Lightened Yaris

[why?]

Originally Posted by TLyttle

Oversteer can have its advantages, but neutral is where one wants to be. Neutral at all speeds is the fastest way from point A to point B. I concur that a tail-happy car is really fun, but too much of a good thing becomes lethal, ie, early Porsches...

Not really interested in the fastest way from point a to point b. Interested in enjoying the drive. If I was interested in speed I would buy a sports car.

[MUSKOKA800]

A bit extreme. Why not just drive a kart if you don't want creature comforts.
Hmmm... remove the steering wheel and clamp a pair of vicegrips onto the shaft. Save more weight and have a tool handy when in need.

[why?]

Originally Posted by MUSKOKA800

A bit extreme. Why not just drive a kart if you don't want creature comforts.
Hmmm... remove the steering wheel and clamp a pair of vicegrips onto the shaft. Save more weight and have a tool handy when in need.

why drive at all? Why not walk? If you want creature comforts why buy a yaris? Go get a lexus or some other car that actually has them.

Stop being a judgmental moron and realize that everyone else does not want the exact same thing you do.

[Biff]

Originally Posted by why?

why drive at all? Why not walk? If you want creature comforts why buy a yaris? Go get a lexus or some other car that actually has them.

Stop being a judgmental moron and realize that everyone else does not want the exact same thing you do.

right...

[Jason@SportsCar]

Originally Posted by MUSKOKA800

A bit extreme. Why not just drive a kart if you don't want creature comforts.
Hmmm... remove the steering wheel and clamp a pair of vicegrips onto the shaft. Save more weight and have a tool handy when in need.

I think you missed my point... Making the car lighter does not make it more tipsy. Make it lighter and you will have less inertia trying to pull it over. Added bonus, better acceleration, brakes quicker, handling improves as well as using less fuel.

[docB]

Light is might. A lighter car, all other factors equal, will be quicker, better economy, etc...If one can lighten the vehicle in such a manner that the ratio of weight held up by the springs to the unsprung weight stays constant, then the vehicle will still ride "nice". Just gutting the interior can be good. At the Auto-x my Yaris ran in, I found a point where taken out the weight made the car tougher to drive. Over steer got to be an issue. I think you get a great benefit from lighter parts that spin or reciprocate. Lighter wheels and or tires, fly wheel & clutch, connecting rods. But how deep are your pockets?
doc

[Idahotom]

"LIGHT IS MIGHT", I like it!

My own take on adding lightness (?), at least on my Yaris, is also not to spend any money, as much as I'd like to carbon fiber everything, lighter wheels etc. Along with that, I'd rather not do anything that'd effect the resale value. While I admire the people who have the deep pockets to REALLY lighten things up, my focus is on not spending any money and making it lighter.

I've noticed just pushing it around in my shop is SO easy, and I've gotten in the habit of, after raising my shop door (converted hangar door and no remote) I just push it outside, then go back in the shop and close the door, then get in and finally start it, thus saving a minute or so of idling. Nothing like a ScanGauge to show you how idling really cuts into your mileage!

After looking at the aftermarket sway bars, I decided not to get one, too heavy! It is zippy enough on the corners as is, I'll just live with it stock. It's still pretty fun to drive! It might be too much fun with front and rear sway bars........

[HTM Yaris]

Tom: for track and autox I take out the rear "junk" so that I can utilize oversteer . In the mountains I leave everything in so that I can utilize understeer . I don't want my tail to be in the opposing lane !

Jason: First of all , I really admire what you have done with the Yaris

But it is really unfair to compare your fully track prepped Yaris with a street driven Yaris . I mean your Yaris looks like it has the correct weight reduction measures ( in all 3 planes ) . I mean really , those Goodyear ( which have extra stiff sidewalls BTW )slicks are enough to keep any vehicle from tipping over Not to mention I feel you have a custom suspension among other things . Try this , put your stock Goodyears on and put your glass back in or up ( not sure if you removed/replaced your glass ) . I feel certain that the stock tires will roll onto the sidewall then the wheels will dig in to the tarmac , then loopedy loop , you will make some body shop happy

Light is might . That is correct to a point . To the point that safety is compromised .
The OP doesn't have a roll cage to stiffen the Yaris up after the reduction in weight . Nor does he have 10.5" slicks with a custom suspension . Nor does he have the driving experience(Yaris) in a panic/performance situation like Jason does .

