Spoilers...

I'm considering putting a spoiler on my 95 gsx. The stock spoiler was removed a long time ago, by the FnF obsessed teenager I bought the car, so right now it has nothing. I've read enough here to know spoilers are frowned upon, but I keep thinking they must have some real use, or they wouldn't put them on professional race cars so often. Plus they come stock on most sports cars. Even most rally cars have them, so apparently they're not just helpful at really high speeds. So what's the deal? I'm not looking for some giant Formula 1 style super wing here, I'm thinking of something more curved along the shape of the car, like this...
http://www.jspamerica.com/spoilers_...ductID=CFGT1056
I'm not attached to that particular spoiler, it's similiar to most of the ones I like though. So my question is, what exactly is a spoiler going to do to the performance of my car, and specifically, what are spoilers shaped like that one going to do to the performance of my car?
I'm definitely not interested in sacrificing function for style, but much like RiceRocket18, who I copied that link from (thanks man), I work in visual arts, so style does mean SOMETHING to me. Thanks!
~ Thirdrail

I would buy the gsx/t spoiler and put it on...
Those "GT" wings work at like 130 mph +
And the link does not work

Weird, the same link works on the other guys post. Im talking about the curved carbon fiber wings that hug the back of the car, and usually have some raised lip on the front edge in the center.

I've read enough here to know spoilers are frowned upon...


ok, it's not that spoilers are frowned upon it's the fact that ricers put them on FWD cars. Spoilers have effect on RWD cars because at higher speeds they help put the wheels down to the ground and maintain traction. When you do that to a FWD car all you do is increase downforce on the rear wheels that aren't driving. Infact on FWD cars you decrease performance by putting a rear spoiler because yuo remove pressure from front wheels and move to the front. I say go to a junkyard and find a eclipse and take the spoiler from it, I think the stock one looks best, or if you go aftermarket try to make the lines flow with the car and not have a 12 foot spoiler. :nono:

Weird, the same link works on the other guys post. Im talking about the curved carbon fiber wings that hug the back of the car, and usually have some raised lip on the front edge in the center.

Like the commando style wings... i think wings west makes them
Get another pic... or i will try that link when i get home... stupid school computers. :banghead:

long story short. a spoiler keeps your fat ass down!! :puke:

people who say "spoilers are for RWD cars" annoy me almost as much as the ones who don't know what they do.. but get one anyway.

long explanation short, downforce decreases the maximum circle radius (smaller is better) that a car can turn in at a given speed. Friction is a formula from the coefficient of friction of both surfaces, and the pressure. (interesting note: surface area doesn't affect friction (read: wider tires don't increase friction because they are wider)) Downforce increases the weight of a car linearly with speed, just like when the speed of an airplane is increased, it has more lift.

So anyway, spoilers aren't for keeping RWD oversteer in check. It would be true, except that biggest factor in oversteer (power oversteer) is not a factor at high speeds.. and spoilers don't produce helpful downforce at low speeds.

Plus, cars that need downforce usually have front spoilers, and underbody aero-diffusers (which don't have the downside of drag).

Whether mitsubishi has wind tunnel tested any of their spoiler's.. i don't know. The only thing you'll be doing is adding looks, which is the purpose of the spoiler on 95% of imports today.

Grab the stock one off ebay or something.

hey joe, read my thread on "help this newbie out please". what do you think about that spoiler. go easy on me. :iceslolan