[Rideguy]

The Cayman manual states:

“The rear wing extends automatically at speeds above approx. 75 mph (120 km/h) and retracts again below approx. 50 mph (80 km/h)”

My wing raises at about 82 mph, and lowers at about 52 mph. Since there is obviously a signal generated that feeds the digital speedometer, I’m surprised the actual wing actuation speed is not more precise.

Anyone else notice such a descrepancy?

 

[Olympic Blue]

From inside the car I can not see when the wing is up or down.

 

[Viffermike]

The Cayman manual states:

“The rear wing extends automatically at speeds above approx. 75 mph (120 km/h) and retracts again below approx. 50 mph (80 km/h)”

My wing raises at about 82 mph, and lowers at about 52 mph. Since there is obviously a signal generated that feeds the digital speedometer, I’m surprised the actual wing actuation speed is not more precise.

Anyone else notice such a descrepancy?

It probably actually is precise. Note the KPH speeds; they are nice, round numbers. That's likely what they're tied to, not MPH. Also, the 'approximate' is there because several factors come into play to determine the speed you see on the speedometer versus what speed the car sees in its ECU: tire wear, a curve in the road, etc.

I've monitored mine closely (I can 'barely' see the wing's top edge when fully deployed in my RVM). Mine goes up at 80mph -- and that speed must be sustained for at least a second or two. It goes down at 51 mph.

 

[Ycanada]

Not sure when it goes down but mine goes up at exactly 131 km/h. My previous 2014 Cayman S had it at exactly 126 km/h.

 

[Rideguy]

It probably actually is precise. Note the KPH speeds; they are nice, round numbers. That's likely what they're tied to, not MPH. Also, the 'approximate' is there because several factors come into play to determine the speed you see on the speedometer versus what speed the car sees in its ECU: tire wear, a curve in the road, etc.

I agree there would be some approximation due to conversion, tire wear etc. but being over 9% off on the up actuation seems like a lot if there is a precise signal. I have been observing it on straight freeways, creeping up on the speed.

I can also just see the top slivered the wing in the rear view mirror when the wing is up.

 

[Slade]

I think there are just too many different variables to try and identify what is causing the discrepancy. As long as its functioning correctly I don't really see the issue with it coming up later than "advertised". The car could be making adjustments based upon your driving characteristics.

 

[Rideguy]

I don’t consider this an an issue; i was just curious if it was something unique about my car or if others had noticed similar wing operation.

 

[TURNERBURNER]

My question is, does the center console indicator light activate when the spoiler automatically deploys on my 718? I can’t see the rear deck while driving ...

Thanks

 

[Chris NZ]

Mine seems to deploy around the 100kph (62mph) mark. Perhaps this is coded differently for different regions or cars (i'm in NZ and drive a 991.2).

The other thing I have noted is that mine appears to deploy under extreme acceleration, or at least earlier (maybe around 80 kph) under extreme acceleration.

 

[girarcat]

I can't exactly see why the spoiler would deploy at high speeds in Normal driving mode. A rear wing is supposed to increase downforce at high speeds. This might be interesting on a racetrack (Sport or Sport+ Modes) but on the freeway, driving at more or less legal speeds, why would you need an increased downforce? More downforce generates more drag, which means an increased fuel consumption (and reduced top speed, if that what's you're after). Maybe above 120 mph the extra downforce is necessary to keep the car stable, but I think at lower speeds the rear wing might be quite superfluous. All the same, the retractable wing is one of my favorite gadgets in the car.

 

[JazzCatGab]

This was one of four things I noted on my initial concerns list when I bought my car. I took it back to the dealership and all of my concerns were answered and OK. But the wing raising took a little more time. We went out on the interstate to get up to appropriate speed, and sure enough, the wing did not raise at 75 mph. On our way back to the dealership, the service manager asked if I had the Good to Know app on my phone, which I had just installed. We were on a four-lane road almost back to the dealership when I found it and it said "78 mph (125 km/h)" so he does a nice u-turn and back to the interstate we go, where this was confirmed. On the way back again, he said that it used to be in mph for U.S. cars, but Porsche changed it to km/h universally.

 

[jimmuller]

My question is, does the center console indicator light activate when the spoiler automatically deploys on my 718? I can’t see the rear deck while driving ...

Thanks

I don't think so but it's been a while since I thought about it. I can see the upper edge of the wing in my mirror so I don't need to look at the indicator light. Mostly I just ignore it. When the wing wants to be up it goes up and when it wants to be down it goes down. As mentioned above (some long time ago now) it does not respond immediately to speed transitions above or below its thresholds. So unless you are watching it and your speedometer carefully or driving at a nearly constant speed near a threshold you cannot be especially precise in judging when it moves.

