Why are Muscle Cars so Goddam Heavy?

Kinja'd!!! "marshknute" (marshknute)
05/25/2015 at 20:59 • Filed to: None

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I’m sorry, but Ford and GM must be intentionally adding weight to make the Mustang and Camaro so damn big and heavy. And it’s not like they need extra bodywork to accommodate a V8 engine b/c Monster Miata has no problem shoehorning V8’s into NA Miata’s.

Kinja'd!!!

By comparison, my Subaru WRX weighs roughly 3300 lbs, yet offers 4 doors, 3 rear seats, a big trunk, AWD, and a 268 hp turbocharged engine. Yet despite all that, it’s 7 inches shorter, 4 inches narrower, and 200 lbs lighter than an Ecoboost Mustang.

And I’ll forgive the Challenger since it’s badass in Hellcat guise!


DISCUSSION (25)


Kinja'd!!! jkm7680 > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:01

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Because.


Kinja'd!!! MultiplaOrgasms > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:02

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That extra weight makes them groundeder to the ground.


Kinja'd!!! SaveTheIntegras > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:05

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freedom is just that heavy


Kinja'd!!! Jedidiah > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:05

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Most cars nowadays are pretty damn heavy.

The muscle cars are built off full-size platforms so they’ll obviously be bigger and heavier than a compact WRX or or even mid-size performance vehicles on the hefty size


Kinja'd!!! TheHondaBro > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:06

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Because they’re muscle cars. If you want a track car, get a Lotus.


Kinja'd!!! Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:09

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Because ‘MURICA. That’s why.


Kinja'd!!! norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:14

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Need that weight to keep the car still when doing mad burnouts bro. Don’t like it you can get the hell outta ‘Murica.

/pretty much all sarcasm.


Kinja'd!!! Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:15

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Because they’re long, tall, and wide. Weight scales to the 3rd degree (cubic) with increase in linear dimensions.

I would like to see which manufacturer makes the least dense vehicles, but it might be kind of difficult to measure the exterior volume of a car.


Kinja'd!!! BaconSandwich is tasty. > Short-throw Granny Shifter is 2 #blessed 2b stressed
05/25/2015 at 21:29

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I’m guessing the winner would be something like a Ford Econoline.


Kinja'd!!! Frenchlicker > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:35

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I think it comes back to that bastard that ruins nice things, nostalgia. Mix that with government regulations and you get an odd mix.


Kinja'd!!! BmacIL > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:40

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1. They’re overall pretty large vehicles - the Mustang being similar in length and wider than most family sedans.

2. Their chassis and body structures are designed around a V8 and the forces it generates = more weight.

3. Particularly with the new Mustang, there are more airbags than ever, and more sound deadening than ever. This last point, however, makes it VERY comfortable cruising on the highway.

4. Price point: it could most definitely be lighter and still do great on all the new crash safety standards with different materials, but then it would no longer be affordable


Kinja'd!!! That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 21:53

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Because freedom ain't free...or light.


Kinja'd!!! boxrocket > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 22:01

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Safety equipment, structural reinforcement, airbags, electronics, powertrain, noise reduction, etc.

Subaru uses thin, cheap steel, thin sound deadening, thin glass, and more to minimize weight which offsets the AWD system and maximize fuel economy and internal space.

Muscle/pony cars aren’t focused on fuel economy or being particularly roomy. Compare the Mustang, Camaro, and Challenger to any German RWD coupe, a Jaguar F-Type and XK, 370Z/G37/Q?? coupe, Genesis coupe, etc.


Kinja'd!!! Nobi > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 22:15

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To be fair, the muscle cars from the ‘70’s weren't exactly Exiges either.


Kinja'd!!! TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 22:15

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Muscle is denser then fat. Weighs more


Kinja'd!!! Variance > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 22:18

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The Lexus RC-F is a 2-door, V8-powered coupe that weighs just shy of 4000 lb in base trim; even the BMW M3 and M4, which had weight-reduction as a design focus, weigh over 3600 lb. Basically all cars are heavy nowadays, unfortunately.


Kinja'd!!! DoYouEvenShift > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 22:49

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If your Subaru was designed from the factory to handle a 450/450+ V8. I bet the weight would get up there too.


Kinja'd!!! Jayhawk Jake > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 23:21

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Your WRX is only like 200 pounds lighter. My hate not much difference, and I’m pretty sure the muscle cars are bigger (wider at least)

They aren't THAT heavy considering their size. Expecting them to be light is crazy


Kinja'd!!! PS9 > marshknute
05/25/2015 at 23:32

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Monster Miata has no problem shoehorning V8’s into NA Miata’s

Monster Miata also doesn’t have to guarantee their products will meet federal crash testing standards.


Kinja'd!!! BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 00:02

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GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

crumple zones, pedestrian impact space under the hood, a dozen airbags, SUV-height side impact, roof crush regs, NVH insulation (heavier panels vibrate at a lower, inaudible frequency, and sound insulation adds weight), amenities, 15 different processors for enough automated parking, pre-emptive braking, telematics, diagnostics, traffic-aware cruise control, and sonar parking aids to make a car ready for remote control.

That, plus enough drivetrain durability, coolant capability and everything else that warranty requires, to handle 400+ horsepower, suspend such a ~3500lb bodywork, and added weight of occupants and cargo, and bring it to a halt.

In light of all that, ~3500lbs is not so bad, and about average for an average-sized new car. Challenger at 4000+ lbs is a bit much.

Fast

Affordable

Light weight

Pick any two.


Kinja'd!!! Berang > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 02:50

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It’s easier to produce and design a heavy car. Adding lightness without sacrificing strength is difficult, especially on a mass produced item. Plus it’s a muscle car, not a “true” sports car so a few hundred extra pounds doesn’t make people want them any less.


Kinja'd!!! random001 > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 07:46

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Try picking up that 7 x 4 inches of extra steel, glass, wiring, etc. etc. and see if it doesn’t equate to 200 lbs. You’d be surprised.

Case in point, remember the 5th gen Legacy GT? Midsize sedan, AWD, 268 turbocharged HP in an EJ25, also ~200 lbs heavier than a WRX. So metal weighs stuff, you know.


Kinja'd!!! SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 07:47

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Because they’re massive and soft boulevard cruisers primarily based on family sedans. The Mustang hasn’t been a sports car since 1969, the current incarnation Camaro was never a sports car, and the Challenger is a Chrysler 300 with functionality removed.


Kinja'd!!! SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 07:48

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Because they’re massive and soft boulevard cruisers primarily based on family sedans. The Mustang hasn’t been a sports car since 1969, the current incarnation Camaro was never a sports car, and the Challenger is a Chrysler 300 with functionality removed.


Kinja'd!!! SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > marshknute
05/26/2015 at 07:49

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Because they’re massive and soft boulevard cruisers primarily based on family sedans. The Mustang hasn’t been a sports car since 1969, the current incarnation Camaro was never a sports car, and the Challenger is a Chrysler 300 with functionality removed.