Spirited Driving Question

[Racer Boy]

As mentioned, the rear spoiler doesn't create downforce, it cancels some of the lift. That is a big difference. That is where the spoiler gets it's name, it "spoils" the lift.

I track my 986, and it doesn't feel loose in any of the real corners, some of which are up to 75 - 80 mph (130 kph). However, there is a flat-out kink that I take at about 125 mph (200 kph) where the back end definitely does not feel as planted.

The spoiler is up at that speed, so I bet it if I lowered the spoiler it would be exciting, in an unpleasant way. Could I handle it? Yes, because I would expect it to behave that way every lap, and I'm an experienced racing driver. For an average driver on the street, it would be alarming, and a high percentage of drivers would probably not be able to handle it. That's why Porsche put the spoiler on, just as they set up the car to understeer. Customers crashing their cars because they spin easily would be bad for business!

To answer the OP's question, the spoiler won't make any difference at under speeds under 200 kph!

[TeamOxford]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

To answer the OP's question, the spoiler won't make any difference at under speeds under 200 kph!

This.

I sometimes feel that one of the reasons Porsche put a retractable spoiler on the Boxster was to avert possible high speed problems, like the ones that haunted Audi in the early TT models.

Just sayin'.............

TO

[Starter986]

Originally Posted by Racer Boy

As mentioned, the rear spoiler doesn't create downforce, it cancels some of the lift. That is a big difference. That is where the spoiler gets it's name, it "spoils" the lift.

I track my 986, and it doesn't feel loose in any of the real corners, some of which are up to 75 - 80 mph (130 kph). However, there is a flat-out kink that I take at about 125 mph (200 kph) where the back end definitely does not feel as planted.

The spoiler is up at that speed, so I bet it if I lowered the spoiler it would be exciting, in an unpleasant way. Could I handle it? Yes, because I would expect it to behave that way every lap, and I'm an experienced racing driver. For an average driver on the street, it would be alarming, and a high percentage of drivers would probably not be able to handle it. That's why Porsche put the spoiler on, just as they set up the car to understeer. Customers crashing their cars because they spin easily would be bad for business!

To answer the OP's question, the spoiler won't make any difference at under speeds under 200 kph!

Isn't the downforce necessary to cancel the lift? That's the ying and yang of it. No? Can't have one without the other. The spoiler is solid, so when the air hits it... it pushes down. No? Isn't that downforce? Absent that downforce you couldn't cancel the lift. No? Tell me I'm wrong. I'd like to know. Thank you.

[edc]

Originally Posted by Starter986

Isn't the downforce necessary to cancel the lift? That's the ying and yang of it. No? Can't have one without the other. The spoiler is solid, so when the air hits it... it pushes down. No? Isn't that downforce? Absent that downforce you couldn't cancel the lift. No? Tell me I'm wrong. I'd like to know. Thank you.

You are wrkng unfortunately. The answers to your questions are in the main already above.

[Burg Boxster]

Originally Posted by Starter986

Isn't the downforce necessary to cancel the lift? That's the ying and yang of it. No? Can't have one without the other. The spoiler is solid, so when the air hits it... it pushes down. No? Isn't that downforce? Absent that downforce you couldn't cancel the lift. No? Tell me I'm wrong. I'd like to know. Thank you.

Would you believe us if we told you downforce is lift?

[thstone]

Originally Posted by Burg Boxster

Would you believe us if we told you downforce is lift?

^^^ This. Is. Awesome. ^^^