Is anyone considering getting this option? I've seen some pics and I didn't really like the spoiler...but I haven't seen what the front chin deflector looks like. Anyone know where I can find some pics of it? I tried searching but the search feature on the forums don't work too well...

Thanks~

 

$500 for a wiper blade under the car?!
Not my cup of tea personally, although it is supposed to be rather functional...

 

For some reason, everyone thinks a spoiler has to be some big, honkin' wing on the rear of the car or a big shovel under the nose.

If you are a fan of CART open wheel racing, when they are racing on the superspeedways you've heard them speak of an insert on the top of their racers' rear wings. I don't know how the item is spelled, but it is pronounced "wickerbill." The thing is so miniscule, you can hardly see it. It literally looks like a long, extremely thin windshield wiper on top of the wing.

Sometimes a car will be particularly ill-handling during a race. At the next pit stop the pit crew will hurriedly replace this "wickerbill" with another one to correct the aerodynamics on the car. To the naked eye, there is no difference between the two "wickerbills," but it makes a difference on the car.

Nissan states the spoilers are simply to reduce the aerodynamic lift on the Z car. They were pretty successful, if their reports can be believed: Nissan states the aero package reduces the aerodynamic lift to zero.

Will we be able to tell the difference? I don't know. Nissan claims they have managed to control the flow of air beneath the current Infiniti G35 well enough to improve the fuel mileage.

We'll see...

 

it is also called a "Gurney Wing". After the great american driver Dan Gurney.

 

I'm not making a decision on the spoiler until I see it in person. You can order both parts from courtesy parts, and I'm sure through your dealer as well, but I bet courtesy is cheaper. Anyone know if it would be worth just installing the chin spoiler if I don't like the rear? It's really cheap, and I bet I could install it myself without worry since its in an un-noticeable spot.

 

The front spoiler is very small, see the pic above, and so is the rear spoiler. I like them and they are functional; if you want another view check out the rear spoiler on the new BMW M3, its very small also.

You don't need much in these days of wind tunnel testing and computer modeling. Your call.

Boomer
BR/FR/AT

 

It's kind of odd that many people these days seem to think that spoilers are a kind of styling accessory to make your car look cool, and have no idea that they are actually designed for a purpose. When I see some huge-*** wing towering over the rear of a Civic and laugh at the fact that if anything it reduces performance, my son says that's not the point: it's done for looks. I guess it's like the tail-fins of the 50s.

Personally, I like the clean look of a car without the wing, if it can stay on the ground that way. If a little spoiler can help high-speed stability, then that's fine (but then again I don't plan on going 150mph anyway).

I think it's great that Nissan was able to create zero lift with such subtle mods; the front lip is clearly designed to NOT change the appearance but merely do its job.

 

I had read in either CAR or EVO that the track model also has 3 underbody panels to help, to basically make the bottom of the car falt (as in a F1 car).... Does anyone know if this is the case, and can they be purchased?

 

I was wondering that myself. I know that the track has two spoilers (f/r) and an undercar diffuser setup. I ordered a black enthusiast with the Aero package, but I don't know if the Aero pack is just the two spoilers, or if it includes the diffuser also.

If it has the diffuser, I would understand the 500 bucks. I don't understand why they would call it the aero package if it doesn't come with the diffuser. (The mags say that without the diffuser the car has rear lift.) But, I haven't seen anywhere that the Aero Pack includes the diffuser. Does anyone know if it does?

 

I have never read anything about the diffuser you are speaking of. The areo package is just the front lip and the read spoiler. It is included on the Track model, and an option on the others. As far as I know, the underside of all models are identical.

 

This is from EVO (which I respect more than any other car mag, and much as I hate to respect a Brit, haha):


"Finally there's a 'Track' model that has three underbody pans, a rear lip spoiler, and a front spoiler that Nissan claims lowers the front and rear lift to zero, and lowers the drag from Cd .30 to Cd .29."

Phil Berg-- EVO

 

They are not the only publication that noted the underbody diffusers. I will tend to believe it is true.

 

When I ordered the option, I believed it included the underbody diffusers. It should be the same kit as the Track model since it is advertised as eliminating all lift.

Boomer--I will be unhappy if Nissan didn't include the diffusers; the spoilers alone are very small and not worth $500.
BR/FR/AT

 

I won't be topping this car out. However, I did top out a 2001 Trans Am at approx. 160 mph.

If you ever do in excess of 130 mph in your car, you'll relish every bit of increased stability due to downforce producing devices that you can get. I'm going with the Track because a coworker who has driven all models (he's part of the press team) told me in person that he wishes he had never driven the track because now when he drives the other models, they feel slower.

That's exactly what he told me. I assume he meant that strictly from a handling perspective with lower unsprung mass and the Brembos as the main differences. Either way, I'm sold.