Deciding Whether to buy a spoiler or not

[Leprekhan21]

So I am deciding whether to buy a spoiler or not for my 1998 Civic EX. I need help because I heard that spoilers tend to add downforce to the back of the car and my civic is a front-wheel drive, which will cause it to lose traction. I was wondering if I should buy a spoiler and if yes, should I purchase the one in the picture? Also, if yes, should I get a carbon fiber one or aluminum. If no, please state reason why. Also, please clarify if a spoiler would cause my car to lose traction in the front, and what happens if I go at a speed of 60mph or above. Another thing is how do I measure my trunk lid for a spoiler? (Please be as specific as possible). Thank you.

P.S. I was thinking about buying the spoilers shown, but am not sure, so please comment on them so that I could get an idea of which one to buy.

Carbon Fiber:
http://www.carid.com/universal-spoilers/extreme-dimensions-body-kit-3345933.html
http://www.carid.com/universal-spoilers/extreme-dimensions-body-kit-3345934.html

Aluminum:
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/aluminum_wings/spec_d/spdd00000307.html
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/aluminum_wings/spyder_auto/sydr00000617.html
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/aluminum_wings/spyder_auto/sydr00000615.html

Paintable Wings:
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/paintable_wings/extreme_dimensions/extr00060901.html
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/paintable_wings/jkl/jklp00060908.html
http://www.andysautosport.com/honda/1996_2000_civic/exterior/wings/paintable_wings/vision_auto/visi00091816.html

 

[Failsafe88]

Ok supposed to post in intro thread first Second thing don't buy one.

 

[Blayze2010]

Hell no, none of those. The only spoiler I think looks good would be oem.

 

[civhatch92]

Fast and Furious?

 

[THEDARKONE]

its your car(:

 

[young_]

its your car(:

I agree, but if you're asking for my honest opinion I would have to say none of the above choices. OEM ex/si spoilers with the brake light look fine.

Maybe look into a rear window spoiler?

 

[2slo4u]

no spoiler will add any downforce on your car unless you are going fast enough..which you wont be, so in this case its all about the looks..and none of those look nice

 

[ReedMann]

None of those spoilers will add downforce. They are designed strictly for aesthetics. If that is your main concern then I would say to go ahead and buy one.

 

[takeachance]

careful with those you might have too much downforce and perhaps fly off the earth.

 

[95coupeWI]

this^ you might go right through the pavement with a big enough wing.

 

[EJackBauer8]

You'll never go fast enough in a stock civic to gain downforce/lose traction.

 

[Leprekhan21]

None of those spoilers will add downforce. They are designed strictly for aesthetics. If that is your main concern then I would say to go ahead and buy one.

Okay Thank you very much. How do you know it will not add downforce?

 

[Leprekhan21]

no spoiler will add any downforce on your car unless you are going fast enough..which you wont be, so in this case its all about the looks..and none of those look nice

What is the max speed that I could go to without getting downforce from the wings? Thank you for your response.

 

[Leprekhan21]

New spoiler choices

If those aren't good, How about these ones?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TYPE-V-SPEC-52-JDM-BLACK-ALUMINUM-LIGHT-WEIGHT-REAR-TRUNK-GT-WING-SPOILER-KIT-/360554719289?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year:1998|Model:Civic|Submodel:EX&hash=item53f2bc6839&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TYPE-3-SPEC-52-JDM-BLACK-ALUMINUM-LIGHT-WEIGHT-REAR-TRUNK-GT-WING-SPOILER-KIT-/360555009937?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year:1998|Model:Civic|Submodel:EX&hash=item53f2c0d791&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-Aluminum-GT-3-Wing-Trunk-Spoiler-Lightweight-Double-Deck-Style-Black-/400381390414?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year:1998|Model:Civic|Submodel:EX&hash=item5d38972e4e&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-GT-WING-TYPE-I-STYLE-BLACK-TRUNK-REAR-SPOILER-W-BRACKETS-SCREWS-/130789545621?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year:1998|Model:Civic|Submodel:EX&hash=item1e73aa1695&vxp=mtr

 

[boosted to 26ps]

why dont you just put a 747 wing on the car....itll look the same....like poopie. no otherwords your civic cannot go fast and should not go fast enough on the street to even achieve the speed to produce any noticeable and usable downforce

The angle of attack of the wing on some cars can be adjusted to increase downward force over the rear wheels, but drag is also increased. The simulation and testing of wings can be very expensive.
Spoilers are often confused with wings, and the terms are frequently (yet incorrectly) used interchangeably. Spoilers increase grip by reducing the lift created by a car's shape, and also reduce drag by eliminating the induced drag associated with that lift. Wings increase grip by producing downforce, at the expense of additional induced drag. Although identical in form to the wing of an aircraft, wings used in automotive applications are usually inverted (oriented upside-down) and sometimes reversed (oriented backwards) by comparison.
Effects of Wings on Different Drive Trains

Wings have an application in any drive train type, depending on the goal. Any car that can be made to oversteer, including front wheel drive cars, can benefit from the addition of wings. but you would not be able to corner like a gt touring car so its pointless

do this......lol

 

[Abailey21]

like a custom one off shopping cart!

 

[2slo4u]

What is the max speed that I could go to without getting down force from the wings? Thank you for your response.

think of it this way..corvettes and supras are some pretty beastly cars and many of them do not even have a rear spoiler for traveling 200+ mph, so why should a civic (unless for looks) that cant even go faster than 120mph
Wings are nice looking if it flows with the car.
I see wings to be more useful in a car that will not go only straight (1/4) but for example drifting and auto-x'ing.
If you like a wing, heck go for it. I have a pretty tall spoiler on my car right now but it's all for looks. You don't have to worry about down force. The only thing you will have to worry about is not being able to see clearly out your back window...and depending on which style you get..the occasion pointing and laughing..but just get tinted windows like me and they can't see the fool driving around with a foot high spoiler

 

[JohnS.]

A wing won't be of much use when doing a 0-120 pull on the highway compared to racing around an actual track. A local guy with a CRX participates in national autocross races and says his aftermarket wing (which is gigantic by the way) helped provide more down force which helped him go around the track faster. They do help, you just have to use them the way they're meant to be used in order to gain any benefits. Driving around town with your ghetto lean and one hand on the steering wheel does not count. And I'm sure the design matters if you actually want one to help so a cheap eBay one may not be a good choice.

95% of the users here on ClubCivic will tell you wings are ricey and will recommend you stick with OEM/Mugen if you're dead set on getting one.

 

[emerican]

i moved this thread out of the tech section
please reserve the tech sections of this site for technical questions only
everyone play nice i know how this is going to go if i dont say something, so here it is do not flame the op or take this thread somewhere else.