Rear Spoilers

Allan87

I'm thinking of buying an Astra GTC and am contemplating adding the optional rear spoiler. I've googled the benefits of these but it seems to be a mixed bag. Will they only make a difference above a certain speed and if only used at normal speeds will they reduce my fuel economy? I've also read that they *may* improve re-sale value. Any comments are welcome.

gilbert_and_sullivan

They used to be quite popular in the 80's, always found them to weigh enough to make the existing gas struts/springs struggle to hold the lid up, and a clout on the back of the head from a dropping tailgate isn't very handy.

The only ones that look right are the genuine article, aftermarket spoliers and other Halfords type tat render the car unto a certain catchment IMO, but each to their own.

Can't see any benefit to stability downforce etc unless you reach speeds well over 3 figures (unless the car was so designed and unavailable without), i've never found the type of car capable of maintaining 140+ to be unstable at that speed, only one of those had a slight inbuilt lip at the rear edge of the bootlid, but they were heavier larger saloon/coupe designs not hatchbacks.

facade

If you get the right one, it helps keep the back window clean by changing the airflow over the rear of the car.

shaun_from_Africa

Another thing to cosider is that the addition of the spoiler may well increase your motor insurance premium.
Even if it doesn't, you should still inform your insurers of the modification because if you don't and you have to claim from your insurer, they can use the non disclosure as an excuse to avoid paying out to you.

Stooby2

And for an insurance company, a rear spoiler = boy racer = hefty increase to premium.

Not worth it imo.

Allan87

Stooby2 wrote: »

And for an insurance company, a rear spoiler = boy racer = hefty increase to premium.

Not worth it imo.

Not so. I amended a quote to include a modification of a rear spoiler and the premium did not increase.

It seems for the Astra it is an aesthetic option with no physical benefit. However I do wonder if it'll help the re-sale value.

AdrianC

Allan87 wrote: »

I'm thinking of buying an Astra GTC and am contemplating adding the optional rear spoiler. I've googled the benefits of these but it seems to be a mixed bag.

Cosmetic benefits only. Yes, rear spoilers _can_ make a difference to lift, to drag, to airflow over the window etc. Not even necessarily an improvement, either. But, on the average production car, they are primarily cosmetic. Any other benefits are going to be purely coincidental.

I've also read that they *may* improve re-sale value.

Yep, it may. It may make a sale easier. Or it may make a sale slower and harder. It all depends on buyer preferences in the future...

andygb

I have never had a spoiler on a car, including the ones which I have taken around tracks. I have never noticed anything amiss between 140MPH - 160MPH, even when braking hard, and then going thorough complicated bends.
On a road car in the UK, they are just a joke.

shown73

Had the biplane spoilers on my XR4i in the eighties, and as far as I know they were added by Ford in order to improve stability on what was an otherwise not very good design for higher speeds. The later, faster, Cossie had of course an even larger table top jobbie, which I'm sure would have been jettisoned by the racing fraternity if they had thought it superfluous. So sometimes they work, I suppose, but really to correct a design inadequacy.

legionare64

My Audi 3.2 TT has a rear spoiler as standard ... Audi fitted these as the rear was a bit skittish without them and early cars were doing backflips on the autobahns.
They do work, but if not fitted by the manufacturer they usually look awfull and add to your insurance premium.

Herzlos

If it's an optional extra, it's unlikely to have any noticeable performance impact.