I'm all ears

 

Really? Lean slightly out the window. The airflow will be deflected and problem solved!

 

No chance that you snuck a prototype into the box with my Switchpath exhaust that's being installed today, huh?

 

Oops! You weren't supposed to get those...

Just kidding. Brian, how's the SwitchPath?

 

I posted this already in my Journal but thought I would share it in this thread too:

Prototype testing of the AWE Tuning 'Foiler' Wind Deflector

AWE Tuning is getting near to completion of their anti-buffeting solution. As part of their real world testing, they gave me the opportunity to try a prototype on the track (Road Atlanta) at high speed (>135mph) last week end during a DE organized by Chin Motorsports. They told me they had the foiler already tested on their in house 991 Turbo but would welcome additional feedback, including how the product would perform during track days.

Here are a few pictures of the car with the foiler mounted on the car:







I liked a lot the fact that it is unobtrusive and blends in very well with the rest of the car. Not sure that non-991 experts would even notice. While designed in a way to limit cost, the foiler is a bolt on that simply replaces the OEM part and is mechanically attached to the door trim in the same way so that no adhesive has to be used (taking care of the risk to lose it at high speed).

The prototype I got for testing was not made of the final material and was only for the driver side, but it was enough to evaluate its performance. For those who have taken their 991 to Road Atlanta, the back straight is long and fast, depending on the conditions you can hit 130-155mph before decelerating for turn 9, but is almost unbearable due to buffeting. Vibrations become so loud that they almost become a distraction.

Recording sound is a challenge on the track when you only have limited equipment (GoPro's), but I tried to do my best using footage from February without the foiler and from last week end. I would suggest to listen to the video clip using earphones as they give a better idea of how loud the buffeting is.


The reduction in buffeting was dramatic IMHO. Of course, there is always a lot of 'regular' wind noise, but it can hardly be avoided driving at these speeds with both windows down. Installing another foiler on the passenger side would probably have made it completely perfect on top of keeping the car symmetric
AWE told me that they would sell the kit in pairs (driver + passenger). I will most certainly install the commercial version of the foiler once it becomes available.

PS: having seen it done by 'wicked' sponsors on the forum, I want to insist on the fact that I do not have any kind of business relationship with AWE tuning. I stayed in touch with them after providing pics and video material of my exhaust and, to be honest, was happy to get solicited to test the new product. I did the video to try to give an unbiased feedback (even though the sound recording is far from optimum).

 

Thanks for the review. I could have used a set today. Looking forward to the finished product.

 

Looks awesome. I like it.

However, I wonder if it should have a toothed ripple to the deflector edge, to better disrupt the airflow. It wouldn't look quite as clean and unobtrusive as this, tho.

 

Put me down for a set. I don't drive with the windows down for this very reason. Thanks for the update SM_ATL !

 

It is every bit as bad or worse on the new Cayman. I had a 14 Cayman S and I never drove with the windows down because of it and what made it worse is there is no roof to vent to make it go away or at least tolerable. I just don't get how Porsche can put all this time into engineering and not think that people may want to drive with a window down?

 

Thanks for the review SM. Appreciated.

 

Thanks SM_ATL! Really appreciate the review!

Was curious what the procedure was to install? I've contemplated pulling the black plastic triangle off but not sure how it is secured in place... Is the access point from the "inside" of do you just pry-off the OE plastic bit from outside?

Thanks again for the post!

 

I look forward to purchasing a set. Thanks for the review, Serge.

 

I will also be one of the first in line for this when it is finalized. I was just up at Lime Rock this weekend and the buffeting on the front straight was terrible. I like that the design isn't obtrusive either.

 

As a 981 Boxster S owner, I am interested in knowing if they make a difference with the top down. Have any 991 cab owners installed these? I know they are not available yet for 981 but am interested in hearing other experiences if somebody has them on a convertible.

 

The problem is with coupes with the windows down (unless the sunroof back is up) not convertibles with the top down.

It is due to air moving into the car due to lower pressures inside than out, and then "popping" out. This happens at higher frequencies the faster you go. There pressure differential does not happen in open convertibles (and I am told not in top up ones either).