problem but i have a small budget for temporary fixing. so should I lighten car with SEIBON carbon hood and carbon fenders(i know i wont reduce weight by 100 pounds but if i did even slight reduction would it help compared to stock weights) OR intake headers and a new TB???? if question is stupid im sorry and im well aware removing stereo will fix problems so i hope not to see that as a response. and if anybody knows weight of stock hood and fenders please let me know thanks

 

[Denji]

your spare tire is around 20 pounds, a carbon fiber hood will save you around 20 lbs and im sure you could save around 5-10 with the fenders. However, i cant imagine it being as bad as your saying, i think it is in your head. I barely notice a difference when i go for a ride with one of my friends, and thats more than a hundred lbs.

 

[DSM90AWD]

ok i have a 98 GS with Apexi N1 exhaust. i just added about 100 pounds of stereo equipment to the car. now car is extra sluggish and acceleration reduced intensely.

Not much HP to begin with so more weight would definitely have a more noticable impact to performance.

There are tons of weight reduction tips out there (search), some which eliminate luxury (A/C, sound deadening) or safety (bumpers).

 

[sebassttiann]

well the question was which would help more. HP/torque additions or weight reductions. well aware of how to lighten car. and also im not sure about this or not so dont quote me but i think 100 pounds of dead weight (luggage or stereo equipment) effects performance different then a passenger to a certain degree (I.e. trying to pick up dead body versus picking up person of same weight who is alive and conscious) but like i said thats just a theory and since the weight is in back of car i feel like im towing shit.

 

[Sotarts]

Try to quickly start runing with no weight. Then try to quickly start runing with 50 lbs of weight, whether it's alive and moving all around or dead weight (doesn't matter in the car). If you suddenly became a much bigger person, able to lift up 50 extra lbs and feel like load hasn't increased--you'll accellerate as fast as before. Your engine just has to haul more weight now.

Two choices you have:
1. Increase engine output and suffer worsened fuel economy.
2. Or simply remove weight.

Keeping your tires properly inflated, believe it or not, makes a very noticeable difference. The harder the tires, the faster you'll roll with less effort.

Lighter aftermarket quality wheels with lower profile tire (proper pressure) will help (20 lbs savings, easily). Rear seats (upper and lower parts) are at least 20 lbs altogether. If you want to risk driving around without spare tire and jack, that's 50+ lbs. There's your 100 lbs and you don't have to mess with the engine.

You can also do something crazy like get lighter "racing" seats and save almost 20 lbs more (not all "racing" seats are lighter, some are just as heavy or heavier), along with a carbon fiber/fiberglass hood, saving 30+ lbs more. Are you 5-speed--you can replace your flywheel with a lighter one, saving 5+ lbs. Aren't headers on N/T cast steel? Aftermarket mild/stainless steel might be lighter perhaps?

When did you get the aftermarket exhaust? That might be contributing to less performance at low RPM's and perhaps more weight if the exhaust is stainless steel. I wouldn't mess with fenders. You can replace stock airbox with K&N or similar air filter for more airflow.

 

[sebassttiann]

jesus christ i love the orange and black on your car. i normally wouldn;t have liked that but i do. i think i am gonna find a blend of the two directions since it was gonna happen eventually rather then try to do one thing all at once.