On Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:55:31 +0100, Recliner wrote
"Tim Woodall" wrote in message
e.uk

Obviously, this breaks down for high performance cars at very high
speeds. I doubt that any road-legal car generates signficant down
force at speeds much below about 100mph due to the dire effect it has
on fuel consumption.

What about the sports cars which have retractable rear spoilers that pop
up at, say, ~75mph?

In many cases they have an appreciable effect at speeds not often reached in
the UK.

In order to give them some 'pose value' they are recalibrated to rise at
speeds more likely to be achieved in the UK, otherwise the driver might not
feel they're getting value for money/the required pose effect.

Of course, there is an argument that says a properly designed car shouldn't
need 'add-on' wings/spoilers etc fixed or otherwise.

On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 15:01:31 +0100, Stimpy
wrote:

Of course, there is an argument that says a properly designed car shouldn't
need 'add-on' wings/spoilers etc fixed or otherwise.


Many cars suffer from increased lift at higher speeds. The spoiler
provides increased downforce to counter this.

The Audi TT (first model) suffered a significant increase in rear lift
at higher speeds. In some markets, but not the UK, the automatic rear
spoiler was standard equipment. In the UK, which has a 70 mph limit,
it was an optional extra, presumably on the basis that it was not
actually needed at 70 mph.

There was some discussion in the motoring press about whether TTs sold
in the UK should all be so fitted, in case they were taken to (for
example) Germany and driven at much higher speeds - some stretches of
German autobahn have no speed limit for cars in good weather.

IIRC Audi UK accepted the suggestion. Subsequently all TTs sold in
the UK had the spoiler fitted as standard.

Bruce gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Many cars suffer from increased lift at higher speeds. The spoiler
provides increased downforce to counter this.

The Audi TT (first model) suffered a significant increase in rear lift
at higher speeds. In some markets, but not the UK, the automatic rear
spoiler was standard equipment. In the UK, which has a 70 mph limit, it
was an optional extra, presumably on the basis that it was not actually
needed at 70 mph.

There was some discussion in the motoring press about whether TTs sold
in the UK should all be so fitted, in case they were taken to (for
example) Germany and driven at much higher speeds - some stretches of
German autobahn have no speed limit for cars in good weather.

IIRC Audi UK accepted the suggestion. Subsequently all TTs sold in the
UK had the spoiler fitted as standard.

Not an automatic rear spoiler, but the little permanently fixed one.
Also, ESP stability control. Both were also retro-fitted in a recall.

Have a google for "vosa R/2000/008".

On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 20:31:17 +0100, Bruce wrote
On Sun, 1 Aug 2010 15:01:31 +0100, Stimpy
wrote:

Of course, there is an argument that says a properly designed car shouldn't
need 'add-on' wings/spoilers etc fixed or otherwise.


Many cars suffer from increased lift at higher speeds. The spoiler
provides increased downforce to counter this.

The Audi TT (first model) suffered a significant increase in rear lift
at higher speeds. In some markets, but not the UK, the automatic rear
spoiler was standard equipment. In the UK, which has a 70 mph limit,
it was an optional extra, presumably on the basis that it was not
actually needed at 70 mph.

There was some discussion in the motoring press about whether TTs sold
in the UK should all be so fitted, in case they were taken to (for
example) Germany and driven at much higher speeds - some stretches of
German autobahn have no speed limit for cars in good weather.

IIRC Audi UK accepted the suggestion. Subsequently all TTs sold in
the UK had the spoiler fitted as standard.


The original TT was released without any spoiler but a well-publicised spate
of accidents which were blamed on loss of rear-end grip prompted a recall for
the fitting of a small duck-tail spoiler. All subsequent Mk 1 TT's were
fitted with the spoiler from new.

On Mon, 2 Aug 2010 11:02:03 +0100, Stimpy
wrote:
The original TT was released without any spoiler but a well-publicised spate
of accidents which were blamed on loss of rear-end grip prompted a recall for
the fitting of a small duck-tail spoiler. All subsequent Mk 1 TT's were
fitted with the spoiler from new.


Thank you.