True. Like I said, it's really not too bad when it's painted properly.


Sent from my Galaxy S4 using NAMotoring

 

Noooo.... (cough WRX STI cough)

Is it your contention that the MINI engineers were trying to cater to the Ricer world? Because if it is, they failed by a long shot.

Jimmyselix, we don't have rattles either.

Yours looks great, love the silver!

 

So a factory stock designed by Subaru rally car is ricey/boy racer but your add-on JCW spoiler can't possibly be considered that? I'm just kidding, as I said earlier in the thread I don't think the fixed spoiler is bad (it's certainly not ricey), I just prefer the active one. For me the boy racer thing is all about form over function, and while the STI wing is stupidly big least they have a functional (and equally huge) hood scoop, more than any R56+ mini owner can say.

 

Well, only if you have an S. :-)

 

True enough. In many ways the Justa hardtop is the true homage to the classic Mini like my Mum drove in the 70s. Basic transportation was the whole point after all.

 

Love our straight Coopers.

 

Yes, by one popular definition, anything designed to make a car look fast, without actually making it any faster, is rice. That would include every second-gen scoop, as well as every single racing stripe ever.

For me, something really only sets off my Rice alarms when it looks incongruous on the vehicle to which it is applied.

 

Wow, I want to do this to a MINI HT except I want the license plate to angle to the right!

 

thanks! btw, i do happen to have a factory active spoiler for sale.. lightning blue w/the silver stripes on it. make an offer if anyone's looking.

 

Maybe a more practical use for huge spoilers?

 

Tailgate party for one!

Talk about scratching your paint.....

 

OK, so let's shift this conversation from appearance to function:

On the Coupe, what does the spoiler actually do? Has anyone driven a Coupe without a functioning spoiler at high speeds? If so, when do you notice a difference in handling...at what speeds and road conditions? For those who have installed a fixed spoilers, are you able to describe any difference in handling compared to the active spoiler?

 

Good question. I know that on the VW New Beetle Turbos, they have a speed activated spoiler as well. It was reported many years ago that VW did this because at high speeds, the tail end would lift up and cause the rear end to become unstable. There was even a disclaimer that deactivating the rear spoiler could cause accidents at high speed? (Or some wording like that.) Im not sure what the actual speed to reach could cause this. If this was really the case, then all VW New Beetles, regardless of horsepower, would have the rear activated spoiler, but they dont. Marketing ploy?

 

That's a really good question, it seems like it would be a lot of work for MINI to design and implement an active spoiler if it wasn't actually of some use.

 

Good question! We had ours installed at the dealership before buying the car, so that we could roll it all into the loan. So can't help with that. It does make you wonder if the active spoiler is just a fun gadget but not very useful? Or does it keep the rear from bouncing around at high speed?

 

it was the Audi TT, that first year didnt have a spoiler, and due to high speed instabilty, that a spoiler was added, and i think retro fitted to the first year model.

 

Not sure if anyone else mentioned this, but the stock spoiler weighs a ton and is built by engineers to hold the weight of the car (exaggeration but you get my point!). Other people I know, who have added this spoiler or one like it shaved quite a bit of weight off their car, another consideration.

 

So... wait, wait... you mean... it's (she whispers) FUNCTIONAL?? We NEED it? (Head spins)

 

I would say, yes, the stock spoiler functions to some point, but I was told (I am not the expert, don't shoot the messenger) by an aerospace engineer who has the car and spoiler you now have on your car, that the new one functions much better with more downforce and weighs ton less. Again, I don't have the car and the guy who told me sells them, but this is what I was told. I wonder how much downforce each of them puts on the car..... Anyone have a spare wind tunnel for cars in their backyard LOL

 

I can definitely see the JCW spoiler weighing less than the active one with all of the electronics and actuators needed to make it move. As for being able to hold the car's weight....if you're ever in a situation where the boot spoiler of the Coupe is needing to support the weight of the entire car, the spoiler probably isn't going to save you.

 

That's why I stated it was an exaggeration LOL. More simply stated, as heavy and stout as it is, it seems over engineered

 

Hmmm, you mean like the openometer?

 

I still want to see the fixed JCW spoiler on the car but with the active lifting still attached. I guess it is not exactly doable, but as we all know with enough $$$ anything is possible.

 

Someone posted something like that, a 'fixed' spoiler that lifted into a double spoiler at speed. Some company makes it. Pricey though. :-)

 

Hey Guys!

The speed activated and fixed wing spoilers DO actually have a purpose.

From Motoring File:
"The wing reduces lift on the rear axle by 40 kg or almost 90 pounds. It also helps reduce turbulence that is a by-product of the short rear window with air first flowing through the roof mounted spoiler onto the larger wing.

Both spoilers were created in BMW's new wind tunnel and are considered so crucial to the performance of the car that, if the wing doesn't move up at 50 mpg for one reason or another, the car won't allow DSC to be fully dis-engaged."


And for the record - My fixed wing spoiler has not only ended the rattle, think and thud from the back end, but increased my visibility. The coupe looks great when the motorized spoiler is up, but even better with the fixed wing up always (IMHO). Definitely improves the lines.