Rear Deck Lid Spoiler

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hankthetank

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 6, 1999
Location
Rohnert Park, CA USA
TDI
'96 Passat, '98 Jetta, '02 Golf
Do any of you have a rear deck lid spoiler? As stock equipment or after market? For those of that installed it afterwards did you notice any difference in mileage? Does it have a real effect? I'm thinking about haveing one installed.

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1998 Jetta TDI
1985 Mercedes 300d(turbo)(rolled)
1985 Jetta GL (sold)
1983 Westfalia(Burned-up)
1981 Rabbit LS Diesel(ex-sold)
1973 SuperBeetle 1700cc/dual Webers (sold)
 
P

Peter Cheuk

Gasser :P
Joined
Aug 31, 1998
Location
Daly City, Calif., USA
TDI
'06 Jetta GLI
Hank, a rear spoiler will probably hurt mileage.
As far as aerodynamics are concerned, a smoother shape with nothing hanging out to catch air will give better results than a spoiler or wing will give. A properly designed wing or spoiler will help if the car were designed improperly to begin with to help smooth out the rough spots in the airstream. If your car was designed properly, anything added to the shape will hurt it, aerodynamically. The possible exception is anything that reduces airflow under the car. Lowering your car will probably give you a little mileage benefit (the underside of your car isn't smooth and any air flowing under your car is catching on every little thing, slowing you down). Be aware that body kits, which are very popular right now, aren't windtunnel tested very often so the results are a big ???

Your A3 Jetta is very aerodynamic as it is. Enjoy it.

I'm actually thinking of removing the radio antenna and mounting a hidden antenna inside the car somehow. Go ahead, call me nuts, I've been called worse.

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'98 Jetta TDi with Hopa Module and custom short shifter
 
M

mickey

Guest
I agree that a spoiler will cut down on your mileage slightly, on the freeway. At sane speeds the only benefit is cosmetic. Most of them are not designed in a wind tunnel, they're just meant to look groovy. At extremely high speeds properly designed and installed spoilers can help reduce drag-induced lift and improve handling. (An air dam has more benefit than a rear decklid spoiler for that purpose.) In an effort to tame the New Beetle's rather unpredictable high speed handling, the new GLX 1.8T model has a motorized spoiler which extends from the top of the rear hatch at high speeds. (Kind of like a fat little Porche Carerra.) From what I've read, it works as advertised. But you have to be going well over 100 mph to notice the effect. Do the TDI movement a favor, Hank, and keep it tasteful! Don't make it look like the General Lee! I'm begging you!


-mickey

[This message has been edited by mickey (edited June 07, 1999).]
 
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mickey

Guest
Don't mess with the antenna, Peter! I get a kick out of those jaunty little VW stalks sticking up all over parking lots. They're whimsical!

-mickey
 
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mickey

Guest
Don't mess with the antenna, Peter! I get a kick out of those jaunty little VW stalks sticking up all over parking lots. They're whimsical!

-mickey
 
P

Peter Cheuk

Gasser :P
Joined
Aug 31, 1998
Location
Daly City, Calif., USA
TDI
'06 Jetta GLI
Mickie, waddaya mean, 'whimsical'?

I'm trying to buy a set of used Eibach ProKit lowering springs for my car. That, and the lack of a mileage robbing antenna
and I should be able to break 45MPG!
 
M

mickey

Guest
I'm thinking of chartering a large bus to drive around just ahead of me on the freeway so I can "draft" behind it. I should be able to eke out an extra 2 or 3 miles per gallon that way.

-mickey
 
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Peter Cheuk

Gasser :P
Joined
Aug 31, 1998
Location
Daly City, Calif., USA
TDI
'06 Jetta GLI
Christi, we already have a third brake light mounted high in the rear glass. We can thank Uncle Sam for that. No need for a wing mounted fourth brake light, if you know what I mean.
 
N

nomad

Veteran Member
Joined
May 24, 1999
Hey Mickey you gave me a great idea!

I'll just hide behind one of those big honkin' Soccer mom riding SUVs to help my mileage a little bit! Thanks!
 
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Sparky

Member
Joined
Mar 18, 1999
Location
Dallas, TX
I've got that beat! I just pull my TDI behind my motohome. Why draft? Better yet, just have my wife drive my Suburban in front of me everywhere I go. That should save on fuel cost.... The 100th of a mpg that the antenna restricts is hardly worth the poor reception of an aftermarket, low profile, antenna.
 
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mickey

Guest
Sure it does something, but the operative word is "RACING"! Most of us don't drive around town at 150 mph. I don't even exceed the speed limit very often, I just like to get up to the speed limit VERY quickly.

-mickey
 
H

hankthetank

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 6, 1999
Location
Rohnert Park, CA USA
TDI
'96 Passat, '98 Jetta, '02 Golf
Listen Sparky!!!!! This is Hanks wife...(he really isnt a tank, he just thinks he is)Dont knock the drag your wife gets with the suv!!!!! I'm the one who wanted a spoiler (or whatever ya call it?! cause it looks Kewl) and wives are NOT drags. really. Yes huh!!! Im trying right now to talk the Tank into another Jetta. I had the first one...85 normal one...(not diesel)and I miss it...we have had several cars in between, but i miss my Jetta (or an ole bug....the best) I am currently driving a gmc Safari van...but occasionaly sneak the Jetta out.(buggar always catches me tho....)
 
S

Switca

RIP, Gone But Not Forgotten
Joined
Mar 29, 1999
Location
Flat lands of Delaware
Yeah, check out the suped up Bora. That's not a piece of resin with a brake light in it. That's an adjustable wing.

Dont youse guys watch CART or F1??
 
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mickey

Guest
Yes, I do watch auto racing every chance I get, except for that NASCAR "Rednecks turning left" series. I'm well aware of the function of wings and spoilers; I'm also aware that they don't do much on the highway unless you're driving way too fast.

-mickey
 
O

Olli

Veteran Member
Joined
Feb 19, 1999
Mickey is right about the rear spoiler issue. Unless you are going well into the triple digits they are purely for looks. And even then very few ( if any ) of the aftermarket ( please don't compare aftermarket with an engineered racing product ) will do anything beneficial. The NB 1.8T spoiler raises at 93 mph.

I too am a racing fan , both CART and F1. In fact my NB TDI will be making the trip up to Montreal for the F1 Grand Prix this weekend.

If you like the look of a rear spoiler,go for it. Keep it simple, no 18" high F-40 style wing on a TDI though please. Don't laugh, I saw this on a Jetta III last weekend. YUUKKK !!!!!!!


Olli
 
C

Craig

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 8, 1999
Location
Kitchener, Ont., Canada
Actually what I would like is a slight upturn on the end of the Jetta truck similar to that built in to the Audi A4. I wonder if anyone makes a small spoiler like this?
 
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