That appears to be a carbon fiber APR adjustable wing. Looks like a GTC-500 wing. Retails for $1400. Google it. Its not a JCW. And while a 1988 Esprit is closer in value to $5995 then $100,000, it is a car that someone could conceivably get some benefit out of a wing like this on the track.
Don't you have non functional sidepipes on your station wagon? To each their own, right?
[This message has been edited by WhiteDevil88 (edited 04-12-2008).]
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11:34 PM
Apr 13th, 2008
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
While possibly would benefit his car, it wont do so until hes going 150 mph, highly unlikely on freeway.
My car is a showcar and they are showpipes, only for look with no claims they give me 100 hp. Never have heard a single word about them being ricer. ... unlike what id hear with a batwing mounted on the roof.
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08:48 AM
Blacktree Member
Posts: 20770 From: Central Florida Registered: Dec 2001
Have any of you noticed that the wing is in the airstream flowing over the roof? While I'll agree that it looks tacky, it also appears to be functional.
Wings work at lower speeds too. Just not as much. Even at 50 around a turn a wing when located and angled correctly will give down force aiding in grip. On a mid engine car its functionality is even more useful.
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11:10 AM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
I guess using a Lotus wing may have been too expensive or very hard to find?
I like the aftermarket wing better.
its all just a matter of opinion, sadly most people tend to look at customized cars and make fun of what someone has done, I dont know about you but I'd rather like the car I drive than make it look like everything else that other people like already...
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06:08 PM
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WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
While possibly would benefit his car, it wont do so until hes going 150 mph, highly unlikely on freeway.
My car is a showcar and they are showpipes, only for look with no claims they give me 100 hp. Never have heard a single word about them being ricer. ... unlike what id hear with a batwing mounted on the roof.
First off, I didn't say anything about benefit on the freeway (although good point for Fiero drivers who still have non functional ricer wings from the factory. They don't do anything. Take them off.) I said it would be beneficial on a track, where a Lotus owner might spend his weekends, instead of polishing lugnuts in a parking lot.
And if no one has let you know about your fake side pipes, well, let me be the first. Ultra-gay, and ricey as hell. The truth shall set you free.
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06:49 PM
rogergarrison Member
Posts: 49601 From: A Western Caribbean Island/ Columbus, Ohio Registered: Apr 99
its all just a matter of opinion, sadly most people tend to look at customized cars and make fun of what someone has done, I dont know about you but I'd rather like the car I drive than make it look like everything else that other people like already...
OK, ill buy that. That is why I do stuff to mine. I see lots of cars that i go WTF ? I see this one guy at every show nearby. Hes got like a 90 Civic 4 door. it has at least 1000 feet of red, yellow and purple wire loom on everything he can get it on. Has chrome door edge molding around every edge of every panel, parks it sideways in 2 spots (while everyone else is in neat rows) with a tent and railing around it for protection from crowds. Everyone always snickers when he shows up. He likes it I guess. He exhibits it like a Coddington creation, but its a stock $2000 car with about 200 pnds of stuck on stuff. Oh well.
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07:01 PM
OKflyboy Member
Posts: 6607 From: Not too far from Mexico Registered: Nov 2004
Originally posted by AJ7: its all just a matter of opinion, sadly most people tend to look at customized cars and make fun of what someone has done, I dont know about you but I'd rather like the car I drive than make it look like everything else that other people like already...
quote
Originally posted by WhiteDevil88: First off, I didn't say anything about benefit on the freeway (although good point for Fiero drivers who still have non functional ricer wings from the factory. They don't do anything. Take them off.) I said it would be beneficial on a track, where a Lotus owner might spend his weekends, instead of polishing lugnuts in a parking lot.
Both valid points.
Personally, I never liked the factory Fiero wings either. I certainly can see the benefits of a functional wing (although admittedly I've no need for such a thing, as I don't take my cars to the track) I just think the one on that Lotus looks stupid.
I can also agree that a person's car is his (or hers) to do with what they will. I can remember clearly back when I had my '73 Camaro. I removed the stock distributor and points and was in the middle of installing a HEI system. I got into a serious argument with a friend of my mom's who was literally screaming at me trying to tell me I was ruining the car by removing "factory" parts. My response was simple - my car, my choice...
[This message has been edited by OKflyboy (edited 04-13-2008).]
