Stripping the rear..?

3rd July 2011, 14:30

Basically I've had the Saxo for a while now, it's all been good fun regardless of the many problems I've come across (I still love it

), but I'm now seeking to make it that little bit quicker with bits and pieces that I can!

What I want to know is, is stripping the rear worth it?
Is it legal?
Will it still pass an MOT?
Do I need to inform my insurance of it?

Also, while I'm here, I have an annoying squeak coming from my front passenger wheel whenever I turn the wheel left, any ideas?

Cheers all

3rd July 2011, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan-HxC

What I want to know is, is stripping the rear worth it? Yes, if you go all out, plastics and everything. But be warned, you'll end up catching the bug and probably want the carpet out the front etc

Is it legal? Yes, technically have to declare it to the DVLA so your logbook classes the car as a 2 seater, but I highly doubt many people do that.

Will it still pass an MOT? Yes. I had no mention of it for 2 years, and got an advisory for 'No rear seats fitted' and 'Only front driver's and passenger's seats fitted' one year.

Do I need to inform my insurance of it? It's a modification, so yes.

See above.

3rd July 2011, 20:04

Cheers for the reply mate.

Can you notice a difference then? Does it effect acceleration and/or handling? How much if so?
Is it easy to strip the rear? I imagine it's just a few bolts here and there?
With the insurance thing, how is it a modification? It's just taking parts off haha, not replacing them or anything!
Oh also, are there any issues with the police about it? As long as it's legal they don't mind I guess?
Are they more likely to pull me over?

3rd July 2011, 20:06

yeah strip the rear and itll make the handling worse!Unless your car is lowered!

3rd July 2011, 20:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan-HxC

Cheers for the reply mate.

Can you notice a difference then? Does it effect acceleration and/or handling? How much if so?Improves acceleration, and braking, to an extent. Handling gets twitchy, since there's no weight over the back, but you can learn to drive that to your advantage

Is it easy to strip the rear? I imagine it's just a few bolts here and there? Yep, few screws, bolts, clips. Generally quite straight forward.

With the insurance thing, how is it a modification? It's just taking parts off haha, not replacing them or anything! It's modifying the car, so should be declared.

Oh also, are there any issues with the police about it? As long as it's legal they don't mind I guess? Are they more likely to pull me over? I only got stopped once in my time of having it stripped, and it wasn't mentioned then.

As before.

3rd July 2011, 20:26

IMO it's pretty pointless unless you actually go on track days.

I mean who wants to drive around in a noisy car with no mod cons as a daily?

Also, it looks so stupid unless you have buckets in.

Oh and read the dictionary for the definition of modification. Stripping the rear will fall into this category.

Saxos are made of cheap materials, you'd maybe save 20kg from rear seats / rear door cards. Is it really worth it on a road car? No chance.

Also, don't plan on picking up any girls...

My post is pretty much opinion, Titch has answered your questions.

3rd July 2011, 20:32

If you strip the rear out then remove the rear seatbelts as well,as I believe it`s an MOT fail if you leave them in.

Steve.

3rd July 2011, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by mangojace

yeah strip the rear and itll make the handling worse!Unless your car is lowered!

The car is lowered lol... Not just gonna strip the rear with the standard ride height and have it looking like a proper spaz wagon...

Quote:

Originally Posted by titchster

As before.

Thanks mate you've been a great help

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

IMO it's pretty pointless unless you actually go on track days.

I mean who wants to drive around in a noisy car with no mod cons as a daily?

Also, it looks so stupid unless you have buckets in.

Oh and read the dictionary for the definition of modification. Stripping the rear will fall into this category.

Saxos are made of cheap materials, you'd maybe save 20kg from rear seats / rear door cards. Is it really worth it on a road car? No chance.

Also, don't plan on picking up any girls...

My post is pretty much opinion, Titch has answered your questions.

Thanks for your 'opinion', though as it isn't mine, I choose not to act upon it.

If it aids acceleration slightly then I'm more than happy to have a bit more road noise tbh, I'm not a person that uses my car on long journeys a lot for a pure 'workhorse' car sorta thing, I'm still quite young, only use my car for college, my part time job, and for going out with mates now and then.

3rd July 2011, 20:42

Fair play.

Not having a go or anything, just posing a few questions in general as many people seem to think removing the rear seats transforms your car into a monster.

Honestly though, how much acceleration do you expect to gain from saving 20 or 30kg? A noticeable amount? Nope

To notice any real gains, you'd have to go pretty mental on stripping, such as JP has or toad did.

Oh and stripping the rear of a saxo can also enhance it's already shocking weight balance.

Don't get me wrong, less weight has obvious benefits, including the fact it's free to do. But on a road car its only 'good' because it's the cool thing to do, othe than that; it is essentially pointless.

3rd July 2011, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

Fair play.

Not having a go or anything, just posing a few questions in general as many people seem to think removing the rear seats transforms your car into a monster.

Honestly though, how much acceleration do you expect to gain from saving 20 or 30kg? A noticeable amount? Nope

To notice any real gains, you'd have to go pretty mental on stripping, such as JP has or toad did.

Oh and stripping the rear of a saxo can also enhance it's already shocking weight balance.

Don't get me wrong, less weight has obvious benefits, including the fact it's free to do. But on a road car its only 'good' because it's the cool thing to do, othe than that; it is essentially pointless.

I know you're not, neither am I lol.
I know it won't be noticeable, but every little helps, I never use my rear seats or my boot as it is, so if I can save weight for fuel economy etc then why not?

