Roof Air Spoiler: Is it worth?

[Yesim-Mike]

I was checking the possible accessories and wonder if it is worth to have this spoiler http://accessories.ford.com/roof-air-spoiler-5-door-primed.html especially since in our region it costs almost $510, installed

Any ideas?

 

[mcowger]

Define 'worth it'.

All it does is look nice...it doesn't add any actual value to the car, and, if anything, adds drag and would reduce range.

 

[Yesim-Mike]

Define 'worth it'.

All it does is look nice...it doesn't add any actual value to the car, and, if anything, adds drag and would reduce range.

I was wondering if it would help with the range, but you are saying it won't.

 

[WattsUp]

I was wondering if it would help with the range, but you are saying it won't.

Most spoilers on most cars do next to nothing, positively or negatively. They are all about looks.

As far as the FFE, the only things that can actually noticeably help with range are:

1) Reducing speed.
2) Reducing weight.
3) Maintaining proper tire inflation (38 PSI).
4) Increasing battery capacity.

Unfortunately, only three of these options are available to us.

 

[mcowger]

Define 'worth it'.

All it does is look nice...it doesn't add any actual value to the car, and, if anything, adds drag and would reduce range.

I was wondering if it would help with the range, but you are saying it won't.

Spoilers (real ones, not the 'just looks' ones) work by redirecting air upward in order increase downforce on the car, to improve traction. This redirection of air is drag (which is why its a fine balancing act in high end racing like Formula 1). That increased drag increases fuel/power consumption.

If anything, the addition of the spoiler would either have zero effect or negative effect on range.