Poll to decide whether a spoiler actually serves a purpose.

[Scott Barton]

Ok peeps...lets have a quick vote.
Just to satisfy my own curiosity really.

Everyones opinion welcome albeit Mk1, Mk2 or Mk3, modified or unmodified.

[Goldy]

It provides a meaning to REDMR2's imoc rambling..... I mean what would he talk about if he couldnt keep changing his mind about keeping his spoiler or not

Purely cosmetic (unless you're drivng 130+ mph )

[Bry]

A poll can not decide if the spoiler is cosmetic or serves a purpose,it either is or it isn't regardless of the results of a poll

[KiwiMR2]

Makes more of a difference at higher speeds. Just try driving at 150 kph without one

Cheers
KiwiMR2

[waelwulfas]

Makes more of a difference at higher speeds. Just try driving at 150 kph without one

Cheers
KiwiMR2

Purely cosmetic, mine's stable at 200kph . If it's so fundamentally important, how come it's shape changed on every rev. without any significant bodywork alterations. I suspect that, like all major manufacturers, windtunnel testing was done on the basic bodyshape. It'll also knock the cd. factor.

[Scott Barton]

A poll can not decide if the spoiler is cosmetic or serves a purpose,it either is or it isn't regardless of the results of a poll

I just wanted to see what the general consensus of opinion is thats all. Not debating whether it is actually needed or not, just what people perceive to be true.

[Dave Goodhand]

I honestly doubt they are needed!

They weigh quite a bit, so it could be a matter or weight distribution over the car. Obviously driving at high speed in a car that isn't 50/50 or near enough weight distribution it will feel like the car wants to let go somewhere (over/understeer) Which may make people think it produces downforce.

[JJ]

If you look at the shape of it, it does produce downforce... which is good at high speeds. With the engine in the rear, its hardly noticable. I think we're more inclined to have a deeper front one than a larger rear !

[alexwainwright]

It is not there to produce downforce, more to reduce LIFT. The basic design of the MR2 means you get a low pressure area over the rear of the car, which will try to lift the vehicle (compare the side on profile to an aeroplane wing - not far off eh?!!). In basic terms, the spoiler breaks up the flow, reducing lift.

Spoilers can change shape but still provide the desired effect, hence the changes with the later revisions do not prove that the spoiler is redundant. Like anything on a car, they are designed with cosmetics in mind, yet must still do the job they are there to do.

I really don't think the weight of the spoiler is going to effect the stability - 10kg taken off the rear of the car is a tiny percentage.

I'd wager that the effect would be far more noticeable on a track than on a straight line dragstrip. The aerodynamics of a car are designed to cater for crosswinds as well as just driving straight on. (although they managed to screw that up on the Audi TT, hence the recall to fit the tiny lip spoiler).

Aerodynamics is more of a balancing act than just sticking a spoiler on - Toyota will have designed the car to have similar lift on the front and rear, whilst trying not to compromise drag too much.

[leewaring]

Nice post there. Interesting read and have to agree 100%

Will find out next year as the mk1 has the spoiler off at the mo so next track day i'll be doing comparison laps.

[MR2Mania]

My money's with alexwainwright - good post!

[Speedy]

Ditto, and with the Mk1, some people move their rear spoilers back 4inches or so, to give better rear effect (i.e. so it's not all in the low-pressure region).

[Davidbeaven]

Hi,

If any one has a 3D CAD model of an MR2 I can bang It thro some Computational Fluid Dynamics, Also, I could design on which would actually produce down force if any one requires one...

Ive been looking for a model for ages now with no luck..

Cheers

Dave

[TomThumb]

try asking some computer game companys saying your a student, they might have somthing like that on their pcs..
juiced has a mr2 in it. they must of got the right to the car they may have the 3d model from toyota to work from!

[jdbecks]

has any one noticed on jucied its a rev2 with a rev3 spoiler?

[matt_mr2t]

Any one ever seen an Escort Cossie race away?
The back slams to the ground for traction.
BUT - take the spoiler off and the top end INCREASES.
Downforce actually isnt as good for top end as previoulsy suggested in certain designs.

Check out the Veyron, it has a computer controlled spoiler for different speeds etc.

[Al-sw20]

I really doubt the early mk2 spoilers are needed that much. Bob Norwoods land speed record mr2 does over 200mph without one

[Simarshy]

I created a 3d representation of the mk2 mr2, however it is purely an artistic interpretation of the mr2, it looks about right and was created from photo's, blueprints etc, however no measurements we're used.

The file is current in 3ds, but I can convert it to an AutoCAD format.

Here's a wire frame picture of it.



Tell me if this is any good. I'll probley need to edit it before it works well. A more accurate spoiler on the back and making sure there's no gap between polygons would be a start

[Davidbeaven]

Hi,

The mesh looks ok, Is this model justa surface model or a solid. For the CFD Interface to work well I will need it to be solid with no holes or gaps etc, basically a clean model. Could you export it as a parasolid???

Cheers,

Dave

[Andy F]

>[quote="matt_mr2t"]Any one ever seen an Escort Cossie race away?
The back slams to the ground for traction.<
BUT - take the spoiler off and the top end INCREASES.
Downforce actually isnt as good for top end as previoulsy suggested in certain designs.

WTF