If it really comes down to being more of a nuisance than a benefit, it's a simple re-bolt back in job, I'd of learnt and moved on

3rd July 2011, 20:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevo67

If you strip the rear out then remove the rear seatbelts as well,as I believe it`s an MOT fail if you leave them in.

Steve.

Yeah the whole rear would be going mate

Cheers

3rd July 2011, 20:53

Fair play then,

As I (and yourself) said, any benefit for free is good if you can live with it.

I rarely used my back seats (and still rarely do lol) but for me i liked the looks of full interior.

I think stripping the rear looks half decent (though not to my taste) if you remove the rear seats and add carpet from the front to the boot. Looks much more subtle and almost OEM instead of just parts of your car missing lol / fake track look.

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but you've got to remove the seatbelts too dude for it to be road legal!

3rd July 2011, 21:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

Fair play then,

As I (and yourself) said, any benefit for free is good if you can live with it.

I rarely used my back seats (and still rarely do lol) but for me i liked the looks of full interior.

I think stripping the rear looks half decent (though not to my taste) if you remove the rear seats and add carpet from the front to the boot. Looks much more subtle and almost OEM instead of just parts of your car missing lol / fake track look.

Not sure if anyone mentioned it, but you've got to remove the seatbelts too dude for it to be road legal!

Yeah they'll be going man, no worries about that.
If I do enjoy it then I will be carpeting it so it is all subtle, don't just want holes and bolts sticking out looking all untidy

3rd July 2011, 21:07

stripping the rear on a road car is not worth it at all, you will hate it, i used my VTS daily with a mental bucket and stripped out and fucking hated every second, gti leather and yet it still makes me smiles as well as the the gash smiling in the rear

3rd July 2011, 21:11

I loved the noise i could hear when mine was stripped, however means no sub or people in the back. I cant live without my sub aha.

3rd July 2011, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by moxy89

stripping the rear on a road car is not worth it at all, you will hate it, i used my VTS daily with a mental bucket and stripped out and fucking hated every second, gti leather and yet it still makes me smiles as well as the the gash smiling in the rear

I'll have to give it a try and see, I loved the last bit of what you put though haha

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudpud

I loved the noise i could hear when mine was stripped, however means no sub or people in the back. I cant live without my sub aha.

I don't ever have people in the back of mine, all my mates have their own cars, so does all my family so no worries there

I also don't have a sub haha, just haven't been bothered enough to get one again with this car!

3rd July 2011, 21:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by moxy89

stripping the rear on a road car is not worth it at all, you will hate it, i used my VTS daily with a mental bucket and stripped out and fucking hated every second, gti leather and yet it still makes me smiles as well as the the gash smiling in the rear

+1. leather for the pimping.

3rd July 2011, 21:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathan-HxC

I don't ever have people in the back of mine, all my mates have their own cars, so does all my family so no worries there

I also don't have a sub haha, just haven't been bothered enough to get one again with this car!

What about all the gash every saxo owner always seems to be pulling?!

3rd July 2011, 21:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudpud

What about all the gash every saxo owner always seems to be pulling?!

School kids don't count dude!

3rd July 2011, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

School kids don't count dude!

But they still need somewhere to go? Cant even hide them in the boot!

3rd July 2011, 21:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudpud

But they still need somewhere to go? Cant even hide them in the boot!

Very true.

Depending on what age of school kid you're targeting, sub boxes are adequate storage / trap / kidnap tools.

3rd July 2011, 21:34

I done this to my mk2 and the back end became very twitchy! I would take some weight out the front area too and move the battery to the boot to help evenn up the weight loss... just my opinion.

3rd July 2011, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ashleyp

Very true.

Depending on what age of school kid you're targeting, sub boxes are adequate storage / trap / kidnap tools.

Can keep the sweets in the glove box though. Guess you'd just have to knock them out with drugs and lay them down underneath a blanket and say its your spare tyre.

3rd July 2011, 22:08

Or as long as u dnt mind them dirty u cld try the spare wheel cage!....how off topic has this become!!

Jon

3rd July 2011, 23:12

my mates done it in his 106, its rather point less as you end up filling it full of shite,
if its worth tracking then yes! if not i dont see the point!

4th July 2011, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyb2b

Or as long as u dnt mind them dirty u cld try the spare wheel cage!....how off topic has this become!!

Jon

not off topic enough for my liking! lol

4th July 2011, 01:17

Cheers for that haha

4th July 2011, 08:15

just do it and see, it only takes about 12 seconds and some pulling!

I'm honestly amazed at how erw screws are used!

4th July 2011, 09:44

If you like how your rear sits currently too you'll probably want to consider readjusting the torsion bars again once stripped.

With the weight out it will cause it to sit higher. Just something to consider, won't be too much but will be noticeable

4th July 2011, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by willsy

If you like how your rear sits currently too you'll probably want to consider readjusting the torsion bars again once stripped.

With the weight out it will cause it to sit higher. Just something to consider, won't be too much but will be noticeable

Ahh didn't think about that, damn haha, I'll have to see how it goes

4th July 2011, 12:36

i dont think strippin is realy worth doing unless you go balls out and do every last bit like carpet all sound deadening and doorcards till every last bit has been taken out. but its totaly what look your going for, if you take it all out and like it then get buckets and it does look a little bit silly with standard seats. ive stripped every bit of inteior including carpet the lot and the noice doesnt realy bovar me atall buckets arnt the most comfetable of things on long journeys either. just make sure you keep everything to go back in coz its getin the the point now were i want to put it all back in and get sum leathers now