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Rear Spoiler 850 1997

posted by  Catmonkey on  Fri Apr 1 15:14 CST 2005
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last visit: Tue May 15 17:44 CST 2012
[RELATED]

How functional is the factory installed rear spoiler on a '97 850? Or is it just cosmetic?

I've been reading posts on various performance sites that generally cater to the "Honda-spaceship" crowd saying that rear spoilers provide downdraft, holding the car's rear-end on the road in curves or changing lanes at high speeds, may reduce the perceived effects of high winds at speed. Also, the posts tend to agree that poorly designed spoilers will increase drag, whereas the better engineered spoilers may reduce drag.

Nowhere have I found information about the Volvo spoilers. Any information here?

Thanks,

Chris
--
In the Country of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is King








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    Rear Spoiler 850 1997

    uid 16216's pic
    posted by  NBZ on  Sun Apr 3 03:34 CST 2005
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    last visit: Thu Feb 2 21:31 CST 2012
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    Spoilers are essentially an inverted airplane wing.
    Before they add any appeciable downward force to the car you need to
    be approaching take-off speed; or they need to be the size of the Carrera "whale-tail".
    (Remember the VW Corrado with the hydraulic rear spoiler? That idea didn't really take off either.)
    Armie

    --
    '94 850 154000kms '86 760GLE 272000kms








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    Rear Spoiler 850 1997

    posted by  the kick inside on  Sat Apr 2 04:39 CST 2005
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    last visit: Thu May 17 09:58 CST 2007
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    all spoilers add drag, non are wort ha damn at much less than 100mph...even then they need to be matched to air-dams and under body trays to be effective...

    a f1 car produces 3 TONS of downforce at 180mph - literally it could drive on the ceiling...but thats spoilers, spliters, undertrays etc...

    its styling....








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    Rear Spoiler 850 1997

    posted by  jmiked on  Fri Apr 1 15:27 CST 2005
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    last visit: Thu May 28 15:18 CST 2009
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    It's cosmetic. To be functional, it would have to be much higher, and even then you'd have to be going twice the speed limit for it to do anything.

    I've got one on my '97 GLT (purchased used), and all it does is add something to make waxing the car that much more difficult.

    I'd remove it except it would leave a hole in the middle of the trunk.

    Mike







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