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Old 01-07-2008, 09:33 PM   #39 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ View Post
One thing that I feel hasn't been discussed too much yet about airdams vs. bellypans is the point of diminishing returns.
Well, one thing Phil Knox has said in terms of the lowest extension of an air dam is that it shouldn't go lower than the lowest hanging suspension/underbody bit, or else you're just adding frontal area at the expense of Cd.

That said, your tests so far, and Coyote X's, seem to suggest that more can in fact be better.

Quote:
But what we don't know is how much better a belly pan is. Has anyone seen any data on this so far? The most relevant thing I've found so far has been this refrence (PDF file) to a 1958 study
I'd be wary of relying on 1958 data. Cars back then would have had MUCH worse undersides (basically being body-on-frame truck like construction) than today.

Here's a couple more modern references:
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