Eight hundred bucks got me a 2 door hatchback with zero acceleration, no working turn signals or reverse lights, no radio and windows that are a mother to roll up or down. She currently gets 24 mpg. That will soon change. On the plus side, she's got air conditioning, but when I turn it on everything starts shaking and what little power the engine has dies out.
Current Mods:
Replaced oil with lightest weight synthetic.
Replaced spark plugs.
Replaced spark plug wires.
Added water to coolant tank.
Increased tire pressure to 40 psi.
Planned Mods:
-Relocate antenna to the inside of the car. Improves aerodynamics.
-Remove all speakers. Reduces car weight. Replace those speakers with one flat computer speaker near the dome light. Sound quality isn't that big of an issue for me.
-Remove passenger visor. Reduces car weight. Boohoo... If the passenger wants to shield their eyes they can use their hands.
-Replace driver visor with homemade light-weight version.
-Remove the center brake light (and all its associated hardware) from the center of the rear windshield. Reduces car weight.
-Remove auto-lock feature. This feature automatically locks the doors when the car gets to a certain speed. I don't like this feature.
-Place the front license plate in front windshield. Improves aerodynamics.
-Remove side trim. Reduces car weight. Improves aerodynamics slightly.
-Remove splash guards. Reduces car weight. Improves aerodynamics.
-Replace the passenger side mirror with interior side mirror. Improves aerodynamics and reduces car weight.
-Tighten front body panels so they have smaller gaps between them. Improves aerodynamics.
-Remove front bumper mounted parking lights. Reduces car weight and reduces battery load.
-Add Tint if the car doesn't have it. Keeps the occupants cooler, which reduces the need to run the air conditioner. I'm researching completely clear heat reflecting film for front windows and front windshield.
-Fuel consumption gauge of some kind. SuperMID or MPGuino.
-Add anti-fog solution to the windows. Keeps the windows from fogging up, which reduces the need to run the defroster. Researching for some kind of permanent form of Fog-X
-Add beaded seat covers. Keeps the occupants cooler by allowing air to circulate under their bodies, which reduces the need to run the air conditioner.
-Replace rear view mirror with light-weight version.
-Replace jack with smaller/lighter version.
-Replace dome light with LED on an adjustable arm, similar to a book light.
-Replace instrument panel lights with red LED's. Retains the eyes' ability to see well in low light.
-Replace front seats with lighter versions.
-Add anti-rain solution to the windows. Reduces the need to use the windshield wipers. Researching a permanent anti-rain fix.
-Remove any manufacturer decals and seal the holes. Improves aerodynamics, reduces weight.
-Add flat hubcaps made of black plastic. Improves aerodynamics.
-Add headlight covers. Improves aerodynamics.
-Replace drivers side mirror wit a smaller version. Improves aerodynamics.
-Close up holes in the grill. Improves aerodynamics.
-Add rear wheel wind skirts. Improves aerodynamics.
-Replace rear windshield and rear side facing windows with plastic windows. Reduces weight.
-Replace all exterior lights with LEDs. Reduces load on battery. (Get taillights with only red and white LEDs. The brake lights double as turn signals).
-Add a smooth undertray. Improves aerodynamics. Segments. Side sleeves.
-Lower the front suspension. Improves aerodynamics.
-Add aluminum rims. Reduces weight.
-Add Low rolling resistance tires.
