Here at AMS (Ander Motor Sports) we are currently finishing development on our Rear Seat Delete Kit for the Mini Cooper and Cooper S applications. Utilizing this kit, you can save around 40 pounds! Considering the small size of this car, weighing in at only 2,512 pounds, shaving off 40 is a very big improvement. If you are at all concerned about performance numbers and acceleration, you know that weight reduction is a huge step in the right direction. Not only does this installation look professional, it is relatively easy with simple handtools included in the kit, and anyone can do it in their driveway.The AMS Mini Cooper S is alot more "racy" looking without the rear seats, and I can feel a definite difference in its acceleration and handling characteristics without all that dead weight. Anyone who is interested in this kit can reach me at my personal Email, because the AMS network is currently experiencing trouble.

Tate Anderson
Tateae@aol.com

 

Hey,
Welcome to MCO.

Once the rear seats are removed are they easy to put back in?

 

>> Utilizing this kit, you can save around 40 pounds!
>> Considering the small size of this car, weighing in at only 2,512 pounds, shaving off 40 is a very big improvement.
>> I can feel a definite difference in its acceleration
>>Tate Anderson

Let's review here:

And you say you can FEEL a 1.5% change in acceleration.



_________________
<img src="http://bobodyne.com/web-docs/Images/Logo.jpg">

 

-Supermini03, yes this kit is not permanent, and can be put back in if you need to carry and extra 2 small people.

And in regards to trippy, yes, mass is reduced by between 1 and 2 percent, but any serious car enthusiast knows that relieving 40 punds off of any car, much more so for a car as light as the mini, is a huge gain. If you feel that this mod is not for you, then don't buy it. But for the serious driver out there who does feel that the want to get rid of all excess weight in their car, the largest amount that you can easily remove is in the backseat. Only so much can be taken out of a car while leaving it driveable, and 40 pounds is enormous. So for those of you who are serious about your mini, and wish to get every bit of performance out of this amazingmachine, drop me a note, and you can use this kit in your car.

Tate Anderson
Tateae@aol.com

 

Okey-Dokey.

Just pointing out that physics is all we're really dealing with here,
not the feelings of "serious car enthusiasts" as you say.

HEY, I spent $150 on a Whalen shifter. It adds 18 ounces.
Too bad I destroyed the performance.

You can certainly sell it however you wish, but I also can
question your theories. There's a lot of huxterism going around
in the automotive arena.

But I'm sure you really felt that boost in performance. I don't
mean to doubt your feelings about it. I'm glad you are offering
products to the faithful.

 

Don't worry about Trippy, Tateae, he's a chronic pessimist and bedwetter. OK I made up the bedwetter part, but he is very pessimistic, anyway. I might be interested in your kit at some point down the line, though.

 

I will also think about it.

 

i suppose you could save your money and start eating at subway, it worked for jared!

_________________

 

I'm curious what your kit looks like when complete...got any photos you can share with us.

BTW - 40lbs is big....for a daily driver not living on the edge it wouldn't matter...but for someone trying for that very last tenth of a second...it is great start....a bit here and there...replace the front seats, wheels, etc with lighter versions....it all starts adding up.

Keep up the great work.

 

-daMatta, i should have some pictures within the end of next week, and what you are saying about that 1/10th of a second is exactly why this kit is being built. Minis are already being raced everywhere from drag strips to rally races to amateur autoX, and serious drivers dont need a backseat. That's where I come in with my backseat delete. It's good to hear that some are interested in this application, I think that weight is a concept often overlooked, horsepower easily overshadows it. But anyways, pictures will be up as soon as possible.

Tate Anderson
Tateae@aol.com

 

Very cool! One thing to keep in mind for those involved/interested in national-level SCCA Solo 2 competition removing the rear seat is not allowed for any of the stock classes (G and H stock), STS, STX, or even Street Prepared. If you remove the rear seats you will be bumped into a prepared category where almost everything can be done to the car. For local events this probably won't matter (or be policed).

Mark

 

You haven't said what your kit DOES, other than remove ths seats, which we've already had how-tos on. Are you providing some kind of lightweight cosmetic treatment so that people don't have to look at the unfinished metal, wiring, etc.? Also, you're only going to generate so much interest without quoting at least an estimated price.

_________________


Borla, Moss intake, Magnecor

 

Uh... wouldn't a "kit" to remove the rear seat just comprise a few tools? That is, unless you are going to add weight back again with some kind of cover...

And why stop there? I'd guess the front pasenger seat ways a heck of a lot more than the rear. No "serious driver" needs more than one seat, unless they actually have some semblance of a life.

 

I will be removing the seats as frankly I think they are almost useless...if I'm taking a group of people I'll take the other car. But my fiance does go in my car with me most of the time so I will want two front seats...but they will be sparco evo IIs that weigh about 14lbs(approx - to tired to go look up the exact figure) each. The battery will also be replaced with a light weight battery. Then again I sold the first S i had as it had most of the options and wanted to lose the weight and bought a new S with NO options. I don't fill more then half of the tank at a time either as it saves weight. You take options like this and others I'm planning on doing while keeping the car streetable in my book I could save 250lbs or more and now the 1.5% that Trippy mentioned is now 10%. There isn't one thing that is going to do that for you in removing weight while staying somewhat reasonable so these pieces added together make a difference.

Now Trippy do you think you could feel 10% or notice time differences on the track?

BTW yes I am on a diet as well...got about 15-20lbs etc beer weight to get rid of.

