wow, I only just discovered this thread...
I?ve torn lots of stuff out of my car, but I?ve also kept quite a few things, because it is both daily driver and track car. I?m not big on subwoofers and the likes, but I have kept my stereo as well as the A/C, because these things are really nice to have when you?re stuck in traffic at 35? on the way to the ring...
I think I should have lost somewhere between 80 and 90 kg by now, and there is still quite a bit of room for improvement...
Making cars lighter is great, simply because it improves performance in every possible way. And the only form of tuning where you don?t have to wonder (or answer questions about) whether or not you?ve actually managed to improve anything, because you can?t possibly make anything worse...
As you?ve noticed, the T?V doesn?t really like CF or GRP parts... There are some that are legal because they?ve undergone crash tests, but these tend to be so ridiculously expensive that there isn?t much point. Plastic windows are actually not so much of a problem, they just need to have the "E" stamp on them to be road legal. But again, quite expensive in relation to the amount of weight loss, and they also scratch really easily and will usually look like crap after a short time period...
As far as wheels go, you may want to look at the "ATS DTC superlight", as nothing else comes even close concerning value for money. There is no other 17" rim with T?V approval that will combine lightness (I think it?s like 7kg for the 7.5x17) with cheapness this well... this is the one:
The T?V-Gutachten usually allows you a lot of freedom concerning tire dimensions as well, so getting the approval shouldn?t cost much more than about 20? or so.
Bucket seats are also not a problem at all, especially not since you already got rid of the rear seats. And if you can?t find any that are specifically T?V approved for your car, you?ll usually get them approved for less than 100?. As far as seats concerned I?d be very picky though, because a crappy seat will really ruin the fun on long drives...
The original brakes are pretty small to start with, and braking already improves with lower weight. I think a better (and usually larger) brake would not be lighter, would it?
you?d be surprised... the "floating" caliper set up required by single piston brakes is usually quite heavy, and the really nice (ie expensive) big brake kits are usually quite a bit lighter while offering massive amounts of stopping power...
you seem to be quite serious about this, so you should really be asking these questions here:
http://www.touristenfahrerforum.de/forum/
these guys have loads of experience in making cars lighter, especially when it comes to keeping the whole thing road legal...
I don't know about the Evo RS but WRC cars have electric windows so he may have a point about them being lighter.
not necessarily, the weight differences will tend to be quite small... the much bigger problem is that the roll cage gets in the way of the little crank that moves the windows, and in racecars you?ll usually be so strapped into your seat that you wouldn?t reach them anyway...
