Body Panel Swaps for aeromodding?

[ecofreak]

I was browsing through the Geo Metro front bumper/skirts aero comparison and I was wondering if cars built out of the same platform could possibly swap body panels. I say this because the 3rd generation VW Passat's "jelly mould" styling, reminiscent of the Type-4's of yore, has a better CdA than the 3rd gen Golf's grill. Could I swap the aero front grill/panel of the Passat with the less aerodynamic Golf front panel, or is it just a question of me comparing the dimensions?

Would any such swap be possible on other cars?

[robchalmers]

Its not just the front which gave the B5passat its slippery Cd. the roof line and underfloor were key parts to. the 3rd gen golf convertible did get a 4th gen face lift improving its frontal 'a bit' but not hugely



I know some other OEMs do make big ground on aero when they facelift a car.

[andylaurence]

Whether it fits or not, I don't know, but the Passat is not based on the same platform as the Golf. The Golf shares a platform with the VW Jetta, Skoda Octavia, Seat Leon, Audi A3 and probably others I've forgotten. The Passat shares a platform with the Audi A4, Skoda Superb and Seat Exeo.

[kaiba]

hmmm...

[ecofreak]

Well, I thought more and I realized that the mid 90's VWs are pretty unreliable, anyway. Thanks for the help, though.

[andylaurence]

Mid-90s VWs are unreliable? Who gave you that idea? Maybe you get different cars over there to the ones we get here. In the UK, they're known for their reliability.

[robchalmers]

VWs are pretty much bomb proof! , Mines a mid nineties ('96), and apart from a fuel spill off cracking due to 14years of action and the previous owner putting the wrong size battery on it its they are the only issues - apart from that solid even after whalloping the ass end of a focus its still drives sweetly!

Do you guys seriously abuse them over and not maintain other there or something!!