Big and Fat Passengers a Problem

[kach22i]

I don't think this problem is going to go away.

It seems that most of my front seat passengers are heavy, very heavy and it really messes up how the car handles and feels.

A couple of years ago I discovered and fixed a broken rear drop link because high speed lane changes with passengers felt very wobbly.

Could I have another problem with the car, or are mid-year 911's just not set up to lug around heavy people very well?

People were a lot lighter +35 years ago, is that the problem?


Americans are getting fatter: poll
Americans are getting fatter: poll | New York Post

American men are weighing in at an average of 196 pounds — 16 pounds more than in 1990, a Gallup Poll has found. The average weight for women jumped 14 pounds to 156 pounds over the same period.

A Mathematical Challenge to Obesity
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/science/a-mathematical-challenge-to-obesity.html?_r=0

I could see the facts on the epidemic were quite astounding. Between 1975 and 2005, the average weight of Americans had increased by about 20 pounds. Since the 1970s, the national obesity rate had jumped from around 20 percent to over 30 percent.

So let's round up some numbers, lets say people are 30 lbs heavier than back in the mid 1970's, that's 60 lbs more weight in the car with two people than it was designed for, but it's center line weight - in the middle.

Is that 60 lbs enough to screw up the car's handling, or should I be crawling under the car looking for cracked towers and leaky shocks?

When I first took the car out this season I forgot to add air to the tires, but once I did it started behaving much better.

However the lopsided weighting with a heavy passenger cannot be fix with tire pressures, can it?

I need to take some weight out of the car, starting on the abandoned A/C hoses for one thing. I have a list, but that really is another topic.

Anyone else getting frustrated with large passengers?

A "No Fat Chicks" bumper sticker isn't going to cut it, the heavy weights are my male friends.

[Porchdog]

I just had a 75 mile trip to hershey with my son and his two friends in my 81 SC

I was the shortest, and heaviest at 6-1 and 180. It was tight but the car didn't seem to mind.

[cabmandone]

Tell them you have a 10% rule. If they weigh more than 10% of the weight of your car, they can't ride along. Tell them it's hard on the torsion bars.

[Chrisdmm]

Definitely don't drive them to Burger King, your wheels will come off the car

[toddu]

Makes sense, especially if it's corner balanced with your equivalent weight on the driver side only.

Todd

[Rich Gas]

Ass, grass or cash...no one rides for free... Just charge the fatties more! Simple.

[kach22i]

I'm thinking back when I had a 1976 VW Super Beetle back in the mid 1980's.

I drove my two heavy sisters and my brother which had just bulked up muscle mass while in the Navy, and the car felt really funny.

I opened up the glove box to see a plate/tag notice of a 400 lb weigh limit (like a row boat).

I had over loaded the vehicle to around 600 lbs, and it sucked.

EDIT:

I just checked the owner's manual.

Maximum Load Capacity 529 lbs.

I should be able to carry another + 340 lbs besides myself.

However if 300 lbs were concentrated in one seat I think that would make for a bad day out on the twisties.

I'll have to ask my friends how much they weigh now.

It will be just like in the Transporter movie.

The Transporter Films (2002,2005&2008) – Movie Stills/Behind the Scenes Clips | ''My Kind Of Wonderful''

How much did you say you weigh?

[GH85Carrera]

I took my wife's cousin's husband for a ride recently. He is 6'7" and 310 lbs. I did notice a slight difference with him in the car.

[wildcat077]

Do what i did ... install two Sparco Evo's and if the person fits they can ride ... if not, too bad
No fat chicks or chubby chickens in my car ... lol

Cheers
Phil

[pc100porsche]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

I took my wife's cousin's husband for a ride recently. He is 6'7" and 310 lbs. I did notice a slight difference with him in the car.

I'm just wondering where you sat ?

[Reiver]

It does make a difference...when you lighten a car (My SC is now 2300 lbs dry) it make a huge difference.
The rule of thumb is 100 lbs = 10 HP. Put a 300 pounder in there and you've lost 30 HP. You'll notice that.
My 930-10 has 220 hp as it sits. Very snappy ride with great torque.
Took a big friend for a ride (6'4" 270 lbs) and I could def feel the difference.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I just checked the owner's manual.

Maximum Load Capacity 529 lbs.

I should be able to carry another + 340 lbs besides myself.

So assuming my '84 is about the same, we've got room for 180-190 lbs of luggage plus my wife and myself. After years of packing to travel by motorcycle, I think we can handle that. Good reminder. Not something you think about much in a car.

[matt gineo]

I operate a water taxi /tour boat business in Newport, RI and because of the new average weights of US adults we lost 25% of our passenger capacity!! We operate 20 vessels and it was like taking 5 of our boats and throwing them in the dumpster!! Sorry, no people of SIZE in my 911, that's what my 4wd truck is used for.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by matt gineo

Sorry, no people of SIZE in my 911

Now this is good. My boss, back in 97 was a person of size. 425 lbs, EASY. We take off from a Houston toll booth, south Beltway 8, heading east. Up to 115 mph (which is of course, 105 mph maybe, with speedo error).

Car was as solid as a rock. I had no spoilers.

Bought front and rear spoilers "directly", as they say down south.

[porschenut]

Having all that weight takes its toll on braking performance as much as anything else. Be careful approaching traffic stops if you're not used to it.

[bfunke]

Enough of the disturbing mental images and please no photos!

[Reiver]

One of the local dude ranches bought a bunch of draft horses because of weighty guests....had to get some biggy sized saddles too.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by bfunke

Enough of the disturbing mental images and please no photos!

I'll show you disturbing.

That would be my fat ass in my 2002 Honda Odyssey smoking you and your 68 around the Nurburgring.

How's that for some pain?

[kach22i]

Wilmott Forums - no fat chicks

[Tilikum Turbo]

Unlike a normal 3500-5000 lb car/SUV/Truck, any additional weight will be that much more exaggerated on a vehicle weighing roughly 2500 LBs(and never was really designed from the get-go to be carrying that much dead weight).

As we know, stripped down Porsche from the factory go for a significant premium just to lop off 100-150lbs(and it's noticeable in braking, cornering and acceleration). Now go the other way throwing 2-3 100lbs bag of concrete...and you have to feel that difference no matter how tight the suspension is. Even with roughly 300HP on 2500lbs on my car, a 125LB passenger changes the driving dynamics.

One aircraft accident that brought down I believe a medium-size jet right after take off had two primary causes: weight shifted during takeoff...and the weight of the average American had significantly bumped in the wrong direction, so the estimate that they were within safe take-off weight was in error. No survivors.