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07:55 PM
tutnkmn Member
Posts: 3426 From: York, England, U.K. Living in Ohio Registered: May 2006
its all just a matter of opinion, sadly most people tend to look at customized cars and make fun of what someone has done, I dont know about you but I'd rather like the car I drive than make it look like everything else that other people like already...
I wasn't making fun of his car or wing, but that it appeared he went cheapo on the wing. Thats one of he inherited problems when buying an exotic car like Lotus, Ferrari, or Lamborghini; you can't go cheapo with after market parts. Some cars can make the cut, while others can't. Here's one that made the cut..bearly.
What with my functional scoops and viable intercooler and such, I'm all for function, but I would draw the line at putting a wing like that on THAT car. Hopfully he's a serious racer and not just some drug dealer with more money than taste.
Just to make the point, I show my car and the side headers contribute to the muscle car look. There stock on 60s Corvettes and Cobras. Really the only reason their not hooked up is its my daily, year round driver and with them 2" off the ground, they dont work to well in a foot of snow. They act as sled runners so they come off at end of show season. The biggest problem I have with them is people either wanting to know where I got them or If I want to sell them. Soon as I put it up for sale, I got 2 calls right away from Charger owners wanting to buy them off the car. So my opinion is you must have gay on the mind to think theyre gay. Maybe I think your gay since you seem to be an expert....
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08:16 AM
WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
Originally posted by madcurl: I wasn't making fun of his car or wing, but that it appeared he went cheapo on the wing. Thats one of he inherited problems when buying an exotic car like Lotus, Ferrari, or Lamborghini; you can't go cheapo with after market parts. Some cars can make the cut, while others can't. Here's one that made the cut..bearly.
Hold the phone. $1500 carbon fiber wing is "cheapened out"? Despite being actually functional, probably more expensive then the factory fiberglass, and probably a quarter of the weight? But put the same wing on a kit car with eBay mufflers, and it's a work of art? So if you start with a POS, it's ok to put a wing on that is even less likely to be functional then on the lotus? Doesn't anyone here actually drive their cars? Or is it just a bunch of show queens?
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10:10 AM
madcurl Member
Posts: 21401 From: In a Van down by the Kern River Registered: Jul 2003
Hold the phone. $1500 carbon fiber wing is "cheapened out"? Despite being actually functional, probably more expensive then the factory fiberglass, and probably a quarter of the weight? But put the same wing on a kit car with eBay mufflers, and it's a work of art? So if you start with a POS, it's ok to put a wing on that is even less likely to be functional then on the lotus? Doesn't anyone here actually drive their cars? Or is it just a bunch of show queens?
There's a lot of "unknowns" with the original picture of this Lotus car so why the need speculate? One thing is for certain; the current wing (regardless of the cost) looks out of place and that was the reason "why" the thread was started and no doubt the owner could careless about what "we" think about his car or his wing, right? As for the actual year, I have no idea, but viewing the various Lotus models it appears that there wasn't a wing offered, which maybe why it looks out of place (cheapo). http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EModels/Turbo.html
quote
Originally posted by WhiteDevil88:
Doesn't anyone here actually drive their cars? Or is it just a bunch of show queens?
Do you actually own a Fiero and do Fiero owners rearly care about "your" opinion?
[This message has been edited by madcurl (edited 04-14-2008).]
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01:09 PM
WhiteDevil88 Member
Posts: 8518 From: Coastal California Registered: Mar 2007
I find it funny that almost all high performance manufacturers really dont use any kind of wings. Sure there are some, and Ferrari started putting them on some models because thats what the buyer market ' thought' a supercar needed. 250GTO, TestaRossa, 308, 328, 355, 360....dont have wings because design engineers saw no benefits. Corvettes dont have wings, except for aftermarket tuner cars like Greenwoods. They dont find them beneficial. What is really ironic (or moronic depending on your thoughts) is that cars like Saturn, Kia, Honda, Toyota, Taurus, and Cobalt seem to require them. For the most part, they add more drag and weight than improve handling. Lotus is another example, as is say BMW M1, that a high performance car looks and drives just fine without anything stuck on the trunk. On the flip side, if that guy is a weekend SCCA racer with that car, then I can see the benefits.
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02:43 PM
Australian Member
Posts: 4701 From: Sydney Australia Registered: Sep 2004
Oh well.
LOL
