2010 Volkswagen GTI: Is This Spoiler Really Necessary?

to hybris: Yeah, like the one Baracus from the A-team had on his van:))) Oh, and don't forget the spinners and a tree-air-freshener hanging from a rear view mirror.

Your comment regarding it being "instantly noticeable from a distance" nails it exactly. The car is supposed to have added flair and curb appeal over the base model that it's modeled after. A GTI buyer is looking to buy the whole 'GTI' package, and I think the spoiler serves essentially the same function as the scimitar wheels and red piping on the grill - for aesthetics alone.

@Hybris

I think the word 'useful' shouldn't be used when describing an item that would simultaneously lower fuel economy and front wheel traction. Bigger isn't always better, my friend. :)

Is that water or really bad orange peel on the paint?

It's water. SoCal has had some weird weather the last few days.

Spoilers are very much worthwhile. Mine provides 15lbs of downforce at 60mph. Then again, it provides 15lbs of downforce at 0mph. It weighs 15lbs. :(

It's CLEARLY necessary for keeping dew off the rear window...

Most spoilers in passenger vehicles exist for cosmetic reasons. Those that have function reduce drag by providing a cushion for the laminar flow boundary layer.

Downforce has nothing to do with it.

But you already know that - you're an automotive journalist.

mentalatrophy, downforce on the rear doesn't reduce downforce on the front. The effects are all positive. Besides, a FWD car usually doesn't need any front downforce. The engine and transmission's weight are enough. The rear gets light during high speed turns and that's what you're trying to avoid. Remember when the 1st-gen Audi TT kept killing its drivers until they gave it a spoiler? Not enough rear downforce.

with any luck on a HB it helps guide the air so that every bit of dirt the car goes near doesn't get stock to the back hatch.

I'll defer to Patches O'Houlihan: "Necessary? Is it necessary to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it's sterile and I like the taste."

Haven't read the comments but this spoiler was made to improve the aerodynamics...NOT to add downforce...

@zimtheinvader

No, that spoiler doesn't help keep dirt off the rear window. During mud season it takes about 2 seconds for the rear window to become opaque.

yes, the spoiler is necessary. the GTI was wind tunnel tested... keep in mind they were designed for motoring at constant high speeds on the autobahn. it does not keep dirt off the rear and in fact it makes cleaning it all that much harder. a spoiler such as this doesn't provide much downforce, but it reduces drag and lift... and effectively keeps the rear planted more at speed. most of you seem to not understand aerodynamic balance and that is perhaps more important than anything... without balance you would see a tendency to oversteer or understeer dangerously when turning at higher speeds...

The vast majority of spoilers out there aren't necessary. Car makers know that but still offer it as another source of dealer revenue. And they will only reduce drag by a coefficient of .01 or .02 in real world.

And it seems that the same cars that have these spoilers have oversized rims and tires which ultimately negate the overall effectiveness.

"A GTI buyer is looking to buy the whole 'GTI' package, and I think the spoiler serves essentially the same function as the scimitar wheels and red piping on the grill - for aesthetics alone."

Yup, agree. It's like the GTI's factory calipers that come painted in red to make them look like Brembos. All done primarily for aesthetics, not performance.

@brn: I really did laugh out loud. Thanks

I would say that on most European cars aerodynamics are a compromise that lets the car remain stable at high speed without increasing aerodynamic drag too much. There are exceptions to the rule, of course. For example, it took several fatal high speed crashes on the autobahn to convince Audi to put a tiny spoiler (anti-wing, really) on the back of their original TT in order to reduce rear end lift at high speed. It completely spoiled :-) the clean lines of the car but was absolutely necessary to make it safe.

I am not sure how useful these are on American and Asian cars. I suspect that most of them do more harm than good, increasing drag and reducing rear visibility.

Is is necessary from a looks standpoint, but I'm not sure in the low-speed USA it is necessary from an engineering point-of-view.

Dang it, "IT is necessary ..."

OK.

the spoiler benefit ratio of Function to Fashion is 1 to 10, it looks good.

The spoiler on my 2011 Shelby is functional and looks good! On my 2010 GTI, it just looks good :)

"Is This Spoiler Really Necessary?"

No.

So did they add a gurney flap to the GT-500's spoiler just for looks? As acbayard says, it's all about aerodynamics.

it breaks up the the laminar flow boundary layer that tries to flow down the back glass which creates a low pressure area behind the car that trails it. the low pressure are effectively "sucks" the car opposite the forward direction. a spoiler minimizes this effect somewhat. to what extent, only someone with a GTI and a wind tunnel can tell us.