Why is the hatch so heavy?

[foxxinabox at wideopenwest.com (Foxx (in a box))]

> Sorry if this already made it through, but it looked like it bounced,
> so here goes again:
> 
> 
> Thinking about weight reduction -
> So I'm sure some of you have taken the glass out of the hatch and
> moved em around and stuff.  Why are they so damn heavy?
> 
> Is it the metal?  And would fiberglass or even CF be a feasible replacement?
> Is it the glass?  And would Lexan or something be a feasible replacement?
> Is it my imagination that they're such portly sons of bitches?
> 
> -Grant-

   speaking from a mk2 standpoint, it's all glass. i successfully 
removed the glass from an extra hatch i had (the metal was rotting 
away). without the glass, i was able to swing the metal around quite 
easily (the spoiler had already been removed). when i picked up the 
glass to move it, it might have well still been mounted. i would compare 
the metal of the hatch to about the weight of a fender. i've wondered 
about the lexan bit as well, but there is definitely the bending issue 
on the mk2. and glass is more scratch resistant. would be interesting to 
see it done, however.

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