Hey everybody, I remember seeing a post a long time ago where I guy got ATTACKED for posting about how he took out his rear seats, and nobody could believe his stupidity.

"Why would you take out our rear seats?? they RECLINE line in a Maybach!!"
"NOW where are you gonna ****??"
"Now your cargo space is practically unuseable because all the innards are exposed"
"if you wanted a 2 seater, you should've bought one"

Well, I got tired of how my car felt so bloated whenever I had one of my big guy buddies in the car (300+ lbs) and I could stand to lose some weight myself (230lbs.... yah) or even my girlfriend who isn't "exactly" a supermodel (undisclosed weight as the gods would banish me for eternity) SOOOO I started ripping crap out of the car and throwing it on my digital scale (accurate to 0.5%), and decided what I NEEDED and what I didn't. BUT I stupidly threw away the paper I was writing everything down on after I was done with it, and could've used it to give 100% accuracy to the weight of things in the car (Doh!) But I will say, I'll put an asterisk (*) next to the things I remember accurate, and the others are probably accurate but I don't want somebody ripping out the part and proving me wrong. (also, your results may vary, I had extra crap in my car too, as I'm sure we all do) The end total was within a few lbs of what I got last night, so I know it's close enough to matter. Oh, and the # symbol means I put it back in for aesthetics.


Without further Ado:
rear floor mat .8lbs EACH #
front floor mat 3.6lbs EACH #
cargo MDF floor cover 3.4lbs #
rear cargo cover mat 4.2lbs #
*CD's 2.4lbs # (replaced with Ipod)
*rear seat bottom 10.1lbs
*rear seat top 44.2lbs
*rear seat belt bottoms 2.2lbs
*bolts for rear seats & belts 1.1lbs
engine cover 2.3lbs
*spare tire 23.0lbs
*jack 4.6lbs
center spare foam w/acc 5.2lbs
*rear left & right foam 1.1lbs #
*rear plastic & fabric molding 11.2lbs** SEE NOTE
*Glove compartment accessories 3.3lbs (owners manual +other junk)
*road side assistance kit 19.6lbs
*winter emergency kit 4.8lbs
*Official Scion car cover 6.2lbs

Total = 157.7lbs
Total removed after putting back in parts = 139.2lbs
NOTE: I have custom mounted displays for my amplifiers in the MDF that rests against the back seats, probably adds 5lbs at the MOST, so should be more like 6lbs. - I'll be putting it back in as soon as my system is finished.
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Ok... now I'm sure I'll hear it, but you should listen to my side of the story here about the back seats.... I have owned my TC for 1year and 10months and in that time, I have had 3 instances where I needed my back seats, once the FIRST DAY I got the car and was showing it off to people and had everybody piled in the car, and another where a buddy went with me and my GF to the movies from the mall and didn't want to take 2 cars. The third is undisclosed Christening my TC *ahem*. THAT'S IT. Other than that, I don't use the back seats and leave them folded flat every day. IF I ever needed them again, I could just put them in before I go out somewhere, it's only 12 bolts (including seat belt bolts) to get it back in, which would take me about 30mins.

Phew.. ok - now I also did a little more calculations on weight, found that standard US Gasoline weighs between 5.8-6.5lbs/gallon, so at that our tank weighs 84.1-94.25lbs. (say 90 to be even) - 1 Gallon of water weighs 8.33lbs, so figuring that in for the windshield washer fluid that would be about 8lbs. If you drive around all day long with 1/2 a tank of gas, that saves 45lbs and the windshield washer fluid saves say, about 5lbs at 1/4-1/2 full. ALL THE WHILE NOT SPENDING $0.01

That's nearly 200lbs off a fully streetable car and the only crompromise is rear seats. I also bought a can of FIX A FLAT (also have AAA) and put it in the back with the keys to my wheel locks, so that added 2.1lbs AND cost me $3.47. I'm looking into getting and Odyssey PC680 battery (14.8lbs to replace the stocker (38lbs) at a cost of $100.

That's nearly 250lbs off a fully streetable car that just won't "look" as pretty in the interior for $103.47 and require 2x the gas stops to fill 1/2 way. I do have sound deadener on the way and doing the ENTIRE car will add 56lbs not accounting for removing stock deadener. Your choice. Oh, and I do plan to go AutoX'ing this year and there is a DEFINITE handling difference with 1/4 tank of gas, but now the rear is too light because almost everything came off the mid-rear of the car, time to strip the engine bay, maybe custom mount all the fluid tanks in the now empty rear floor as cutouts with plexiglass, custom mount the battery like Raamaudio did in the rear above the passenger side axel... hmm...

 

Most of it makes sense and if you don't need it, might as well take it out.

As for the autox-ing and gas... I'd recommend 1/2 tank there. Otherwise you might get some stalling around sharp right turns if you have 1/4 tank. I've had it and I know a few others have on here. There was some thread we were comparing in.

 

Thats actually impressive. That takes the car down to a 2750 LB car. That is a HUGE difference when comparing cars. Anyone that says it isnt. Look back to VS threads where people claim this car is faster than this car because of a few measly couple hundred pounds.

On the other hand, stripping the interior will possibly take you out of STS?? in autocross and make your running alittle harder to compete.

 

Just be careful with the Fix-A-Flat stuff. I have heard that stuff can throw off the "flat tire" sensor in our cars.

 

The other thing about fix-a-flat is that often they are unable to patch a tire after that stuff has been used. So it should be just emergencies only. But if you're taking out the spare and getting that stuff, you're probably aware of it anways.

