Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post

G2TDI · 02-22-2010, 02:43 PM

I have a plan of taking a VW Golf Mk2 and converting it to a 1.9TDI, it will be as empty/light as possible, I might also do carbon fiber hood, hatch etc.

Anyway I have a slight dilemma. From my reading (for instance Top gear USA Rabbit TDI etc) it appears the later larger bumper would be to prefer with some smoothing. But it also weighs a lot more than the European small bumper (shown in picture below) especially an aftermarket one which usually use thinner/less/lighter metal.

Here are the two next to each other:

Picture from here (and also full size pic available):
Flickr Photo Download: AIMG_8878

For those not familiar with this car model/bumper here is a picture of the big bumper (here with fog light holes but no fogs in them, also available with those holes sealed)

More pics Flickr Photo Download: low right

If I use the small European bumper I would most likely go for this spoiler:

More pics Flickr Photo Download: Golf GTI 16V

So the question is which would be to prefer the BIG BUMPER (with more weight but most likely better aerodynamics, and potential for even better with some mods) or the SMALL BUMPER (with less weight but not so great aerodynamics?).

02-22-2010, 02:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
G2TDI EcoModding Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Internet Posts: 142 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Big bumper or small? (VW Golf Mk2) I have a plan of taking a VW Golf Mk2 and converting it to a 1.9TDI, it will be as empty/light as possible, I might also do carbon fiber hood, hatch etc. Anyway I have a slight dilemma. From my reading (for instance Top gear USA Rabbit TDI etc) it appears the later larger bumper would be to prefer with some smoothing. But it also weighs a lot more than the European small bumper (shown in picture below) especially an aftermarket one which usually use thinner/less/lighter metal. Here are the two next to each other: Picture from here (and also full size pic available): Flickr Photo Download: AIMG_8878 For those not familiar with this car model/bumper here is a picture of the big bumper (here with fog light holes but no fogs in them, also available with those holes sealed) More pics Flickr Photo Download: low right If I use the small European bumper I would most likely go for this spoiler: More pics Flickr Photo Download: Golf GTI 16V So the question is which would be to prefer the BIG BUMPER (with more weight but most likely better aerodynamics, and potential for even better with some mods) or the SMALL BUMPER (with less weight but not so great aerodynamics?).