View Single Post
Old 12-03-2009, 04:37 PM   #11 (permalink)
ncs
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 45

RockMagnet - '04 Subaru Impreza wagon WRX
90 day: 26.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts
The 7th gen Celica was only offered without a spoiler for one year. The spoiler became standard equipment after high speed stability problems were found without it. The spoiler blocks half the view out the rear windows.

VW also added a spoiler to the current Beetle for similar stability reasons.

In both cases, the handling problems were only apparent at speeds above 75mph. Wind speeds we'd only legally see driving into a head wind.

Here's some second or third hand info on two modern cars.

euro spec evo IX and 06 STI
The red arrow represents lift at air flow of 40m/s (around 144km/h or ~90mph), the blue – at 55m/s (approximately 200km/h or 124mph). The lift is measured in newtons. One newton equals roughly 0.22 lbs.

On my car, I removed the hood scoop and the steering became slightly heavier.

Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	lift1.jpg
Views:	61
Size:	29.0 KB
ID:	4928   Click image for larger version

Name:	equations.jpg
Views:	50
Size:	29.5 KB
ID:	4929   Click image for larger version

Name:	evo.jpg
Views:	40
Size:	52.0 KB
ID:	4930   Click image for larger version

Name:	sub.jpg
Views:	40
Size:	52.0 KB
ID:	4931   Click image for larger version

Name:	hood-scoop.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	12.7 KB
ID:	4932  

Click image for larger version

Name:	evo-hood.jpg
Views:	33
Size:	13.9 KB
ID:	4933   Click image for larger version

Name:	bottom06sti.jpg
Views:	52
Size:	53.4 KB
ID:	4934  
  Reply With Quote