how come they don't make a rear air deflector?

[mpvue]

I mean air deflector, not a spoiler. an air deflector on station wagons and vans directs air down over the rear window to cut down on dirt. I had one on my VUE and it worked great. my 5 has a filthy hatch and rear window right now.

 

[coolmazda5]

DAMD might be the one, they sell out of Japan it seems:

http://www.damd.co.jp/products/mazda/premacy02_rear_02.html

http://www.damd.co.jp/english/index.html

 

[mpvue]

well thats pretty cool but not really what I meant.

 

[Dphillips]

Not a big fan of that thing. But what is the thing on the orange one? Im talking about the top spoiler/wing thing.?

Is that a factory piece? From?

 

[mpvue]

Not a big fan of that thing. But what is the thing on the orange one? Im talking about the top spoiler/wing thing.?

Is that a factory piece? From?

we don't have that on the sport version, only the touring and grand touring have it.

 

[coolmazda5]

we don't have that on the sport version, only the touring and grand touring have it.

If you have the Sport with the Popular Package then yes. As per the OEM spoiler itself, looks good but useless.

Post some pics so we know what is that all about (scratch)

Thx!

 

[mpvue]

this is my old VUE. the air deflector at the top of the hatch directs air down the window, keeps the back of the car clean.

 

[skyhawk]

this is my old VUE. the air deflector at the top of the hatch directs air down the window, keeps the back of the car clean.

I've seen those on the vue.. I've always wondered if they were effective.
How clean does the rear of the vue stay when you drive in the wet highway?

 

[mpvue]

the wet weather is a different story, but it helps.
flat backed vehicles make 'dirty air' behind the vehicle, it doesn't come off the trailing end smooth, so dust and dirt and whatnot is kicked up, leaving the vehicle dirty.
the deflector helps a lot, very effective actually. it 'washes' the air down the back of the car.
I think it was Chrysler engineers in the 60's figuered it out for their wagons. they used to do lots w/ wind tunnel testing.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

MPVUE,

Most everyone knows what youre talking about, a picture in the start could have helped and my 98 Isuzu Trooper had one built in too and yes it helped 'blow' the loose dirt off the back window and back bumper when I went fishing out in the boonies.

However, here is WHY your M5 DOESNT HAVE ONE:

1. That 'air wing' (we'll call it that) from your *cringe* VUE was on that vehicle for two reasons:

a. To blow lose dirt off the glass and bumper, what YOU think it's main purpose is for, however (headshake

b. To FORCE air into the dead space behind the vehicle that has a SQUARE REAR END ON IT, like your *cringe* VUE had. to help with AIR FLOW and make it more fuel efficient. I know sad huh?

2. YOUR M5 DOES NOT HAVE ONE BECAUSE; the M5 has been wind tunnel designed and designed by highly paid engineers to:

a. Make the M5 as fuel efficient as possible by the design of the roof, not a *cringe* flat roof VUE. M5s design causes AIR to enter that void and NOT to cause a VACUUM of air at the rear of the vehicle, thus lower fuel efficiency.

b. Engineers mustered up the best while still keeping the interior cargo space big. That and why its got that silly looking stock spoiler on it, like the orange picture above, if you look, its a very long TRIANGLE, designed / aid in the air flow.

c. ONE MORE REASON YOUR M5 DOES NOT HAVE ONE. as mankind evolves, less and less, SAY AGAIN, LESS AND LESS folks are living on gravel and dirt roads. Guessing less than 1/5 the worlds owners of an M5s drive them on dirt / gravel roads, thus no need for the 'dirt blowing off air wing'.

Lastly and this one is pure guess on my part, but the Japanese engineers and designers have been pushed to make cars SO fuel efficient now a days that I bet the 'air wing' OR spoiler probably did not make the weight, COST, air flow, hatch cargo space, etc. etc. etc. CUT in the gas saver, cost steps of the plans for the M5. Lastly, lastly the more complicated the car the more it costs. (2cents)

Peace!(rei)

 

[mpvue]

ok sgt:
the VUE is not quite a flat roof, but whatever.
the deflector didn't come w/ the VUE, it was an accessory. i added it soon after I got the car when I noticed how much dirt was collecting on the hatch.
I don't know what color the sky is on your planet, but here, the Mazda5 is pretty much a box w/ a sloped nose. the rear of the 5 is just as flat as the VUE and has the same issue, a film of dirt coats the rear of the car. I live in the city, no dirt roads, but the world is still a pretty dirty place and the car gets dirty.
thanks for your *cringe* 'help'

 

[coolmazda5]

MPVUE,
c. ONE MORE REASON YOUR M5 DOES NOT HAVE ONE…. as mankind evolves, less and less, SAY AGAIN, LESS AND LESS folks are living on gravel and dirt roads. Guessing less than 1/5 the worlds owners of an M5s drive them on dirt / gravel roads, thus no need for the 'dirt blowing off air wing'.

