Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Ford factory rear deck spoiler?

Most Contour "Sports" had a rear deck spoiler. SVT is known for their no-nonsense approach to performance. That leads me to wonder why they deleted the rear deck spoiler on the SVT model. I presume it is only cosmetic and has NO effect on vehicle aerodynamics. Not to mention adding a few pounds of unecessary weight What are everyone's thoughts on this? I apologize if this has been discussed before.

Well, from a performance standpoint, you don't need downforce at the back of a front wheel drive car. As I mentioned in a post a few months back, however, I once had my friendly Pontiac dealer (who did seem to otherwise know what he was talking about) tell me that the rear "wings" raised the effective level of the tail of the car, smoothing the airflow out as it passed over the roof and off the back of the car, and helping lower overall drag. He did note that the fuel savings from the better aerodynamic efficiency might or might not be canceled out the added weight (the wing) that the car had to carry. So at best it's a wash, and it probably hurts performance because of the weight. Some people want to take them off, but they're probably the same people who remove their valve stem caps to save unsprung weight....

weight schmeight. talking about a plastic coated piece of foam. 3.5 pounds tops. IMO, the only 'real' advantage of having the wing is a nicer looking tint job due to the center brake light being relocated from the rear deck to the wing. And even at $1.85 a gallon, I'd venture to say my 'added fuel costs' to be in the one to two nickle range over a years time.

Funny how the same guys who remove the valve stem caps always seem to have 200+ #'s worth of audio equip in the trunk....

The only thing it's there for is looks. Some like it, some don't. Some SVT's were available with a factory spoiler (I have one).

Just like all the rest it is for looks. Wish I didn't have it though. I like the looks of the car more without than with. Someone wanna "trade" trunks. :rolleyes:

All I know is that I want the 95 wing. The real low one, that just kinda rolls off the back of the trunk slightly. Yea... Anyone know how much I can pick one up for? Or is it gonna be real hard to find something like that now, 6 years later?
Andy

fishie: you would have to trade trunks w/a 95-97 contour. a 95-97 mystique would gove you the same trunk and rear reflector that you already have.

if you do a search on old topics you will find that having it drops you top speed by 3mph on the SVT and like 4 or 5mph on the non. Anyone want a T-red spoiler?

I keep hearing all of this talk about losing 3 mph on top speed and I think "so what." Ok, if I were setting a car up to race on a track against other drivers I would be wanting to cut my weight and air drag by as much as possible, but on a street? Does anyone feel anymore of a rush from a measly 3 mph? Or does anybody just like bragging to another by saying... "yeah, my car does 123...". My car does 120 and that is all the faster that it needs to go unless of course, I raced the car for a living, and then I may be concerned, but since I don't I'm not. I do enjoy driving my car fast but it is done on a track where I pose no threat to an innocent pedestrain or motorist. I do not know what people are expecting to gain from making their car the fastest on the road... has anybody ever gotten anything from a street race other than another story to go tell to somebody in an attempt to gain more acceptance or respect when all street racing shows is a selfish lust for a sense of self worth? My girlfriend was killed by a street race gone bad in which one of the cars ended up in her bedroom from loss of control. I have no respect for street racers, and my opinion is that if you are going to race, take it to the track. People on these boards brag and boast all the time about whipping up on teenagers in their civics as if I care about hearing a story somebody probably just typed up in their boredom and cannot back up with any proof. Race legally against professionals (people with some experience) in front of a crowd and then I will be impressed. I think there is nothing wrong with racing as I myself do some stock car racing and also do a bit of dragging at the strip, but going overly fast on public roads is IMO just ignorant and shows a lack of respect for the other drivers. Not intended to insult or inflame anybody, I just needed to vent and voice my opinion too.

Oh, and back to the topic... the spoiler is purely cosmetic.... there really is not a performance gain, but I like the way mine looks with it on... that is one of the things that sold me on the car when I considered which one to buy at the dealer and was looking at the different models on the lot.

Amen, brother. (BTW, my SVT has a spoiler )