In Mario Kart 64, are there weight classes or does each character have a different weight?

Obviously, some characters weigh more than others (e.g. Bowser weighs more than Toad), which gives them different characteristics such as acceleration, and being able to spin other players by running into them.

My question is if there are weight classes or if each character has a different weight. So for example, the three heaviest characters are Bowser, Donkey Kong and Wario, are they all the same weight or do they have different weights? If they do have different weights, does that mean that for example, you could take the heaviest one of them and run into the least heavy one and that will cause you to knock out (or at least shove) the less heavier player?

Solution 1:

There are three weight classes:

• Light weight: Toad, Princess Peach, Yoshi
• Medium weight: Mario, Luigi
• Heavy weight: Bowser, Wario, Donkey Kong

Heavy weight karts will take a long time to accelerate, but they have the highest top speed. Also, when a heavy kart collides with a lighter kart, that light kart will sometimes spin out.

Light weight karts have a high acceleration, so they can get going quicker after a complete stop, but they have the lowest top speed.

Medium weight karts are a good balance of the two - medium acceleration and medium top speed.

Solution 2:

In mario kart 64, lightweights actually have both the fastest acceleration and highest top speed. Middleweights have the lowest acceleration, and share the same top speed as the heavyweights. The other differences between weight classes are things like speed loss during a turn, handling, and determining who spins out during a collision, which is also the only difference among characters of the same weight class. The data is demonstrated in this video.

It could be argued that in the race modes (grand prix and vs) top speed and acceleration are by far the most important characteristics, making the lightweights superior. However in battle mode these traits are less important.