That is exactly the reason it goes up at 70mph and stays up well below that so the cops cannot tell what speed you are going. It takes maybe 2-3 seconds to go from 70 to 120 mph so yes, it has to go up at 70mph at the latest for safety reasons and for Jaguar to cover their behinds.

Americans are not used to driving performance cars fast but they are sold in countries where you can. You want the "wussie" version for the US like the extra double head lights, double, huge rubber bumpers that we used to get on Porsche and MB???? Quit whining about a none issue.

Nobody pulls you on Rt 50, I95 or I97 for doing 75mph.

 

What a deployed spoiler actually means is that you haven't dropped below 50MPH since the spoiler deployed, not that you're currently doing more than 70MPH. (40/60MPH in the convertible.)

 

Yes, but I think the concern is law enforcement doesn't know that or care. The convertible spoiler is much smaller and rather inconspicuous, but the coupe spoiler looks like a big red flag, which draws their attention and makes it more likely they're going to "paint" the car. Obviously, just witnessing spoiler deployment would not make the case one was speeding.

However, I don't worry about it at all on the roadster. I do agree that "big barn door" is horribly ugly deployed on the coupe and wrecks the look of an otherwise beautiful car.

 

People are asking in this thread how to disable the rear spoiler.
It is not my place to question why - they should be able to do whatever they want.
Whether it be rock chips, sun glare, a visual indication of speed, or simply because they find it unattractive, it should be their choice.
I tried my best to outline the two possible paths to achieve that goal, providing more detailed information than had been offered previously. I guess it was foolish of me to also share one of the reasons why I would like to disable the spoiler, as it has earned me the labels of "wussy" and "whiner". May I remind you that you don't know me. You have no knowledge of my driving habits, racing experience, technical proficiency, or even of the other cars in my garage. While I love my F Type dearly, it is the slowest car I own, both in a straight line, and at Summit Point. Rather than whine about it, I prefer to do something about it. Some have already been accomplished - stiffer springs by H&R, a more aggressive wheel alignment, lighter wheels by Forgeline, and better Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires. Others are still in the works, including the spoiler deactivation switch.
I am fully aware of when the spoiler deploys and retracts. The fact is, if the spoiler is deployed, the car has gone over 70 mph, and has not since slowed to below 50 mph. The Police Officers I know, especially those on Highway Patrol, know Exactly at what speed spoilers deploy, be it on Jaguars, Porsches, or any other car with a moveable rear wing. It's their business to know. What if you're on a road with a 50 mph limit? If you are suggesting that I keep my speed below 70, I'd rather deactivate the spoiler.
Get caught going 75 mph on Rt 50 east of the Bay Bridge, and I guarantee you'll get a ticket.
While I stand behind my speeding concerns, after further consideration, what really gets to me regarding the spoiler is that it smacks of trying too hard to be cool. The F Type already has coolness by the bucketload. It is the most beautiful new car on the road today, combined with excellent performance. It doesn't need a pop up spoiler, (which ruins its gorgeous lines), to be cool, and it certainly doesn't need one to stay on any road short of a racecourse. After all, my neighbor's Prius can cruise comfortably at 80 mph on any highway in the U.S. without the benefit of any aerodynamic aids. If you are going to track the car, you should be able to activate the spoiler at that time.
Regarding spinning the tires, I assure you that switching to Pilot Super Sports will solve the problem better than any sized spoiler could.
I thought the purpose of this forum was to answer questions, share experiences, and to help each other maximize our enjoyment of these wonderful automobiles, not to pass judgement on the priorities of people we don't even know.

 

It sounds like you live somewhere that makes driving quickly punitive. What are your other cars?

 

I'm pretty sure the convertible has the larger spoiler?

 

Do I want a deploybale spoiler - Oh Yes!
Does the one in my R coupe look good - NO!

I think the deployable spoiler on the vert (which is more full from side to side) looks way better (not as good as it should be though). The coupe one just shows a lot of "mechanicals" that aren't pretty.

 

Daily driver is a 2015 Corvette Z06 Stage 3, 702 horsepower, which I will track this summer. I'll save the really fast ones for later posts. Sorry for the poor pic - best I could do just walking out to the garage - it's raining at the moment.

 

Here in Maryland, feel free to drive right past smokie at 11 over, they'll pay no never mind. At 12 over, they don't play.

 

While doing 20 mph over the limit, you're concerned about the spoiler attracting attention?! You're right, I don't know anything about you, but i'm glad you don't live anywhere near me.

 

I suppose it depends upon which dimension you are measuring. The convertible spoiler is wider, extending close to the entire width of the rear-end, but it's far less than half of the length of the coupe spoiler, and it doesn't extend nearly as high as it does on the coupe. Thus it's far less obvious and doesn't detract from the lines of the car as much when deployed. It looks more like a fixed spoiler seen on many other cars.

I assume that JLR decided it should be longer and higher on the coupe because of the difference in aero between the two. I'm also assuming there's an aero reason they decided the convertible should deploy at 60mph and the coupe at 70. That's why I referred to the coupe spoiler as having a "barn-door look" when deployed, since it's more "square-ish."

However, I also agree with the OP that for street use, there's likely no reason at all for a deployable spoiler, and I wouldn't mind having the ability to disable it as well. I think JLR was just trying to be 911-like. Nonetheless, it just doesn't bother me all that much on the convertible because of the entirely different design.

 

When I take the car in for its oil change next week, I'm going to ask the master mechanic at the dealer if the spoiler can be cancelled out, or the speed it deploys increased.
I'm not too hopefully that he will comply.
Lawrence

 

I checked out the installation documentation for this after-market Piecha fixed wing spoiler. It states that the deployable spoiler must be disabled to fit this unit (although it doesn't say exactly how). I assume that means it can be disabled safely.

The reason I was looking - hate the look of the deployable spoiler, and would love something better.

 

 

The Piecha fixed spoiler looks much closer to what the convertible spoiler looks like deployed.

 

I can vouch for the fact that is most certainly true! You're probably right about Maryland Highway Patrol officers knowing the deployment speeds, but I still think just seeing the spoiler more often causes them to clock a car, since they need that evidence to make it stick.

Very nice Z06! I had the C6 version, and it was a monster on a road course track.

 

i wouldnt mess with the spoiler. the last thing you want at high speeds is your nose to be lifted and not getting full traction on the front wheels. it will make it feel unsettled and unbalanced

 

That's not how aerodynamics works.

 

It certainly isn't

It's purely for downforce on the rear wheels to maintain better traction at very high speeds. However, it really isn't necessary for street use in the U.S., except for illegal speeds which are grounds for license forteiture.

 

I've been previously corrected that the spoiler doesn't actually produce downforce, it reduces lift. Pretty much the same thing, but not quite. Not that I have to tell that to an FAA guy...