Station wagon rear aero improvements

[nitro-nige]

What are the best places to look for aero improvements on the rear of a staion wagon? Are they too blunt to be very efficient?

[SL8Brick]

I firmly believe that vortex generators are a passive & practical way to reduce the wake on a three-box w/no roof obstructions.

[euromodder]

They have big wake, and reducing that wake is key.
A boat tail can really sort out a wagon or hatchback - but it's also quite a big plunge to take.
Few people will be willing to do it.

All the aero mods will work - mirror delete, airdam, grille block, belly pan, wheel fairings, ... but in the end you'd still have that huge wake.

[aerohead]

nitro,if you've got a friend or family member with a receiver-hitch mount cargo carrier you could borrow that would fit your wagon,you could mock up a cardboard and duct tape boat-tail extension for proof of concept mpg test and if you liked what the on-board mpg readout or gas station numbers looked like,you could commit to a lasting structure.600mm of additional length to the wagon,with the proper tapering would get you in the game.
The 'Aerodynamic-Streamlining-Template Part-C' can be searched for here at the Aero forum and it will walk you through the design.
The front of your car is 'clean' enough that I think the tail would make an immediate 'showing.'
If you'll load some dummy weight into the wagon and back it down a driveway until the rear wheels are in the gutter,this will give you a sense of how much angle clearance you'll need for the bottom of the tail so as not to strike the ground.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by SL8Brick

I firmly believe that vortex generators are a passive & practical way to reduce the wake on a three-box w/no roof obstructions.

^Can I unrecommend that as useless?

Re: wagon: It's already good as far as having some taper and not having a roof rack and not having a rear window clearing yet unaero deflector. I think the options for improving aero back there are limited to chopping the top, adding a partial or full boattail, adding rear skirts and a bellypan, and pulling an aero trailer.

[vtec-e]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

^Can I unrecommend that as useless?

+1
You aint gettin no 100mpg machine here! All your best efforts will net you a few mpg at best. After that you are looking at mega bucks and mega effort to gain a few mpg more. Honestly, how much are you going to save with aero improvements at the rear of your car?

Cheaper to change car. Ok, thats a generalisation, but you get the point, right? My other car is similar-ish. Kia cee'd SW, nowhere near as cool as a subaru but is a station wagon. Try as i might i cannot get it to improve mpg. Gave up trying long time ago with it. stuck with it now.
I have to suck it up! Wait till trade in time! Lol, like i'll have any value left in it then....

[ChazInMT]

I second Frank Lee regarding the Vortex Generator gimmicks as being an active and impractical way to waste your money and improve your status as a complete sucker for pseudo science bull crap. Go buy a water ionizer, HHO Generator and Power Band bracelet while you're at it.....don't forget to pick up an LED Light therapy wand to ease those aches & pains. And lastly, get that vanity plate "IMADUPE" you always wanted, it will improve your milage as well as the "Vortex Generators" will.

[duane1]

i second frank lee regarding the vortex generator gimmicks as being an active and impractical way to waste your money and improve your status as a complete sucker for pseudo science bull crap. Go buy a water ionizer, hho generator and power band bracelet while you're at it.....don't forget to pick up an led light therapy wand to ease those aches & pains. And lastly, get that vanity plate "imadupe" you always wanted, it will improve your milage as well as the "vortex generators" will.

+1 lol

[winkosmosis]

You could try extending that spoiler and having it slope downward at a slight angle

[SL8Brick]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

^Can I unrecommend that as useless?

Ummm, I think you just did.

And Thank You so much for the sobering reminder of "the forum's" current perspective of VGs...I shall never mention them here again.

SL8Brick