Bodykits - Do They Really Improve Performance?

[sonic_11uk]

I often see a lot of medium sized cars with full bodykits - spoilers, skirts, rims, etc.

Do these really improve the performance of the car?

Will they make a difference or are they for looks only?

On one hand, they can sometimes make the car look sporty and cool (if done tastefully), but on the other hand, wouldn't it be better to spend the extra money on a better/faster car???

[crisp]

I think the body kits fitted to most cars in Thailand, are for looks alone, even taxis have them.

Most cars can not go fast enough or have the performance for the spoilers etc to take effect.

Get a car with performance first, if you have the finances, then get a body kit fitted, if it already doesn't have one.

Drive safe!

[transam]

Depends how fast you want to go.

[VocalNeal]

I believe the carbon rear deck spoiler addition for an Aston Martin Vantage does have beneficial results but if you have to ask the price?

[culicine]

Most body kits are simply cosmetic, and give the vehicle a more 'finished' appearance. However if too large, they look rather stupid. Carbon fibre hoods can reduce weight a little so may help performance, but not in combination with 18/20" wheels:)

[JAS21]

Most body kits are simply cosmetic, and give the vehicle a more 'finished' appearance. However if too large, they look rather stupid. Carbon fibre hoods can reduce weight a little so may help performance, but not in combination with 18/20" wheels:)

O come on ... it obviously makes the car go faster

[aussiebebe]

Most body kits are for cosmetic purposes; far from improving performance by creating down-force, the most apparent effect of rear spoilers is to increase drag and worsen fuel economy. An example to the contrary would be the US Chevrolet Cruze Eco which has a front dam and active grille-block that closes to get highway economy up to 42mpg. The new Toyota Prius is an example of aerodynamic styling; the tight corners at the rear prevent turbulence and the tail lamps contour round the car. Dealer-supplied body kits worsen fuel economy but improve the appearance of the car, in my opinion.

[culicine]

Most body kits are simply cosmetic, and give the vehicle a more 'finished' appearance. However if too large, they look rather stupid. Carbon fibre hoods can reduce weight a little so may help performance, but not in combination with 18/20" wheels:)

O come on ... it obviously makes the car go faster

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

[transam]

We have rides where l am, elastic bands for tyres, baked bean tins for exhausts, plastic that scrapes the ground, sounds like a lawn mower AND it takes me a crazy amount of time to try and overtake a ten mile an hour shit ride in my truck cos we do not have a 4 lane carriageway.

[funcat]

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

I've replaced my stock wheels with 18" and 225/40 tires...do you think that this tread is gonna make problems in the wet?

[culicine]

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

I've replaced my stock wheels with 18" and 225/40 tires...do you think that this tread is gonna make problems in the wet?

Oh I was referring to my lowered ride height having a problem with flood water on the roads. What tyre is that? What does the manufacturer say about it's wet weather performance? It's when the tread gets very low that wet weather performance will decrease a lot, especially when the tyres are wide.

For your info, I've now used 4 different brands of tyre on my car, falken ziez, yokohama earth-1, michelin pilot preceda and dunlop veuro 301. I'd rate the michelin pilot preceda's the best of those for comfort, noise and performance. The dunlops were very good too (quiet), but softer sidewalls.

[funcat]

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

I've replaced my stock wheels with 18" and 225/40 tires...do you think that this tread is gonna make problems in the wet?

Oh I was referring to my lowered ride height having a problem with flood water on the roads. What tyre is that? What does the manufacturer say about it's wet weather performance? It's when the tread gets very low that wet weather performance will decrease a lot, especially when the tyres are wide.

For your info, I've now used 4 different brands of tyre on my car, falken ziez, yokohama earth-1, michelin pilot preceda and dunlop veuro 301. I'd rate the michelin pilot preceda's the best of those for comfort, noise and performance. The dunlops were very good too (quiet), but softer sidewalls.

Toyo PROXES 4....never driven in wet yet,but the "v" cut should help...got this of google http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Toyo/Proxes+4

[barefoot1988]

no but its actually pretty nice if its done tastefully. i always wanted a eg coupe with 17" rims, lip kit (not body kit), angel eyes with fake bonnet air scoops. i have yet to see an eg coupe here in cm, but plentiful of ek coupe, just wonder if those are available here.

to be honest, i will still be alittle shy since it will be somehow like a ricer, but i really liked the outlook of it. but for now, i will stick to my old kia sportage

[culicine]

no but its actually pretty nice if its done tastefully. i always wanted a eg coupe with 17" rims, lip kit (not body kit), angel eyes with fake bonnet air scoops. i have yet to see an eg coupe here in cm, but plentiful of ek coupe, just wonder if those are available here.

to be honest, i will still be alittle shy since it will be somehow like a ricer, but i really liked the outlook of it. but for now, i will stick to my old kia sportage

I once saw n eg civic for sale in CM on taladrod.com. It was about 240K baht. It didn't have a body kit but looked nice all the same. It had a b16/b20 engine it it. That's the reason to have an eg There's loads of e's in Thailand and a large number have had engine swaps.

