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Old 08-09-2009, 10:17 PM   #37 (permalink)
evolutionmovement
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Location: Massachusetts
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The Audi TT in question was notorious for high speed lift-off snap oversteer due to the style-over-function design. After that incident (not the only one), the optional rear spoiler was installed on all of them by the factory.

My 1983 Subaru GL sedan was a similar style car to the Tempo with a likely comparable drag coefficient. I had few stability issues until it was topped out at "P" (the P in MPH at the bottom of the 85 mph speedometer), which worked out to be around 110 going by the tachometer. At that point, it would move around a little in crosswinds, but could still keep in a lane sawing the wheel like a '50's movie racecar driver. Where it bothered me was on on-ramps at speeds over 80, with significant understeer, so I added a front airdam. Got slightly better mileage which was probably within a margin of error, but it did add straightline stability and cured the understeer (at least the lift-induced understeer). What it also did (besides scrape the occasional driveway when I forgot to enter at an angle) was increase oversteer to a level that was fun in the dry and a little hairy in the wet. A tree fell on it while I was driving down the street, so I never got to put an adjustable rear spoiler on the trunk.
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