Straight line racing is a bit different. If we're still talking about the effects of spoilers.

When you increase downforce, you also increase drag, they share a correlation. One influences the other.

Drag, as it sounds, hinders straight line acceleration and top speed, while downforce, also known as "lift" allows for much higher cornering speed.

Getting the highest magnitude lift coefficient for the lowest drag coefficient is generally a good thing.

The effects of each is most noticeble in F1

In an engineer's perfect world they would have zero drag while the car is on the straights, and have a large amount of downforce in the corners.


Sorry for the rambling. I really like the subject of AERO. As it applies to many of passions. Automotive, Sailing and Aeronautics. Aerodynamics is fundamental in sail shape on sailboats (I race sailboats).

But again, all of these points are moot on your friends Subaru as he will most likely not drive above 100mph. And ESPECIALLY not in a rally situation.

This post was edited by OldAndyAndTheSea on Feb 9 2013 07:24pm

nascar even tried a wing on their cars and it was an utter failure. they went back to a spoiler instead.

It makes a difference around 80-100 mph+

lol I agree with all you said friend. He is trying to convince me his spoiler adds effect starting at 60mph and his car will go up to 160. I won't argue with him as I've never driven his car.



I remember that. Thank God they got rid of it because it looked stupid too.

the side plates actually helped with side force but other than that it was junk. for what your friend is going to do with it the spoiler is useless. i dont think i could vote either way. im pretty certain its not helping the car but i dont really see how its hurting it either.

we have a 8200lb 1 ton that runs mid 10's

we dont need a wing. Just 33" bfg's and lots of fuel

Here's a cool vid of a rally subaru with no wing. Also it has nothing to do with this stupid argument.

lol

It is functional, but for how hes driving it hes never going to notice it.

To slow ...