[Shurup]

Of course it increase the performance! Just a "R-Type" sticker alone gives ya 5HP! Ask any serious racer!

[Semper]

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

I've replaced my stock wheels with 18" and 225/40 tires...do you think that this tread is gonna make problems in the wet?

No, but you'll notice all the irregularities on the road.

[Charger770]

Body kits are for looks only.

They do not improve performance, In fact, many of them increase drag at speed.

[funcat]

I swear to God my 17" lensos made my car feel "lighter" lol But stil they look a lot better than stock wheels, while lowering springs and wider tires appear to improve handling somewhat - not so great for the wet season though!

I've replaced my stock wheels with 18" and 225/40 tires...do you think that this tread is gonna make problems in the wet?

No, but you'll notice all the irregularities on the road.

I know,but man,it feels like on rails now...and I like it !! ...BTW,looks great too

[thunder30101]

Yes some body mods will make a difference in speed and handling but they must be correctly engineered for the car installed upon, but you wont see any difference in performance unless you are on a race track at very high speeds. Then you have to factor in tires, wheels etc. etc. But many of them do have a nice cosmetic effect.

[Shurup]

Google Approach, Departure and Breakover angles, then think again if you want your car to look "cool". Bodykits that include skirts, will decrease the above mentioned angles to near nothing. As most of the buildings in Thailand are built on a raised ground (flood prevention measure), above the street level, the driveways are usually very steep, I've seen a lot of these skirts scratched, broken, shredded into pieces and cheaply fixed with glue and hay wire.

Why would someone go into all the inconveniences and expenses just to look "cool" is beyond me.

[kartman]

Yes some body mods will make a difference in speed and handling but they must be correctly engineered for the car installed upon, but you wont see any difference in performance unless you are on a race track at very high speeds. Then you have to factor in tires, wheels etc. etc. But many of them do have a nice cosmetic effect.

So what your saying is a bodykit on a Mira will never aerodynamicaly work

[thunder30101]

If you could get the mira to go fast enough to take advantage of the aerodynamics of the mods, yes they would help it stick to the road better. Drop in a turbocharged motor, beef up the suspension and add some good rubber and anything is possible

[Backwoods]

The Yaris we traded in, had flarinf and skirts all around as well as rear visor, but during flood and trying to get out of town, the waves of water comming from bif trucks in fron of us took or destroyed all the flaring! We had them replaced about 4 times with wife going to fast over curb or to stepp and approach from bridge. Never again anything that remotly hugs the ground! We traded for 4x4 and she is happy no more scraping!

[kartman]

If you could get the mira to go fast enough to take advantage of the aerodynamics of the mods, yes they would help it stick to the road better. Drop in a turbocharged motor, beef up the suspension and add some good rubber and anything is possible

That's what i was implying chillout man this is a fun thread nothing more.

[thunder30101]

Im quite chilled out, sounds like you shouldnt ask questions you dont want answers to if you dont like them.

[kartman]

Im quite chilled out, sounds like you shouldnt ask questions you dont want answers to if you dont like them.

As i said chill out if my tongue in cheek is way over your head i'm sorry.

[barefoot1988]

no but its actually pretty nice if its done tastefully. i always wanted a eg coupe with 17" rims, lip kit (not body kit), angel eyes with fake bonnet air scoops. i have yet to see an eg coupe here in cm, but plentiful of ek coupe, just wonder if those are available here.

to be honest, i will still be alittle shy since it will be somehow like a ricer, but i really liked the outlook of it. but for now, i will stick to my old kia sportage

I once saw n eg civic for sale in CM on taladrod.com. It was about 240K baht. It didn't have a body kit but looked nice all the same. It had a b16/b20 engine it it. That's the reason to have an eg There's loads of e's in Thailand and a large number have had engine swaps.

at 240k i guess you really saw the eg coupe! i seen alot of eg9 and 6 around but never the coupe, seen ek coupe around though

[Shot]

Think about it this way: Does your GF or wife perform any better in a nurse’s uniform, or school girl outfit?

[2unique]

Think about it this way: Does your GF or wife perform any better in a nurse’s uniform, or school girl outfit?

No but my handling does! (*_*)

Sent from Android please excuse errors in type or judgement

[Naam]

body kits on cars are excellent indicators of bank balances. the more kit, the lower the balance.