In no way am I saying that weight reduction shouldn't be done . I'm just trying to point out the potential pitfalls . Another pitfall I forgot to mention is that the Yaris will be more likely to hydroplane with weight reduction . I can't speak for anybody else , but I would not want to be hydroplaning on the downside of a 12% grade Not saying that will happen , but the potential will be increased with weight reduction .

[KrazyDawg]

What about replacing the hood, trunk, and side mirrors with carbon fiber? It might not be cost effective to go this route.

[why?]

Originally Posted by KrazyDawg

What about replacing the hood, trunk, and side mirrors with carbon fiber? It might not be cost effective to go this route.

it is definitely on my list of things to do, but as you mentioned, it is not cheap.

eventually, i will get the MI hood, and probably a seibon carbon hatch, unless there is better manufacturers that i don't know about yet.

i can't see the side mirror covers being worth it. I doubt they could possibly save any amount of weight compared to the cost. I'd almost thing titanium exhausts would be a better idea than mirror covers.

[why?]

Originally Posted by Idahotom

"LIGHT IS MIGHT", I like it!
My own take on adding lightness (?), at least on my Yaris, is also not to spend any money, as much as I'd like to carbon fiber everything, lighter wheels etc. Along with that, I'd rather not do anything that'd effect the resale value. While I admire the people who have the deep pockets to REALLY lighten things up, my focus is on not spending any money and making it lighter.

I've noticed just pushing it around in my shop is SO easy, and I've gotten in the habit of, after raising my shop door (converted hangar door and no remote) I just push it outside, then go back in the shop and close the door, then get in and finally start it, thus saving a minute or so of idling. Nothing like a ScanGauge to show you how idling really cuts into your mileage!

After looking at the aftermarket sway bars, I decided not to get one, too heavy! It is zippy enough on the corners as is, I'll just live with it stock. It's still pretty fun to drive! It might be too much fun with front and rear sway bars........

the front sway bar isn't really worth it, imo. the stock one is only 1 mm smaller i believe. Everyone says the rear is amazing, but I am still with you, too heavy for my tastes.

It would be different if i wanted to add power, but i really just want to add lightness.

Originally Posted by HTM Yaris

Tom: for track and autox I take out the rear "junk" so that I can utilize oversteer . In the mountains I leave everything in so that I can utilize understeer . I don't want my tail to be in the opposing lane !

Jason: First of all , I really admire what you have done with the Yaris

But it is really unfair to compare your fully track prepped Yaris with a street driven Yaris . I mean your Yaris looks like it has the correct weight reduction measures ( in all 3 planes ) . I mean really , those Goodyear ( which have extra stiff sidewalls BTW )slicks are enough to keep any vehicle from tipping over Not to mention I feel you have a custom suspension among other things . Try this , put your stock Goodyears on and put your glass back in or up ( not sure if you removed/replaced your glass ) . I feel certain that the stock tires will roll onto the sidewall then the wheels will dig in to the tarmac , then loopedy loop , you will make some body shop happy

Light is might . That is correct to a point . To the point that safety is compromised .
The OP doesn't have a roll cage to stiffen the Yaris up after the reduction in weight . Nor does he have 10.5" slicks with a custom suspension . Nor does he have the driving experience(Yaris) in a panic/performance situation like Jason does .

In no way am I saying that weight reduction shouldn't be done . I'm just trying to point out the potential pitfalls . Another pitfall I forgot to mention is that the Yaris will be more likely to hydroplane with weight reduction . I can't speak for anybody else , but I would not want to be hydroplaning on the downside of a 12% grade Not saying that will happen , but the potential will be increased with weight reduction .

what Jason said. You have it exactly opposite. stock and street tires make it harder for the car to tip over. a street tire would rather slide, not grip, and getting a street tire on the sidewalls in almost impossible.

You should note that the one known Yaris that tipped at an autocross had a stock suspension and some of the stickiest tires you can buy for the street.

And then re-read what Jason wrote.

[mazilla]

don't forget to remove the headliner, and depending on your local codes you might only need one side mirror...I'm just sayin. ;)

[AGlobalThreat]

Haha thats my other car no joke. :)