Hey hey...
(OK, can't 'quote' text from my phone I guess)
So, I will start off with the first message from piwoslaw...
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"Wow! Others have seen 15% - 20 improvement with much smaller weight penalties, but each case is different. Please give us more information and pictures!
What about other aeromods? Grille block, wheel skirts, belly pan?"
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Yes! Very good point... 2010 was the first year I really thought this would be a great experiment. I know that the materials I used were heavy. But what I was really aiming for was 'proof of concept'. I wanted to see for myself if there was any real proof that a freeking giant tail off the back of my car could help my fuel mileage. Well.... I think for myself, I totally proved it worked!
Of course every case is different. That's why every single person will learn their own little things about aeromodding (that they will hopefully share here). For instance, I learned that cardboard is fairly heavy compared to other materials you could buy, and also (baing in rainy Oregon), that cardboard will pretty much just MELT off the car when it gets really wet..... Ha ha ha. Shoulda seen that coming.
This year, i've improved with an all aluminum structure, and skin materials which are not water soluble.
About other aeromods...
I had considered the tail to be the largest mod, so I put it as 'phase 1' in my objective. Too bad it was so short lived. My plans after that were; Phase 2: A front air dam about 1 1/2 foot extended out from the front bumper. Phase 3: A belly pan and possible muffler mod. Phase 4: wheel skirts, rear wheel aero-covers, and possibly new harder tires with less rolling resistance.
So, thank you very much for the questions... of course these are all just ideas running around in my head until I can spend a little time getting my hands dirty! (That really is the most fun part).
More to come my fellow modders!
Thanks,
JoshuaChance