Spoiler

A spoiler is an aerodynamic device that is used on automobiles to help “spoil” any movement of air across the body of a moving vehicle (typically called drag or turbulence). Spoilers are generally on the back of the car; when they are on the front, they are referred to as air dams. They are generally used by race car drivers on high-performance cars, but recently have become a common addition on passenger cars also.

Brands

For most drivers, matching the spoiler with the body style of their car is priority number one. You don’t want a spoiler that looks out of place. Factory-style spoilers are designed to copy the look of spoilers used on sport cars. Factory spoilers make it appear as though your car always had the spoiler in place. Remin is one of the most popular brands. Remin uses a cutting-edge technology to ensure the spoiler not only matches your vehicle, but gives it a more dynamic look.

Safety

A spoiler is designed to spoil air flow and reduces lift at the rear of the car. This can help improve your car’s performance and speed, which makes it ideal for sport cars and race car drivers. For regular drivers, however, the main purpose of a spoiler is to be aesthetically pleasing, not for performance or safety purposes. While spoilers are not dangerous, increasing the speed on your vehicle could lead to potentially dangerous situations and accidents. Spoilers can help increase traction at high speeds, however.

Benefits

For regular drivers, the biggest advantage of having a spoiler is the appearance. It may make your car seem more expensive or more like a sports car. Appearances are everything for some people, and adding a spoiler certainly helps make the vehicle stand out. For race car drivers, spoilers help spoil air and reduce lift, which makes your vehicle less susceptible to drag, thus making it faster. Front car spoilers actually help increase gas mileage, as the vehicle does not need to use as much energy (fuel) to propel itself forward against air resistance.

Drawbacks

Installing a spoiler on your car that did not originally come with your vehicle will most likely disturb the aerodynamics, mainly because the body shop you purchase the spoiler from will not have any way of checking the aerodynamics. Spoilers will also add severe drag to the rear of your car because of its weight, which may actually increase your gas mileage because your engine will be under greater stress. While this isn’t important for race car drivers, it can be a big disadvantage for daily drivers.

Cost

As with most car accessories, the cost of a spoiler depends on the model of your car and brand of the spoiler. Some spoilers can be purchased for as low as $100 (Remin and Pure brands), but certain models may run upwards of $300. Purchasing a model that looks like a factory spoiler however, may help increase your vehicle’s value, which can be beneficial when it comes time to trade it in or sell it.