Kelk

Heavy sports cars are unnecessary and should be removed from the road.

Why?

They are heavier and therefore more than likely to be bigger than their lightweight (sub 1000kg) brethren.

[Environment]

Sub 1 ton cars are fast so the driver still gets the same pleasure but for less weight, therefore smaller engines can be used, therefore less fuel used, therefore better for the environment.

[Safety]

The higher weight means the car takes longer to stop than a light weight car with the same brakes and therefore the driver needs better visibility around them and we all know that sports cars don't have the best visibility due to their low compact nature.

[Size]

A heavier car is more likely to be bigger and so uses a bigger road foot print.

[Tyre wear]

Without a doubt the heavier the car the higher the tyre wear, therefore more environment impact.

So the S2000 and all other sports cars should be removed from the road if they are performance ones as the model has been proven by Lotus, Ariel, Caterham, Westfield, etc etc

lovegroova

No need for them to be removed, but they should pay higher tax...

Lighter sports cars are preferable to heavy ones.

Kelk

OK so heavier ones are selfish purchases, worse for the environment, louder and probably more inefficient?

Shiskine

Did you work that one out all by yourself?

lovegroova

They are certainly worse for the environment as they use more fuel.

Heavier cars are likely to be louder too as the extra weight means the engines have to work harder, although things like Caterhams and so on tend to have less bodywork so more engine and exhaust noise is emitted from them, thus equalising things in that department.

I've already listed most of the benefits of light vs heavy cars in the 4x4 thread this afternoon - so this is covering old ground a bit.

Kelk

Well done on the pocket sarcasm but when you consider:

A) everything on S2ki has to be justified

B) an extreme flaw in your sarcasm is that a dragster, and yes I appreciate that it is not a road going sportscar, can have a 25 feet long wheel base and yet weigh just over a ton

I thought I'd make the original point ot ram home the effect.

Thanks for playing but keep pressing and guessing

Paper Lawyer

Totally agree. In fact, crush all S2 elises in favour of the more lightweight S1.

Actually, crush all sports cars and 4x4s and stick to motorbikes.

Dembo

Less weight means less grip, so that cancels out (not really). However, in an accident the heavier your car is makes things better for you (and worse for the people in the other car). It's much safer for you and your passengers in a big heavy car than in a light plastic one.

But, lightweight means more acceleration for less power at low speed, but the faster you go, air resistance becomes a bigger and bigger factor. A 240bhp S2000 has a higher top speed than a 120bhp Elise, because weight doesn't matter and power and drag is everything for top speed.

Better to ban un-aerodynamic cars, like Caterhams.

soulcrew

that's the bits i like.

MRmike

I'd argue my M3 is extremely efficient. It produces loads of plant food, and it sits 4 people rather than the 2 of the S2000.

Every one should have a V8