My Fit with Airtabs
#43
no joke
It's not a joke but the results would have to be repeated several times by organizations with stellar credentials before I'd jeopardize my paint with airtabs. Devices that help air break cleanly free from the car are nothing new (spoilers, ground effects etc.) but the effectiveness needs to be proven. Often spoilers or whatever look good on the car and that might stimulate the buyer to go ahead but, with airtabs, that's not the case.
#45
Heres what im thinking..
If you are willing to go as far as putting some tabs on your car to "smooth out the air" in an attempt to get better MPG. Why didnt you save 1000$ when you bought your AT Fit, and got MT Fit which gets a good deal better MPG then the AT, and you dont have to try nearly as hard to get the good MPGs...? I mean, if you dont know how to drive a MT vehicle, learn, you are obviously going to great lengths for a possible couple(at the most) MPGs.
Just doesnt really make sense to me.
If you are willing to go as far as putting some tabs on your car to "smooth out the air" in an attempt to get better MPG. Why didnt you save 1000$ when you bought your AT Fit, and got MT Fit which gets a good deal better MPG then the AT, and you dont have to try nearly as hard to get the good MPGs...? I mean, if you dont know how to drive a MT vehicle, learn, you are obviously going to great lengths for a possible couple(at the most) MPGs.
Just doesnt really make sense to me.
#48
well, those on the Evo are mainly used to bend the air to the huge wing behind and increase rear down force.
since you go this far, you should put those taps on the rest of the lower area & side bumper, no (?)
since you go this far, you should put those taps on the rest of the lower area & side bumper, no (?)
#49
since you go this far, you should put those taps on the rest of the lower area & side bumper, no (?)
Seriously, I want to rig up some kind of panel to prevent the rear bumper from having a 'parachute effect', and it might make sense to run a line of Airtabs along the edge while I was at it.
#58
Resistance
Heres what im thinking..
If you are willing to go as far as putting some tabs on your car to "smooth out the air" in an attempt to get better MPG. Why didnt you save 1000$ when you bought your AT Fit, and got MT Fit which gets a good deal better MPG then the AT, and you dont have to try nearly as hard to get the good MPGs...? I mean, if you dont know how to drive a MT vehicle, learn, you are obviously going to great lengths for a possible couple(at the most) MPGs.
Just doesnt really make sense to me.
If you are willing to go as far as putting some tabs on your car to "smooth out the air" in an attempt to get better MPG. Why didnt you save 1000$ when you bought your AT Fit, and got MT Fit which gets a good deal better MPG then the AT, and you dont have to try nearly as hard to get the good MPGs...? I mean, if you dont know how to drive a MT vehicle, learn, you are obviously going to great lengths for a possible couple(at the most) MPGs.
Just doesnt really make sense to me.
So far I'm finding increased coasting distance, stability in winds, smoother ride, raised mpg on the highway and in the city, no splashback on the rear window in rain and better handling. As an example of stability in winds, my wife and I recently found ourselves on the highway when Hurricane Ike's 40-60mph gusts blew over Louisville. I was barely pushed around the road - I was amazed. Before airtabs I'd experienced a lot more wind effect.
If you're interested in exploring it further, check out my column on airtabs in a few weeks on autochannel.com, or check out airtabs.com and research for yourself.
Sometimes technological improvements come in surprisingly simple, counter-intuitive ways. One of them seems to be this backwards-looking wishbone device that sticks on the car. I was skeptical myself that I'd find any benefit at all on an already aerodynamic car, so I can understand the skepticism here. But, I'm impressed--it's a humble but significant improvement that doesn't take a ton of money or time or special installation.
Last edited by mjklj; 09-25-2008 at 08:52 AM.
#59
Sometimes technological improvements come in surprisingly simple, counter-intuitive ways.
Subaru added a small spoiler above the rear window on '06/'07 STi's for the same reason.
Airtabs aren't pretty, but I have no problem believing that they are effective.