Has anyone made a modification to their Octavia vRS that improves it's straight line stability, particularly on a windy day. I drove back from France in mine on Tuesday, when it was windy, and I was getting blown all over the shop, more than in other cars I've driven recently.

Just wondered whether anyone had fitted any aids that helped reduce the problem ...

Chris

Had this problem when driving an old shape 318 some time ago. It seems to be dependent on the shape of the car. Both the old style 318 and Octy have sharp edges and strong lines which a really like, but they are susceptible to side wind.

I contrast I previously owned a new shape Rover 218 which has a very curvy shape with no sharp edges and this faired very well is strong side wind, even though the Rover had softer suspension set-up to both the bm and octy.

It's all to do with aerodynamics, but I guess you could lower your springs and stiffen the compression damping but this would obviously affect the ride quality.

Has anyone made a modification to their Octavia vRS that improves it's straight line stability' date=' particularly on a windy day. I drove back from France in mine on Tuesday, when it was windy, and I was getting blown all over the shop, more than in other cars I've driven recently.

Just wondered whether anyone had fitted any aids that helped reduce the problem ...

Chris[/quote']

WRC wing and coilovers...

is completely stable at 160+ in high winds.

WRC wing and coilovers...

is completely stable at 160+ in high winds.

LOL you mad head!

....is completely stable at 160+ in high winds.

Given the speed quoted, Paul, I assume you are talking gale force tailwinds? :sofahide:

Nah, twas probably uphill.

Don't forget Den, it is a proper RS not a wannabe farmer's wagon

Paul - how's the quality of your WRC wing? I've been after one but Milotec have stopped selling them due to problems - they are looking for a new manufacturer in fact.

Paul - how's the quality of your WRC wing? I've been after one but Milotec have stopped selling them due to problems - they are looking for a new manufacturer in fact.

its a cheap spoiler.. like all of them its the quality of paint that matters.. mine has cracked paint in corners cos of repeated high speed use.. but thats par for the course..

I had suggested cut yoghurt pots as a solution in a previous thread which was surprisingly not totally serious!

However , without seeing plume tank flows I would guess that the cross wind instability is due to the tail of the turbulence over the long hatchback being pushed to one side or the other . If I remember correctly early Sierra hatches had the same problem and were corrected by small roots at the top of the hatchback frame to guide the airflow marginally but effectively.

The WRC spoiler would correct the flow after the instability had begun buy being high in the airflow and having large vertical surfaces keeping the turbulence tail straight.IMHO

Also got the WRC wing fitted (was on car at purchase). Feels fairly "stable" but was was estate which got a little cross wind battering...however and it's really hard to tell for sure...but on a private road in this weather the spray plumes go up a bloody long way once you pass 3k Far more than a I was following IMHO.

Would the tanks flows exist perhaps on video Tony? Assuming Skoda did some, would they have to? Anybody know where you can try Stock v WRC winged?

Would the tanks flows exist perhaps on video Tony? Assuming Skoda did some, would they have to? Anybody know where you can try Stock v WRC winged?

We could always get any heavy smokers on the list to drive at 200kph+ with the rear windows open to prove the point, with someone on a bicycle being towed behind could video it.

This research could be in line for grant aiding from both the Ignoble Foundation and the Darwin Awards simultaneously!

Don't forget Den, it is a proper RS not a wannabe farmer's wagon

This inter Octy rivalry will never cease to amuse me I wanna see ffelans RS (octavia not rear end before the smut brigade attacks) giving it some as I am really curious after catching a glimpse of it in the flesh

I wondered about a WRC wing, but as it would be expensive once it was professionally fitted, I thought I'd see if anyone had noticed a difference.

As far as I remember, the instability (or not) is a function of the relative positions of the cars' 'centre of pressure' and 'centre of gravity' ... get it wrong and the tail starts to wag the dog, so to speak. I used to have a book on the subject, but an ex who got the hump refused to repatriate me and my library!

I'll see if I can find anything on the 'net, but my search earlier was fruitless.

I'm reluctant to lower the car (not sure this would have much effect anyway), as there is already a supermarket I can't use and a Shell garage I can't get into without catching the spoiler on the road :thumbdwn:

Chris

Seriously (yes I do mean it) you could get someone to watch the flow of rain down the glass of the hatchback at the speeds that the instability arises .If the direction changes linked to the feeling of instability , I am assuming that there is a crosswind at c 90 o to the car and the wind is significant (guess =20% of forward speed of the car.)

Then the problem will have been correctly identified .

Further thought. Didn't the Batmobile CSLs have a high /small secondary spoiler at just the point I'm thinking of at the top of the rear window?

This inter Octy rivalry will never cease to amuse me I wanna see ffelans RS (octavia not rear end before the smut brigade attacks) giving it some as I am really curious after catching a glimpse of it in the flesh

erm well if you do mean the car it may still exist at the national "push a fabia off for

If stabilising the airflow over the tailgate were the solution, perhaps a decent bodyshop could modify a standard Octy rear wing, and fit it to the top of the tailgate?

An expensive experiment though ... SWMBO mightn't approve. :thumbdwn:

If stabilising the airflow over the tailgate were the solution' date=' perhaps a decent bodyshop could modify a standard Octy rear wing, and fit it to the top of the tailgate?

An expensive experiment though ... SWMBO mightn't approve. :thumbdwn:[/quote']

milotec do a roof tip spoiler to go at the top of the rear screen.

It may not need anything as drastic.

Two triangular 'skegs ' only an estimated 15cm long and 5cm high , at the correct point 'could do it '.

I will try and sketch something for att. later.

Tony

ffelans post came at the same time as mine , is there a pic of the milotec spoiler anywhere?

ffelans post came at the same time as mine , is there a pic of the milotec spoiler anywhere?

Thanks for that , but have you seen the one for the estate, that would be much more effective and it looks as if the pitch is variable for the hatchback.

At least it shows I wasn't talking through my ******de as someone else has taken time and effort to resolve just this problem.

how much of a hole in my 'bean stash' will one of those cost then, and has anyone got an idea of the cost of getting a decent bodyshop to fit it? I haven't used a bodyshop for years, thankfully:thumbup:

Thanks for the thoughts and ideas, looks like the roof spoiler might be the answer to the problem. It's my only real gripe with the car in 3500 miles (as I do a fair few long distance motorway journeys), so not bad really.

Chris

Attached a quick pic of what might work.

ps before you try this at home children , this one is made from a white envelope, I would expect the 'real thing ' to be fiberglass with slightly rounded edges.

Attached a quick pic of what might work.

:P Did you just nip outside and take that! Neat ...:tipspecs:

The test you mentioned earlier might be possible if someone followed the car, at speed, and the windscreen washers were used to provide a source of spray. The mist ought to follow the airflow over the roof of the car, and break up near the tailgate hinge area.

Mind you, if your washers are as pathetic as mine, this might not work as well as planned ...

:toilet: