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Old 05-11-2009, 09:09 AM   #21 (permalink)
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Commercial applications actually makes sense. GMC is popular in business, you could work with their trucks. You may be able to find out what cars are the most often leased by businesses and you could aero mod those. Greenwash the hell out of it and people will buy it.

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Old 05-11-2009, 07:25 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Commercial approach

MazdaMatt, right on.

The '70's oil crisis is when some Genius made those aero shells to go on the front of the big rigs trailers, riding on the cab - fuel economy improved about 10%, by adding a big plastic plow. HUGE dollars worth of savings, back in the evil days of (as I recall) 50 cent gas (it had been 35 cent).

Let's look at some Fleet rental trucks, with suxor mileage (leet?), and find some way of tweaking them to save 25% on their gas usage, and retire early and live like kings.

Or at least be able to afford a new Prius.
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Old 05-11-2009, 09:04 PM   #23 (permalink)
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What you really gotta do is build a reputation for aero modding cars without making them look like garbage, and then the car makers will hire you.
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Old 05-12-2009, 10:08 AM   #24 (permalink)
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I say focus on the SUVs that people are stuck with because they arent worth what they owe. Start by doing custom local work and then move up to mail order once you have the molds and specs for those vehicles. I say hit the big ones such as the Ford Explorer, Ford Expedition, Chevy Blazer, Chevy Tahoe/Suburban, and Dodge Durangos. Foreign vehicles are still doing decent at holding their value. The market from these SUVs should be enough to get you started.
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Old 05-12-2009, 05:45 PM   #25 (permalink)
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What you really gotta do is build a reputation for aero modding cars without making them look like garbage, and then the car makers will hire you.
I won't be expecting any calls.
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Old 05-13-2009, 12:21 AM   #26 (permalink)
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haha well I didnt mean THAT... but you know how computer companies host events where they bring in a bunch of kids to see who can crack their system and then they hire the ones that are good at it.

Well, I just think if you can become notorious for reverse engineering the aero of production vehicles and making significant improvements on what they already paid their engineers to do... and all the while make it look GOOD and work well, then basically that is a great selling point if you are trying to get yourself a job. Right?

But, cart before the horse. Sorry for going off topic.
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Old 05-13-2009, 01:59 AM   #27 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by LeanBurninating View Post
Well, I just think if you can become notorious for reverse engineering the aero of production vehicles and making significant improvements on what they already paid their engineers to do... and all the while make it look GOOD and work well, then basically that is a great selling point if you are trying to get yourself a job. Right?
Their engineers already did it, but then the design guys took over and messed everything up. That's why super-aero, ultra-FE prototypes get watered down by the time they hit the production line: Someone says "Nobody's gonna buy an efficient, weird looking car. Let's turn it into a typical, ugly, inefficient gas guzzler and ask the government to lower gas prices. BTW, Big Oil: make your checks to..."
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[Old] Piwoslaw's Peugeot 307sw modding thread
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Old 05-13-2009, 02:14 AM   #28 (permalink)
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^Almost exactly. The engineers already know what to do, it is mgmt that pulls them in a different direction.
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Old 05-13-2009, 08:05 AM   #29 (permalink)
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Citroen knows how to do it.
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Old 05-30-2009, 03:21 PM   #30 (permalink)
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I think pick-up trucks that see lots of highway miles are great candidates.

Among cars? I think the Honda Civic is a terrific candidate:

1) Very, very plentiful/popular model
2) The basics are there ... so good aero mods will only accentuate a fine aero shape.
3) Has a hybrid version and you have to think many hybrid owners would love to boost their mileage by another 10-15%

Most of the above goes for the Toyota Prius as well.

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