 

There have been a few questions regarding the purpose of this kit, I thought it wass obvious, but I guess I should be more clear. The reason for this kit is to be able to "kit" consists of are the tools necessary to remove the seats with ease, so that you won't be scrambling to your local auto parts store, and a cometically pleasing lightweight cover to give your inside a finished racing look. After this kit is installed, there will be a noticeable decrease in weight. I don't believe that the people that are in the market to buy this application worry about the extra few pounds that this adds, as most mini drivers are also in it for the style and appearance of their cars, otherwise they would drive a much lesser comparable domestic vehicle. So 2nd gear, the weight gain is very minimal compared to what is being removed. "And why stop there?" You don't have to. That is not the purpose of this kit. This is not a complete weight reduction application to strip your Mini down to its bare essentials. Otherwise I would tell you to tear out your dash, all power conveniences, electronics, seat belts, and body panels. This application is merely the best way to take unnecessary weight out of your car. All Mini owners know that the back seats are terribly uncomfortable, and I believe that this is the best way to take a huge chunk of weight out of the car, leading to better handling and performance. I feel that most Mini owners agree with me when I say that the front two seats are functional, and not too heavy to begin with. This kit is not a fix-all for weight problems. Just a stepping stone that allows drivers to take advantage of an easy conversion that has hardly any drawbacks and many advantages, where more extreme modifications have major drawbacks for a streetable car.

So Chrisnl, I hope this exhaustive explanation answers your question. This kit does provide an extremely lightweight cosmetic treatment so you don't have to look at unfinished metal and wiring. And about the price, I would rather not give an estimate just yet. I apologize that I cannot give it yet, but because it is in the final stages of development and testing, no definite numbers can be given. Within the end of next week I should have both pictures and a definite price for you all. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but I promise it to you all within the end of next week.
Thank you for your patience, and I hope this clears up all controversy.
Tate Anderson
Tateae@aol.com

 

Yes, exactly what I was thinking.

Yeah, if you're a real racer with no daily driving cares then why not strip everything out of the interior but the dash and driver seat. I see it all the time in my magazines and race cars and it looks really good anyways.

Is it like what TonyB (over on MINI2) did?

 

Note: the bottom two are from pzaxis' car and the top is TonyB's

 

>> So 2nd gear, the weight gain is very minimal compared to what is being removed.

Thanks for the clarification, Neutral. :smile:

 

if you remove the pass seat (50lbs), rear seats (40lbs), get lightweight wheels and tires (60lbs), pull out the mats and pads (15 lbs), change to a lightweight battery (25lbs), put in a lighter exhaust (15 lbs), swap the driver's seat for a lightweight sparco shell (30 lbs), you start to get close to 220 lbs. For any more, you have to get serious.

 

Sound good but do you have any pic to show us how's the kit will look????????????

 

>>if you remove the pass seat (50lbs), rear seats (40lbs), get lightweight wheels and tires (60lbs), pull out the mats and pads (15 lbs), change to a lightweight battery (25lbs), put in a lighter exhaust (15 lbs), swap the driver's seat for a lightweight sparco shell (30 lbs), you start to get close to 220 lbs. For any more, you have to get serious.

Don't forget the Stereo, Speakers, Lighter Flywheel, and those last few lbs in our guts..hehe....after that your prolly moving to carbon fiber hood etc.

 

If you take 12 gallons of gas out of your car, you save 80 lbs.

 

You know, you don't need to just trust the weightloss guru.
You can try it yourself, but it takes acting like a scientist.

You need two people, and you need to really try not to fool yourself.

Go get a 40 lb bag of water softener salt.

You are going to have your buddy put the salt in the trunk of the
car so you cannot see it, hear it, smell it or anything.

You drive the car around and tell your partner when you thing the
bag is in the car and when it is not in the car.

Have your partner keep a table like this:

Salt? ---- Driver-thought-salt.
YES----YES
YES----NO
NO-----NO
NO-----YES

DON'T LOOK AT THE TABLE WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIMENTING!!!
Only your partner gets to see it until the end.
You really need to try not to fool yourself here. this is serious.

Now do that at least 30 trials, and post the data here.

There is something called correlational analysis which
is a way-too-big word for some simple math that you all can do
that gives you a NUMBER that tells you how well you could
detect the change due to the weight. I'll post on how to do the
math when I have example data to work with.

I will be trying this experiment myself this week, and I'll
get back to you.

Don't just trust the convictions of the faithful, try it yourself.

You don't need to post the whole table, just these 4 numbers
salt-driver_thought_salt
yes-yes = 5 times
yes-no = 2 times
no - yes = 2 times
no - no = 5 times

 

Sounds like everybody is picking on you Tateae. But I also question some things.
If the "kit" is to give you tools to extract your back seats in a hury. Wouldn't that be a 10mm socket and wrench? I can pull my seats in less than 5min. I've had all the seats out as well as the interior pannels durring a stereo install. I didn't weigh anything but I remember the front seats to be very heavy and each back seat pretty light. The back lower portion is only foam rubber, so I would guess under 5 lbs. But the exact poundage is not what I'm questioning.

I've read discussions to where others wanted to get rid of the rear seats to gain cargo conveinence but not so much weight reduction. I also would imagine to put a strong enough shelf and to give it some class, like carpet, to replace the rear seats would cut down on that 40lb. reduction. Meaning only a 30lb. savings (total guess). If the shelf wouldn't hold any weight, than leaving out the seats all together would be a better option.
My last point is about Auto-x classing. I have found, even local, organizations to follow strict SCCA rules. So replacing the back seats with anything would bump you up to race with supper cars.

Sorry if I also seem to be picking on you , but this is my 2 cents.

MINIACK

 

Hey Trippy - let me see if i can make this any clearer.....doing things like 40lbs here, a lighter battery, front seats, etc all add up....one of them alone doesn' tmake the largest difference, but put them together and it does. So do me a favor - when you do your 40lbs experiment - also do it with 250lbs and tell me if you can notice a difference.