I drive my ride on the highway a lot and every time I have the sunroof open, it handles better and goes faster, it's like it cuts through the wind so much easier. The Coefficient of drag is 0.32 and I wonder if it's lower when the sunroof is open.
So, it would be nice if they tested the drag coefficient with the factory spoiler because with the G35, the coefficient of drag is lower by .01 with a spoiler.
Has anyone put a spoiler on their car and noticed a difference on the highway?
I have checked other posts and couldn't find any answers. :eyebrow:
XIEmperorIX
02-29-2008, 08:04 PM
To my knowledge a wing/spoiler wouldn't really help a fwd car all that much if at all..its more for looks
nominal_asu
02-29-2008, 08:13 PM
ok, spoiler, if properly designed, is to provide downforce on the back of the car, it generally doesnt do anything until you are going like 80 and it does nothing for a FWD car, I would also say that there is no way it reduces drag, I would also go as far as to say that a big wing, which is generally poorly designed would increase drag on the car. Opening the sun roof, much like opening the windows would increase drag I would imagine, If it feels faster i'd say its the butt dyno, its open, it is louder so it sounds faster.
haha it even says flowmaster in the back :silly: :silly:
nodsetse
02-29-2008, 10:38 PM
It's true that some rear spoilers can improve drag coefficient, by smoothing the air flow so that it exits the car cleanly, and in that case it doesn't matter whether the car is fwd or rwd. Some can also increase downforce, but most are designed for looks only, not with performance (better cd and/or downforce) in mind.
That said, I have no idea what spoilers are available for the tC that are performance oriented, or whether any exist.
pureXtC
03-01-2008, 01:48 AM
haha me thinks the sunroof is having a placebo effect on you.
nickahhh
03-01-2008, 01:51 AM
haha, because a drag coefficient reduced by .01 at speeds generally > 90 mph matters right?
I got my OEM rear lip spoiler for its looks.
Djicey702
03-02-2008, 01:22 AM
Lots of input here.. that's good, I am glad people got something to say about this. I did some research after I wrote this post and I have my own beliefs now of what should be expected from a spoiler.
I heard it was not safe to drive with the sunroof open on the freeway because it will mess it up? Is that true
Djicey702
03-02-2008, 02:01 AM
I heard it was not safe to drive with the sunroof open on the freeway because it will mess it up? Is that true
it's safe, it flops around a little, if you open it all the way (by pressing the open button once more after it's open) and drive at highway speeds, that would be not recommended because it flops around much more; but, I wouldn't worry about it.
Chrisb319
03-02-2008, 02:27 AM
says in the manual the sunroof can't be open in speeds over 50...I think. I remember one day when I came home I realized my sunroof was open the entire time I nearly shat myself because I knew that car ride felt a little too good.
I had to put these in for fun, someone else started it! :P
draxcaliber
03-04-2008, 03:25 AM
you an drive with the sunroof open at highway speeds. i've done it several times in nicer weather driving to and from frostburg (125 miles), at 60+ mph, and the sunroof holds just fine.
strangly enough, since i've started keeping track of my MPG, i expected it to go down when i opened up the sunroof, because i figured the car was less aerodynamic, but to my surprise, it actually went up just a little bit.
now that can't for certain be the sunroof because my driving conditions and behavior are not 100% constant, but seeing how i didn't experience a noticible decline in mpg, the sunroof angleing and deflecting could have been engineered with drag coefficient in mind.
Shaka_Z
03-04-2008, 03:37 AM
well, I regularly drive on the highway with the sunroof open - about the only time I close it is when it rains - at speeds of 70+ and it's never once had a single problem aside from needing some wd40 once upon a time because the rails got dry and it wouldnt close.
blitzep3
03-04-2008, 07:08 AM
what else are you going to use the sunroof for? anything is going to affect your drag. people say using the A/C at highway speeds rather then opening windows save more gas or use just as much gas
draxcaliber
03-04-2008, 01:10 PM
true, at speeds over 55 mph, it is more efficient to use air conditioning than have your windows open.
Shaka_Z
03-04-2008, 01:49 PM
the side windows certainly cause drag... the sunroof i am not so sure - nowhere near the same airflow compared to even one side window being open
silversurfer897
03-04-2008, 01:56 PM
I don't know about you, but I never get tired fo seeing stupid spoiler pics!
Djicey702
03-28-2008, 12:49 AM
I don't know about you, but I never get tired fo seeing stupid spoiler pics!
yeah good call, lets get some more spoiler pics on this post..!
Phobboi
03-28-2008, 01:09 AM
strangly enough, since i've started keeping track of my MPG, i expected it to go down when i opened up the sunroof, because i figured the car was less aerodynamic, but to my surprise, it actually went up just a little bit.
now that can't for certain be the sunroof because my driving conditions and behavior are not 100% constant, but seeing how i didn't experience a noticible decline in mpg, the sunroof angleing and deflecting could have been engineered with drag coefficient in mind.
You probably get better MPG just because of the better weather meaning better driving conditions and also not needing to turn on ac or heat.
slow-n-low06
03-28-2008, 12:31 PM
it dont matter anyway the car cant go over 127
yellowxhoodie
03-28-2008, 03:53 PM
I don't know about you, but I never get tired fo seeing stupid spoiler pics!
yeah good call, lets get some more spoiler pics on this post..!
AAHAHAHA.
i just saw your sig.
NO HOMO!
chicotunner07
03-28-2008, 04:05 PM
i drive with my sroof in the tilt position and open my vents and it feels like AC if the weather is right
can u imagine driving behind a tC and all u see is a flopping piece of glass on the roof!!!! I guess thats how other drivers must feel!! LMAO
Djicey702
03-31-2008, 09:24 PM
yeah, you would think years from now we would hear stories of Tc's having lost their sunroof on the highway... lol
Djicey702
03-31-2008, 09:29 PM
I don't know about you, but I never get tired fo seeing stupid spoiler pics!
yeah good call, lets get some more spoiler pics on this post..!
AAHAHAHA.
i just saw your sig.
NO HOMO!
For those of you who have no idea why my signature is so funny, It's time you know why...