Spoiler & Scoop
 

Anyone know when (what speed) the spoiler (on trunk lid) and front scoop (underneath front lip) begin to have any serious effect on holding the road? Just wondering how important they are.

The front lip on mine holds the road pretty good every time I pull out of my in-laws driveway.

Around 70+ mph.... but that was a general figure I heard. I'm sure each spoiler/splitter works slightly different due to how they are designed.

Hahaha I believe he means performance, not actually holding on the ground.

:bowrofl:

OP: I've read much higher speeds, above 100mph+. I could be wrong though.

Seriously doubt you are getting much performance/handling from either at any speed but that is just my opinion...

Read the last sentence, second paragraph.

2009 Nissan NISMO 370Z - Short Take Road Test - Car Reviews - Car and Driver

What do you drive?

A Sport Model 370Z has what is called "Zero Lift" Aerodynamics with the Spoiler and the small Wing on the trunk lid. This means they keep the car from trying to "float" at high speeds. Nissan does not define the exact speed at which these come into effect.

A NISMO model370Z has what Nissan terms "Negative Lift" aerodynamic package. At the Higher speeds, that Nissan does not define either, the aerodynamics package with the active front spoiler and the larger wing on the trunk lid actually start pushing down on the car (downforce) to keep it firmly planted on the road. By how much, Nissan does not publish these numbers either - at least no where that I have seen.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: The link in the above post to mine steers one to a Car & Driver article in which Nissan DID define these numbers. Apparently, 75mph and 18 Lbs of Downforce on a NISMO Model, QUOTE: " but Nissan claims all the body modifications create no additional drag and generate 18 pounds of downforce over the front axle and 35 pounds over the rear at 75 mph"

Funny you should ask. The dealer I bought my car from never installed the front air deflectors. They left all three in the hatch. Now at 6k mi. I had the new dealership I deal with install them at the last oil change. I immediately felt a difference on the highway. It's hard to explain, maybe more smooth since less air goes under the car.

I'm driving a Touring Coupe/Sports. I did note the link talking about the Nizmo, and the 18 lbs of downforce at 75 MPH. But my Touring Coupe spoiler is probably really minimal in its effect (my guess at this point).

I'd like to just remove the spoiler and the front deflectors (or whatever they are that hits driveways) and just didn't want to create a destabilizing situation of any consequence. On one hand I'll hardly drive at speeds where I suspect they have an effect - depending on what effect there is to begin with - and on the other hand I did get in the 100 MPH range driving it home from out of state after the purchase (you can do that and still stay under the 4000 RPM break-in limit with no trouble at all). But I probably won't be driving in that speed range in the future; it was mostly a "try it out a little" thing.

And if they don't even go into effect until around 100 MPH - or if the stuff I have is mostly cosmetic or mild enought that it makes little real difference - then I probably would be happy just removing them. (I know there are those who would never take off the rear spoiler on a "looks" basis but for me I'd actually prefer not having it.)

So if I can determine no ill effects, or neglible effects in the 100 MPH or less range, that's what I'm trying to figure out

or maybe they just inflated the tires to the correct psi and you're feeling that...(?)

im pretty sure if you remove the sport spoiler there will be holes in the trunk you need to fill.

As I stated before, this is not cosmetic. The aerodynamic package on the touring model keeps the car from "lifting" due to air flow under the carriage. Nissan calls this "ZERO LIFT", so the car would not float at high speed and lose traction with the road. DO NOT take those spoilers off for your safety (and those driving around you) at high speed.

Honestly I feel the same thing. My boy that has one without the spoiler drove mine and said something similar to what you just said as well.
I actually feel like there's something pushing down on the back of my Z with the spoiler.

been there down that.........:rofl2::rofl2:

But there's no spoiler on the rear deck of the "straight" coupe, is there? Why should it make any difference whether one has a Sports or Touring package? Same engine, same basic car. ???

Nissan sells the base model without them, so it hardly has anything to do with safety. It just provides for some extra performance at higher speeds. OP you'd be fine without them, although I think the car looks like garbage without the spoiler, to each his own. :ugh2:

:iagree:

+2.........

:iagree:

So I think I'll probably have them removed. My plan was to keep them so that they could be reinstalled when I sell the car, as I expect most prospective owners would want them.

I'm still waiting for my Obama sponsored tire guage and tune-up kit. They said they'd deliver after the 2008 elections but so far there has been no delivery on their promises, not even a tracking number. So I have no way of verifying, or denying, this assertion. :rofl2:

Well the whole problem is Obama. You might not get it.

If you have the sport package then just leave it on. It's not really hurting anything. If you can not stand the look of the rear spoiler then you will need tot take your car to a body shop so they can fill in the holes that will be left behind ( as mentioned earlier).

:iagree: Maybe he didn't read that part. I would leave it as is.

I read it. I'll pay the body shop to fill/paint.

I have the sport package, so I cant speak for any differences in feel over the nismo or non-sport, but I do know at over 140mph mine starts to float. At 150mph it is to the point were your constantly bringing it back straight. Very hair raising to say the least. I wouldnt even attempt that in a non-sport model and wont be back into those numbers for any extended periods like before without some major aero work on the front and rear.

Have to agree with the garbage look without it. X3

Leave it on, unless you plane on replacing it with a different one. The Z (coupe) looks naked without it. Also, if you lower your car, that too has an effect on the aerodynamics. The 'lift' effect at high speeds is very real and most cars are designed with zero lift in mind. Race cars are designed with downforce, trading more 'drag' for more grip. For most street cars, they design them to be neutral or zero lift for better fuel economy.

What everyone else said. Some other cars do horrible at high speed lift in the front, and I've driven several that felt very unsafe even at at mere ~100-115 mph. The Z with the front zero-lift system (all 3 bits) stays planted all the way (well, at least out to 150-something). It's a wonderful thing.

I do not have the spoilers and: I do not scrape my front bumper on driveways, I think the z looks fine without the rear spoiler, and lastly I have not experienced the float that others are talking about at higher speeds. The article is talking about the Nismo rear spoiler providing 35 lbs of down force at what ever speed they stated, not the sports package spoiler, which probably gives a little down force but nothing to write home about.

:rofl2:

I believe that's the bottom line for me, too, so far as the effects are concerned. The bottom line dollar-wise is that it's expensive to remove the spoiler because (according to the body shop) the hatch is aluminum and that makes welding the holes over difficult and time-consuming. Still, since I don't like the "sports/spoiler" look I'll probably do it. Got the estimate and it was about twice what I had hoped, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

How much was it?

$900+

Personally I'd find a way to start liking the spoiler if that's the case :roflpuke2:

Yes, it's to each his own. Most like them just fine, I'm sure.

You could always try to trade the whole hatch with someone with a base non-spoiler. I'm sure you'd be able to do that for less than 900.

Well that's a thought, but I suspect given that there aren't the same kinds of numbers of owners here in SLC as there would be in the midwest or coastal areas, I think it would be difficult to get all the logistics worked out to do it that way.