Does a car fitted with a Factory Fitted Spoiler perform the same as a Car with out a spoiler ??..............." Do they Work" or is it all show [ Everyday family cars.... Octavia vRS and the Furbie...not supercars ]

it depends on a few factors, such as the coeffient of drag etc etc, but generally speaking you have to travel at more than a 180mph before a spoiler would show any increase in downforce...

so no, it doesn't make a pi$$ of difference, they are purely for show

the small spoiler fitted on the back of most hatch backs do massively reduce the drag of the vehicle and help feul costs

[boring fact]Seemingly the Ford Escort Cosworth with the whale tail had a 12mph slower top end than Cossie Lux (Without the tail)

And the Mk2 escort RS2000 with the wee lip on the boot increased the weight of the rear end of the car by 20lb's at 70mph[/boring fact]

it depends on a few factors, such as the coeffient of drag etc etc, but generally speaking you have to travel at more than a 180mph before a spoiler would show any increase in downforce...

so no, it doesn't make a pi$$ of difference, they are purely for show

They do a lot more, than just drag factors. And 180mph?? :confused: .They support handling also, due to drag factors. For instance, Wasn't the Audi TT re-called due to it's rear spoiler being too small making the car's twitchy?

I will agree, the spoiler's only comes into effect a high speeds. But no where near 180, 100 atleast.

If I remove the roof spoiler from my furbie vRS will I notice a differance...Yes or No

Apparently a standard Sierra actually generates lift! So the whale tale was necessary to correct this and stop the steering getting light at the top end!

The WRC spoiler on the Octavia does slow it down at the top end.

Colin's car has more power than our Estate yet it couldnt crack 140mph on the airfield.

Removing the spoiler on a Fabia will have no niticable effect what so ever.

They do a lot more, than just drag factors. And 180mph?? :confused: .They support handling also, due to drag factors. For instance, Wasn't the Audi TT re-called due to it's rear spoiler being too small making the car's twitchy?

I will agree, the spoiler's only comes into effect a high speeds. But no where near 180, 100 atleast.

:iagree:

The TT originally had no spoiler what so ever.

PMSL at some of the posts above.

I've got one of these so called all for show spoilers and if I ever get the chance I will prove to you exactly what a real WRC spoiler does at LOW SPEED, you will be amazed how it effects the handling.

Here is a pic of it, have a look for the subtle differences between this one and a Milotek.

bloody hell Des - makes the thing you were bolting / unbolting from your car on the Czech trip look like a tiny little ickle wickle spoiler!

Anyone who doubts the effectiveness of a spoiler should read this book ...

Competition Car Aerodynamics: A Practical Handbook,

by Simon McBeath

The small roof spoiler on the Furby will have an effect on the cars aerodynamics, even at much lower speeds than mentioned in this thread.

Whether the effect would be noticeable on the road, to the average driver, is another matter. Without doing a 'controlled' experiment, the only way to prove the theory is to remove the spoiler (depending on how easy or otherwise this is) and take the car for a spin.

If you had an assistant to follow in another car with a camera, you could come up with a way to demonstrate the effect. Water with a dye in it, or small strips of wool taped to the rear would do the trick.

bloody hell Des - makes the thing you were bolting / unbolting from your car on the Czech trip look like a tiny little ickle wickle spoiler!

That was the thing we were bolting/unbolting to his car you wally

That was the thing we were bolting/unbolting to his car you wally

I'm shaw des's is red

If you had an assistant to follow in another car with a camera, you could come up with a way to demonstrate the effect. Water with a dye in it, or small strips of wool taped to the rear would do the trick.

[my bold]

ag. *standing by*

Mo

and anyone who doubts that spoilers or wings work at lower speeds only has to look at the rear end of a Subaru World Rally car.

[my bold]

ag. *standing by*

Mo

It works ....

Porsche Engineering document

scroll down to page 22 ....

It works ....

Porsche Engineering document

scroll down to page 22 ....

My hero! :bowdown:

Mo

PS Very interesting though, putting in favourites to read at leisure

*Goes off to knit spoiler meanwhile*

*Goes off to knit spoiler meanwhile*

:rofl:

That was the thing we were bolting/unbolting to his car you wally

He's on drugs that boy.

Your average car produces lift at high speed due to the basic being similiar to an upside down aerofoil. Most hatchbacks have a too steep back to it which causes drag and seperation of the air creating turbulence. Any spoiler on a hatchback will only cause more drag completely ruining the airflow around the rear. Something like the octavia will not create excessive drag due to its relative smooth body shape therefore the airflow over the rear would be able to make a aerofoil quite effective. However based on those pictures its going ot be generateing some drag which will certainly hinder things.

That extracrt looks like its a NASCAR car so its slightly different when looking at standard cars. The book mentioned early also deals with drag, you need to reduce drag to improve the efficency of any lift generating devices.

Most manufacturers supplied spoilers will just create more drag, they tend to be cosmetic along with all the boy racer types. They need to be proper wings with an aerofoil element to it to do anything.