I'll just put sandbags in my trunk next time I feel like going 155.

 

Ok im confused... on a fwd car wouldnt you want your front end to be heavier to get more traction?

 

yes, for traction, but if you start lifting the REAR end, when you turn, you will have a chance of *very* dangerous oversteer... AT SPEED. which isn't good!

that's why winged cars like CART and F1 and all that (and all other kinds) have front and rear wings, to maintain aerodynamic balance.

1980's porche 911 customers opted for the whale-tail rear spoiler without also buying the front splitter which was supposed to maintain aerodynamic balance, and so more than one of the cars crashed at high speeds because they couldn't keep the front end planted.

 

x2

Yup!

 

hey. aerodynamics is what i'm going to school for... i'll be co-opping at GM's wind tunnel in Warren, Michigan here in a few weeks! assuming i remember, maybe i'll get the low-down on ALL the aero data for the Cobalt!

 

Thanks man! + invis-rep.

So like for 1/4 mile runs, the wing doesnt really do anything?

 

are you guys on the track when you hit 100+? if your on the street/highway i'm not only waiting but hoping to hear of your guys crash....two dumb ass army guys just killed 2 innocent people street racing here in el paso unfortunately the 2 idiots lived

 

^I accept this question.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

When not ...

I wasn't racing anyone, was by myself, on a highway, and with no traffic around.

^That one was unacceptable.

But your obviously angry and upset, so I'll let it go.

I would appreciate it if you didn't compare other people to the dangerous/deadly driving behavior of others.

Yes, the incident you mentioned was tragic. No questions there.

Truthfully though, your not thinking things out.

Because if everyone drove like a madman when occasionally gunning their car, then there would be hundreds of car accidents from such activity reported every single day in every single newspaper across the country.

As you can see then, it just doesn't happen.

 

Im not saying everyone is dangerous/deadly. i dont remember saying that....There was a thread of some idiot on you tube that was on the highway swerving in and out of traffic. THAT is who i'm talking about. if your on the high way by yourself and no traffic well then i guess your just putting yourself at risk of crashing and burning....which i guess is acceptable

 

not really. at the end of the stretch, you'd have a little bit of downforce, but for 1/4 runs, a proper suspension setup does more for FWD (and RWD and AWD cars) than anything else.

 

"I told you so" comes to mind.

 

lawl

 

WATCH...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RWufDNN9hw

heres another good one...nascar though blah..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPA8_...eature=related

more
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mTW4Fdcoyqs&feature=related

 

This is why GM has an aeroforce enginers so cars at higher speeds have wings to help stablize the cars

 

it still isn't THAT useful. Maybe in full race setup, but for the average consumer. aka us, it's not a huge deal

 

That is good.

I had believed the implication was there.

That IS truly dangerous driving. We agree.

Fact is E/S, no one purchases a car with increased performance with the thought of never experiencing that performance (this always existed in time, "My chariot is faster than your chariot").

Race tracks are well and fine (in my life, I've spent a lot of time at racetracks), but tracks are never going to completely replace a quick "side by side" type of race.

Like it or not, that is the truth.

But I do not endorse groups of people that congregate on a public road for a full night of all out banshee racing.

That kind of behavior doesn't even come close to generating the same amount of potential danger as your brief chance "side by side" contest which occurs on a remote stretch of road.

But E/S, if you come to a forum for auto enthusiasts and then expect people to be sympathetic to your idea of "No one should ever drive quickly", then you are in the wrong place.

Also, with the couple of performance orientated mods that you have on your car (BFGoodrich G-Force NT's/Eibach Sportline/AEM CAI/TWM Short Throw/Front-Rear Tranny Mounts) are you saying that you have never engaged is a quick race with someone or have driven quickly?

If not, then what's the reason for all those mods?

 

Interesting. That's a decent amount of downforce provided by the bigger wing.
Thanks for the info.

 

GM has no idea how any person might use their car (average driving, 1/4 mile, race circuit).

So if as built, a certain car they produce is capable of a certain speed - then it is their responsibility to put on equipment which will be commensurate with that car's performance.

Brakes, tires, etc.

And if an SS/SC can potentially hit 140-150mph, then a wing option should definitely be there.

 

oh blah... the only thing the big wing works at around here is attracting cops and ricers...

 

beat me too it...

 

Even a small amount of downforce is better than none if a vehicle needs it.

That's only common sense.

"Some is better than none" is what comes to my mind ....

 

ooooooooo wow 115 pounds at 155mph thats nothin on a car that is 3000 lbs. you wont even feel a diff.

 

Agreed.

F1 and other racing series that rely on aero, have enough downforce to allow it to drive on the ceiling if it wanted to. All at the sacrifice of top speed. Formula 1 racecars have a coefficient of drag in the 0.7 range... even a ford tarus has a lower coefficient of drag.

Downforce = Drag (unfortunately) and to achieve top speed you want to minimize drag.

For example, Buggatii Veyron. It can achieve ~220 with good dowforce and aerodynamic stability. However, to achieve 254mph it has to reduce its downforce/drag and likewise its stability. There is a button in the cockpit that allows the driver to selectively reduce downforce and drag. Without this drag reduction.. it could never hit top speed.

Knowing why and when you want downforce seems to be a mystery to some here.... and 115 lbs is almost worthless. GM did this to keep a low Cd and good fuel economy. More downforce = more drag = more fuel burned at the same speed..

 

that's not the reason the battery is in the back

 

Your pretty technical w/ all the break up in quotes arent you guy ROFL...thats cool

I dont see how my mods are considered "performance oriented...my tires came w/ my rims, the sport lines are for looks (2"drop) AEM CAI...hardly a power adder...is GREAT for gas, TWM STS looks better and feels better than stock. The poly mounts are kinda there just cause...why you wanna buy them? LOL...i had plans on making my car "faster" but never "raced" on an crowded street. I've had a couple of hard pulls but thats it...I like the way my intake sounds . My car isn't fast nor do i believe it ever will be fast enough to start beef w/ the POS honda or nissan sentra SE-R, although my car could proly take them. So, ya i have "driven quickly" but never at WOT the whole time running red lights and cutting people off.