(hahaspit), good one

My guess is that the Mazda5 does not sell one aftermarket or OEM because nobody has thought about it (or no business case for it). 0.2-0.5% worse fuel economy due to an increase of the drag coefficient or decrease of expensive design aerodynamics is not an issue, otherwise Mazda would not be selling roof racks for it (yes, OEM, but outsourced to Thule)...

 

[mpvue]

My guess is that the Mazda5 does not sell one aftermarket or OEM because nobody has thought about it (or no business case for it). 0.2-0.5% worse fuel economy due to an increase of the drag coefficient or decrease of expensive design aerodynamics is not an issue, otherwise Mazda would not be selling roof racks for it (yes, OEM, but outsourced to Thule)...

I'd agree, cool. gravel roads are not required to put a film of dirt on the hatch (or am I the only one experiencing this???) and I'm sure the rack does make way more of an impact on the aero than a deflector would.
FWIW, I checked the drag Cd of the Mazda5 vs the VUE; I knew the Mazda5 was better I just didn't know how much.
Mazda5: .31 Cd
VUE: .38 Cd

 

[rweatherford]

Vue Cd is same as 90's Miatas. Mazda5 is the same as my 90's Berettas.

We have the dirt issue. I try to ignore it and wash the car more often. Ours is one of the people who drive on dirt/gravel on a semi regular basis.

I don't really want the MPG hit on a daily basis. If our car was driven mainly for short trips it might not be much of an issue. Those deflectors can also make wind noise. Perhaps the new ones are better.

 

[mpvue]

I've just been poking around some other forums and everyone has the same concern; scion Xb, VW Golfs, etc. people 'say' a rear deflector will hurt drag, but w/o doing a wind tunnel test, it's all supposed.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

(or am I the only one experiencing this???)

(kiss)

and I'm sure the rack does make way more of an impact on the aero than a deflector would.

O reallllyy? Lateral Drag is less than flat drag eh? Hum. *wink*

FWIW, I checked the drag Cd of the Mazda5 vs the VUE; I knew the Mazda5 was better I just didn't know how much.
Mazda5: .31 Cd
VUE: .38 Cd

He he, told ya. (drinks)

I've just been poking around some other forums and everyone has the same concern; scion Xb, VW Golfs, etc. people 'say' a rear deflector will hurt drag, but w/o doing a wind tunnel test, it's all supposed.

BINGO! and I live in the land of rice (Japan) and when I visit the local dealers and drool over new cars, SKYLINE GT-R, Fairlady 300(ZX), Silvia (Nissan 240 usa) etc. etc. it always comes up...

"Kuluma no wind tunnel testing ga, misete kudasai" (Can i see the car's wind tunnel results"

They have to go into the back and look it up and print it out, they sort of have a strange look on face, not many people shop for cars based on WIND TUNNEL RESULTS


Peace!(rei)

 

[mpvue]

Sgt, you are very odd.

 

[skyhawk]

I think that anymore add-on 'wing' you add to the current Mazda5 GT will make the vehicle really look ugly. Unless maybe if the existing spoiler can be sawed off. Otherwise, You can drill a hole on both upper sides of the rear hatch, and mcguiver a
'plexiglass' visor that can be adjusted to direct the wind down to 'disturb' the turbulence.. and let the dirt drop inches away from the hatch surface.

But if it were available, and it works I will install such an add-on.
I already did front mudflaps on the GT, and I have a mazda5 Bra for long trips.
A detacheable 'air wipe' for the behind can save me a trip to the carwash everytime
I drive via the highway on rainy day.

 

[VenomDesign]

Sgt, you are very odd.

X2

And SGT. Stop the multiple quotes please. You don't need to do that, we still understand without it.(ugh)


I think it doesn't look that bad. I will probably try something similar with another piece coming from a Honda .

 

[mpvue]

X2

And SGT. Stop the multiple quotes please. You don't need to do that, we still understand without it.(ugh)


I think it doesn't look that bad. I will probably try something similar with another piece coming from a Honda .

I've been groovin on the subaru wagon spoilers lately, I think they look pretty sweet. I may need to look for something and adapt it. I was reading up on how to lay carbon fiber, that'd be a fun project!