 

Well, my plan was in case of emergency when I can't call AAA or someone else to get me/tow my car, then just enough to get me home where I have my stock wheels w/winter/all season tires I can run on until the tire gets fixed/replaced. I'm just hoping the fix-a-flat won't damage the tire/aftermarket wheels, or stop them from being able to re-use the tire if the foam causes any damage...

On the stalling issue on low tank, I've had it happen to me during an autoX and had to go get gas between runs LOL - Our tank is shaped like an oval that's flat on top and bottom, with suction from the center of the tank, so when it gets really low the tank sloshes and moves the gas away from suction.

OH and also, PLEASE keep in mind I kept things in my car that a stock car WOULD NOT HAVE - like the road side assistance kit, winter kit, car cover, amps, CD's etc for an estimated total of 40.4lbs over a stock car, so anyone else with a totally stock car would only see a reduction of 117.3lbs after removal. YOUR RESULTS MAY VARY FROM MINE!! I carried more crap than stock around with me. SOO I think the 2950 quoted weight of the TC is dry weight - meaning no gas - meaning my car weighs 2832 DRY after what I did, but that's not counting my other mods like lightweight wheels/tires saving 41lbs over stock total. I'm estimating my car weighs under 2800lbs dry, or 3066 with 1/2 a tank of gas AND me in it.

 

Wow, the rear seat top is 44lbs? I might have to think about taking that out next time I goto the track.

 

You can't get to half of the bolts holding the rear seat top unless you pull out the rear seat cushion by grabbing the front and back of one side of the seat and pulling up with force until you hear it snap, then do the other side, and slide it out towards the front seats (you'll see the metal brackets holding it in you need to slide out) and don't forget to push the seat belt snaps through the seat, I got confused why it wasn't coming out when I was pulling - the rear seat bolts are covered up by the MDF flap, to remove it, there are 10mm or 11mm bolts under the metal rings to hold the carpet down, pop the center up with a flathead screwdriver (I used my scion key, just as easy) then you can pull the entire MDF board out, and the plastic piece under that is just held in by clips. Total weight saved from rear seat top and bottom, and plastic/MDF removed = 60+lbs - total time = 15-20mins.

 

weird question. Do you (or someone) have pics of the rear seats removed? I was wondering if the small eu-700 subs might be able to fabbed under the rear seats. I know its along shot, but it would be a nice hide.

 

gj on the right up!

 

I don't have pics, but I could take some - it's not pretty under there (yet) too much bare metal, will look a lot better once my ensolite and raammat are down. I'll try and get some pics tonight (after 5pm EST)

 

The pic below should give you an idea of starting weight. That is on a state certified scale, so it is very accurate. Those scales move in increments of 20 lbs, so it could be 10 lbs off at most. That is a 5 spd with 1/2 tank of gas and my laptop bag inside.

 

SWEET you saved me the trip to the weigh scales Engifineer! Thanks man

 

sure the back seats recline, but they aren't that comfortable sitting in them reclined as the bottom doesn't move and it has the indent for your a$$ so it kinda hits your tailbone, haha. and it doesn't take your head any further from the rear glass either. heck, the back seat is for passengers and they usually don't pay for gas so who needs em and the weight they add to our not-so-light cars! @-)

 

I wasn't aware that they were so heavy.. I think I'm going to have to remove them.

I would like to see the pics to see how it looks without them.

 

you notice a differance in the way ti accels now?

 

Otocan,
Great to see somebody embracing weight control issues, it makes a huge difference!!!
As for the back seats, I have mine out almost always but will sometimes need them so considering rebuilding the seat backs internals out of aluminum and delete the recline feature, this should save around 25lbs or so.
I would use a set of our Schroth 3 point belts for any passenger are well, they are less weight than the stock belts and I can convert them to snap in and hook them to some forged eyebolts like we did for the front belts.

That way we can change in a few minutes from full race harnesses to the Schroths which are more comfortable and easier to get into and out of for road trips, etc.
I have alot of money in hanesses!!!!


Moving the battery to the rear will really make a nice handling improvement, gauranteed!

Rick

 

there is an obvious difference in the way it does everything, especially oversteer because of what I did to the weight balance. Acceleration is better (most noticeably in the top RPM ranges, just keeps pulling) braking is firmer before ABS lock, turn-in has improved, and shifting the weight of the car side to side is much smoother. Oh, and rear view is improved because you don't need to worry about the rear seat getting in the way. OH and the more weight you pull off your car, the better your MPG gets

The only downside aside of the obvious is NOISE - you can hear all the rocks and dirt pinging against the metal underneath where the seats used to be, and against the rear where the spare used to be. Also my TRD exhaust is louder inside when you step on it, but not much changed at cruising. Sound deadener should fix that, and should make it even better than when it was stock even with everything removed.

Rick, I was also thinking of fabbing brackets for race seats for the rear, but that would be way, way down the road when I replace the fronts and have less important things to look into.

 

If you're serious about shedding every pound possible, you can also take out:

-front passenger seat
-floor carpet
-rear seat side trim
-hatch trim
-hatch side trim
-headunit
-speakers
-glovebox
-center armrest/console

You would be left with the:
-center dash (you might need those hazard lights)
-driver's seat
-shift ****

I drove to Home Depot like this when I was getting tools to do my sound deadening project. It was LOUD in there without having anything to absorb the sound. The car had an echo! I did do a few WOT runs and the car did feel a bit quicker! But i guess you would only do this if you were doing your auto-x, drag, auto-w, racing thingymabob, whatever you gearheads do.

 

engine cover 2.3 lbs? is that accurate? also to the people that were talking about fix a flat the main reason you shouldnt try to use it is so when the guy that changes your tire at the tire shops breaks the bead on the tire the cr** goes all over him and he gets ____ed and scratches your rim haha