Car Performance Tests - Weight Factors

[fireguy]

It seems ironic to me that car companies got to such great lengths to save weight in a sports car and then when the media gets a hold of it, the factors for their tests are not all the same.

Example: they don't state whether they run the cars on a full tank or empty tank, and I know this sounds silly but what about the weight of the test driver ?(maybe there should be some sort of correction made for this). I mean if a 300lb guy tests the car instead of his 150lb colleague, then there goes the manufacturer's painstaking weight savings program.

I guess since the real world conditions vary so much, performance figures are just a general idea of a car's potential but I wanted to get your guys' thoughts.

[gobs3z]

When Road & Track do their test they give the weight of the car alone, and then the weight of the driver with the car. They're just trying to be fair in the test. I know what you mean though, the media needs to be more informative on that issue. But imagine how much it matters on motorcycles, 10lbs. alone is a BIG difference on sport bikes when comparing the power/weight ratio.

[adamk24]

I dont think its silly, I understand 100%. When ever I want someone to try driving my car, I ushally want them to take it out alone, because the difference with another person in the car makes that big a difference.

I will say this, for comparo tests, its not too important to consider that information, as they all takes turns driving on different conditions. However, for data like acceleration and handling, these things need to be taken into acount.

[bmwmpower]

thats weight is very important,
look at lotus- thats their motto