Tail or No Tail

[Jlockmon]

I have a 1988 Carrera 3.2. It came with the factory rear spoiler and front lower spoiler. The car has been tastefully modded but remains mostly unmolested. I don't mind the rear whale tail but I love the clean look of no rear spoiler. While I'd like to remove the rear tail it feels like it might be sac-religious to do so.

Question. Is there a good performance argument against removing the tail? I'm a function over fashion guy and don't want to remove it if it impacts the drivability or value.

Appreciate your feedback and thoughts.

[winders]

I prefer the tail from an aesthetics perspective. It reduces lift at the rear and reduces overall drag. For me, the tail is a win, win, win, proposition.

Scott

[Arne2]

With tail and matching front lip is more stable at speed. They are not there for looks, they do have real function.

That said, my car lost its factory tail in 1986 (second owner), and I prefer the looks that way.

[Jlockmon]

Now that's what I'm talkin about...

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Jlockmon

Is there a good performance argument against removing the tail? I'm a function over fashion guy and don't want to remove it if it impacts the drivability or value.

Nice car.

I prefer my (911) butts naked. Butt (lol), the spoiler does have a performance function. And there are many folks who prefer the look of the car with the spoiler.

There is sort of a third way here - you find a naked decklid, paint to match. Install. Save spoiler. Mix and match as you see fit.

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Arne2

With tail and matching front lip is more stable at speed. They are not there for looks, they do have real function.

That said, my car lost its factory tail in 1986 (second owner), and I prefer the looks that way.

That's what I'm talkin' about!

[SilberUrS6]

Originally Posted by Jlockmon

Now that's what I'm talkin about...

Ooops - you beat me to it.

[mmari270]

Get rid of it!!

[Nine17]

I kept the tail that came on my GP Weiß '88. It looks hot-rod and actually works to increase stability at high speed.

[kugelfischer]

Ditch the tail (but save it in the garage).
Despite the functionality of the tail, I like the clean lines of the car without it.

[wasserkuhl]

I prefer em without front or rear spoilers.

You see more with tails than without as well.

[Jack Olsen]

The decklid has already been cut for the tail you have. So simply get another decklid painted to match your car. You can change from with a tail to without in a few minutes.

[aigel]

You can get the best of both worlds and install a 964 deck lid with retractable spoiler. Like Jack points out, you can just swap the entire lid - your old spoiler / lid can be put back without anyone noticing it has ever been off. You can find instructions on this board.

Note that you should always run a front spoiler if you have a rear.

G

[Cherry Bomb]

I was going through the same thing and have recently found a factory SC lid to use when my factory Turbo lid gets boring...lol. I like options.

[Ramp]

I like tail

[drcoastline]

As has been stated they are functional. To me the Carrera tail has always looked like and odd after thought with the lopped off ends and raised grill and it is bolted to the lid. Especially compared to the early turbo and duck tails. I would hang it on the garage wall and repalce it with a duck or early turbo tail.

[Cairo94507]

No tail unless it's a Turbo and stock.

[81Kremer930]

The whale-tail has the certain 80's nostalgia that some folks are looking for. They are very cool(to me). I like the way they look, but I am also an egomaniac, and the tail promotes attention. I will say that the tail-less cars do look clean as well. I guess I am torn.

[Ronnie's.930]

Impact bumper 911s look much better with tails - they look too bland without them.

[McLaren-TAG]

Visually the car doesn't need it. from a performance standpoint, at 130 mph, you NEED it there.

But getting to the intangible... I can't help pass by my car without touching the thick part of the tail and then running my finger all the way along to the edge. It sounds dirty, but it feels good.