After-Market spoiler for 1999 boxster

[jsg1206]

Love my car, but like most early year Boxster owners, not sure why Porsche came up with the lame "rear spoiler" concept for the car, looks better down, then up...... has anyone "upgraded" to a nicer looking after-market spoiler, several on **************************************** - i like the D2S Turbo Style Carbon Fiber spoiler. I don't like the idea of drilling through the metal trunk to install something, from the pictures, looks like this one works with the existing assembly rod mechanism - can't get much help from **************************************** and can't find any website for D2S - any recommendations or just leave as is? thanks

[JayG]

one problem with aftermarket "spoilers" is their aerodynamics and what they may do to the handling of the car at high speed.

Yes some of them may look nice, but if they have not done wind tunnel testing, the effects may be unpredictable
YMMV

[Luv2Box]

Porsche calls the Boxster spoiler an "air dam" and it is built that way for a reason the after market spoilers may not accomplish.

[78F350]

It seems that it is made for function rather than looking cool. Basically, it's a gurney flap:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurney_flap

[BIGJake111]

Slap a spoiler sticker on the current spoiler and be happy. It has a function and if you find a long two lane highway where you're running at like 80 in the forest you'll be glad to have it.

[itsnotanova]

I wish I could get my hands on a factory aerokit or a cayman wing. Just don't go too far like this guy.

[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

[jsg1206]

thanks for all the replies, will stick with the Porsche engineers and not mess with it.

[jcslocum]

I took a shot at using an after market "wing" to jazz up the appearance of our Box. I bought the unpainted unit from China and gave it a quick spray to get it close to a match. It was painted with a spray can from Automotive touch up. It's close but not great.

I cut the stock air dam to fit the wing on top of it to keep the designed in aero usefulness of the air dam.

[Luv2Box]

Originally Posted by jcslocum

I took a shot at using an after market "wing" to jazz up the appearance of our Box. I bought the unpainted unit from China and gave it a quick spray to get it close to a match. It was painted with a spray can from Automotive touch up. It's close but not great.

I cut the stock air dam to fit the wing on top of it to keep the designed in aero usefulness of the air dam.

Please let us know how it works out particularly at higher speeds when it is deployed. Good idea to alter the dam and the spoiler looks a damn sight better than stock.

[Top_Ramen]

OEM Cayman S wing retrofit

Full thread
http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/46156-cayman-s-spoiler-installed.html

[JayG]

at least you got it right that an air dam does not create downforce, but reduces lift

I would bet that Porsche did a fair bit of wind tunnel testing, so they probably do know what they were doing and have at very least a fair bit of aero design knowledge

Throwing some piece of fiberglass on the back of the car without any actual aero testing is at best dumb and at worst dangerous

does the caymen "wing" look better, IMHO, yes. The problem is the aero of the car is different and as you stated, aero needs to be a full car integration, not just adding a piece here or there.

I guess it depends on what you are trying to gain, looks or performance