 

[Erik van Rijn]

On the topic of the spoiler... Is there a setting to make it go down automatically when you turn the car off?
There are times when I raise it manually and forget to put it down.

 

[Box2112]

The original purpose of the spoiler on Boxster / Caymans (which I still have to assume to be true) was not about creating downforce, but about keeping the car properly settled at speed. It disrupts the airflow and keeps the car itself from acting like a wing and getting floaty / unsettled...

So, if we assume that's still true in the current generation (and not just a design piece at this point that's stayed consistent), this also explains the speed its set for as well as why it deploys regardless of "mode". Also explains why that speed isn't set within more common "legal" limits since its not meant to be just a fun thing to look at, completely functional and tuned to come up prior to the point where airflow could cause any instability.

I can't exactly see why the spoiler would deploy at high speeds in Normal driving mode. A rear wing is supposed to increase downforce at high speeds. This might be interesting on a racetrack (Sport or Sport+ Modes) but on the freeway, driving at more or less legal speeds, why would you need an increased downforce? More downforce generates more drag, which means an increased fuel consumption (and reduced top speed, if that what's you're after). Maybe above 120 mph the extra downforce is necessary to keep the car stable, but I think at lower speeds the rear wing might be quite superfluous. All the same, the retractable wing is one of my favorite gadgets in the car.

 

[girarcat]

The original purpose of the spoiler on Boxster / Caymans (which I still have to assume to be true) was not about creating downforce, but about keeping the car properly settled at speed. It disrupts the airflow and keeps the car itself from acting like a wing and getting floaty / unsettled...

Well, if you intend to keep the car settled at high speeds you need to create downforce. A wing can either generate downforce or lift. I think we can safely assume Porsche engineers didn't want to create a flying car, so if the wing is functional (it could be merely aesthetical and generate no force at all, providing the angle of attack of the wing is set to 0º), it must create a certain amount of downforce.

 

[982CS]

I know nothing about aerodynamics but I'm sure I've read somewhere that the spoiler is to reduce drag, not create downforce.

 

[girarcat]

I know nothing about aerodynamics but I'm sure I've read somewhere that the spoiler is to reduce drag, not create downforce.

That's another possibility. A rear wing can help to reduce the wake turbulence that appears behind a car (and that transforms into drag, due to the vacuum effect it creates) by preventing the airflow from separating abruptly when reaching the ending of the vehicle (which also generates some downforce). However, as far as I know this type of wings are usually installed in hatchbacks more than in coupes/sportscars. Sportscars typically use wings focused on downforce generation to increase high speed stability (911 GT3 is a perfect example). I assumed Porsche engineers would want to create downforce instead of achieving a drag reduction in the Cayman/Boxster, but who knows.

 

[jimmuller]

On the topic of the spoiler... Is there a setting to make it go down automatically when you turn the car off?

I don't think so but it's no big deal. When I was looking at the dealer there was one car on the lot with the wing up. I commented that it must be stuck in the up position and the salesperson explained that sometimes people leave them up when cleaning so as to wash out the dirt that accumulated unerneath. Of course if let the wing go up and down onits own then when you stop it goes down automatically all by itself!

Well, if you intend to keep the car settled at high speeds you need to create downforce.

Which sounds a lot like eliminating upforce, doesn't it? Its funny how no one ever mentions upforce by that name.

 

[girarcat]

Which sounds a lot like eliminating upforce, doesn't it? Its funny how no one ever mentions upforce by that name.

Sure. If you generate downforce, you are (partially maybe) counteracting the upforce the body of the vehicle creates.

 

[Chris NZ]

Well, if you intend to keep the car settled at high speeds you need to create downforce. A wing can either generate downforce or lift. I think we can safely assume Porsche engineers didn't want to create a flying car, so if the wing is functional (it could be merely aesthetical and generate no force at all, providing the angle of attack of the wing is set to 0º), it must create a certain amount of downforce.

@Erik van Rijn and @Box2112 both use the term spoiler, which is different to a wing, but in this instance is actually the correct terminology.

A wing creates lift or downforce (depending on how it is positioned). A spoiler reduces lift by spoiling the airflow which would cause lift or downforce.
Think of your car's body as effectively being a wing (flat bottom and curved top) that creates lift with speed. It needs a spoiler to spoil the airflow and reduce the lift.
This video explains the difference clearly: