After-Market spoiler for 1999 boxster

[paulofto]

I'm guessing the guys who designed the car and did the wind tunnel testing knew a thing or two about aerodynamics and the need for the retractable air dam that comes with the car. It is functional if not stylish which is what Porsche is all about.

Contrast that with econo-box ricers that come standard with garish and somewhat outlandish single, double and sometimes triple wings which likely do absolutely nothing except add to the price of the car and make it hard to clean properly. Some of the recent cars put the wing on a Lambo to shame.

Give me function over form all day long.

[Ben006]

Originally Posted by paulofto

I'm guessing the guys who designed the car and did the wind tunnel testing knew a thing or two about aerodynamics and the need for the retractable air dam that comes with the car. It is functional if not stylish which is what Porsche is all about.

Contrast that with econo-box ricers that come standard with garish and somewhat outlandish single, double and sometimes triple wings which likely do absolutely nothing except add to the price of the car and make it hard to clean properly. Some of the recent cars put the wing on a Contact to shame.

Give me function over form all day long.

They knew a thing or two about engines too... and they still came up with the single row IMS bearing idea

Because they are engineer doesn't mean they take the best decision all the time based on functionality !

[Porsche9]

It's there for a reason. The earlier Audi TTs, a car that has a similar shape, had an issue with the rear getting light at speed with a few fatal incidents. To fix that Audi added a spoiler and then some. An engine blowing due to a cost cutting IMS is something completely different then a car that's unstable at speed. For your own safety and the safety of others be smart about a cosmetic mod that will change how a car handles.

Audi Offers TT Fix After 5 Deaths - NYTimes.com

[Ben006]

Originally Posted by Porsche9

It's there for a reason. The earlier Audi TTs, a car that has a similar shape, had an issue with the rear getting light at speed with a few fatal incidents. To fix that Audi added a spoiler and then some. An engine blowing due to a cost cutting IMS is something completely different then a car that's unstable at speed. For your own safety and the safety of others be smart about a cosmetic mod that will change how a car handles.

Audi Offers TT Fix After 5 Deaths - NYTimes.com

My point was just that because something is designed a certain way, doesn't you can't improve on it...

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by Ben006

My point was just that because something is designed a certain way, doesn't you can't improve on it...

Maybe you can improve on it but how will you know you've improved anything unless you can do some aero testing like the designers did. Wind tunnels are the only way.

[911monty]

Originally Posted by paulofto

Maybe you can improve on it but how will you know you've improved anything unless you can do some aero testing like the designers did. Wind tunnels are the only way.

Well there's always empirical data like the kind that Audi had with the TT!

l

[jb92563]

It's the classic struggle between esthetics, functionality/safety, performance and wanting it to look even cooler without having to shell out an extra $100g.

There are ways to measure down force if you really want to be driving over 80 a lot and need the aerodynamics to work without resorting to a wind tunnel.

I love the way Boxster race cars look but off the track on the street your going to attract an awful lot of perhaps unwanted attention and most likely some young guy in a winged flat black Honda is going to do something stupid, loose control and ruin your day.

If you can deal with that, it makes you smile and its not ridiculously expensive i'd go right ahead and enjoy.

There will always be those that are purists and prefer stock everything and those that like to personalize and pimp their ride to varying degrees. Its all good.

Ray

[Luv2Box]

Originally Posted by Ben006

My point was just that because something is designed a certain way, doesn't you can't improve on it...

Yes, but are you really smarter than a Porsche Automotive Engineer? There are literally thousands of posts dedicated to "improvement" on the design and an equal number of failures the so called "improvements" have resulted in. It's a great design, just go enjoy it.

[morgal48]

Originally Posted by Luv2Box

Yes, but are you really smarter than a Porsche Automotive Engineer? There are literally thousands of posts dedicated to "improvement" on the design and an equal number of failures the so called "improvements" have resulted in. It's a great design, just go enjoy it.

Your statement may be incorrect. Every one has failed? Maybe many, or most, but not all. Do the folks at Gembella and Ruf know that their stuff doesn't work as well? Do all those folks that race their cars use completely stock setups? Many industries separate design functions between design engineers and designers who are not degreed engineers, and many use engineers who do not have a "stamp", i.e. they have an engineering degree but no state license. Which group designed this part? Why does SEMA exist? AMG? M? Shelby?

[Luv2Box]

Originally Posted by morgal48

Your statement may be incorrect. Every one has failed? Maybe many, or most, but not all. Do the folks at Gembella and Ruf know that their stuff doesn't work as well? Do all those folks that race their cars use completely stock setups? Many industries separate design functions between design engineers and designers who are not degreed engineers, and many use engineers who do not have a "stamp", i.e. they have an engineering degree but no state license. Which group designed this part? Why does SEMA exist? AMG? M? Shelby?

I didn't say "every one has failed." Racing cars are a different breed than our every day use Boxsters and the air dam that is designed specifically for our Boxsters works as it was designed to work. Unless the manufacturer of the after market spoiler has some form of testing documentation (which I have yet to see as I was once interested in this spoiler) one stands at risk to lose control at higher speeds. I wouldn't want to risk losing control of my Boxster on a highway, would you?