did wings come on the back of all 98's?

[Kitchen]

or is it aftermarket i can post a pic if need be

[GatorBeetle]

No, spoliers on the rear hatch are always an option, either dealer or aftermarket.

[Kitchen]

how can i tell which i got?

[Evanrude]

Originally Posted by Kitchen

how can i tell which i got?

That depends, your spoiler was both offered as a dealer option, but you can buy it aftermarket on eBay for $90 + 30 in shipping. Made by U.C.I.

[LadybugEwa]

I thought the only 'dealer' spoiler was the one with the integrated 3rd brake light like mine

[bugsy98nb]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I thought the only 'dealer' spoiler was the one with the integrated 3rd brake light like mine

kitchens is mounted above the third brake light, they had different ones, some had the brakelight in the spoiler, some didnt

[Evanrude]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I thought the only 'dealer' spoiler was the one with the integrated 3rd brake light like mine

See this beautiful spoiler on my buddies Bug?
This was also a dealer option. Sometimes it wasn't even an option, You'd go find a bug and that would be on it. But here's the catch, it's not a FACTORY option, it was a DEALER option.

Many dealers had their own options they could install. This particular spoiler, VW doesn't even know what it is. The dealers remember it but can't remember who it's by.

It was a limited edition. Very rarely you can find one on eBay. I happened to find one on here, and it will be going on my bug as soon as I get it sanded and painted fresh.

Most of them mount above the 3rd brake light.

[iScott]

hahaha... nice pic.
My 98 didn't come with one.

[veedub00]

the dealer in NY I got my bug from was putting a ton of dealer's options on their bugs and charging over 3x market prices for them too. I remember the spoiler option being something like 900 bucks, which is pretty high if you ask me.

[CA Solt]

Originally Posted by veedub00

the dealer in NY I got my bug from was putting a ton of dealer's options on their bugs and charging over 3x market prices for them too. I remember the spoiler option being something like 900 bucks, which is pretty high if you ask me.

Yeah, I remember in 2000 that my salesman told me that a silver GLX with the Charactere kit on the showroom floor had options that took it to $30,000. I laughed right in his face.
I also remember that car sitting in the lot for over a year and finally going at discount -so apparently no one else was fooled either. And this was at the height of the New Beetle craze!

But yes, the spoiler seen above was a dealer option -not a factory option. And although somewhat rare, should not be expensive (even today).

[blackonblack]

Actually, When I worked in for a VW dealer, VW said install no spoiler on beetles. It destabilized the car at highway speed. Spoiler= Bad

[LadybugEwa]

That's them talking out of their posterior. My spoiler is stamped on the underside as being made by VW. It wouldn't fit on any other VW. Therefore the destabilization stuff is complete and utter crap.

[mgwerks]

Originally Posted by blackonblack

Actually, When I worked in for a VW dealer, VW said install no spoiler on beetles. It destabilized the car at highway speed. Spoiler= Bad

SUre they do. That's why auto-spoilers were factory installed on the turbos...

[blackonblack]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

That's them talking out of their posterior. My spoiler is stamped on the underside as being made by VW. It wouldn't fit on any other VW. Therefore the destabilization stuff is complete and utter crap.

VW never installed a spoiler on a New Beetle. (Other than the factory turbo electric one). It may have been dealer installed after the fact. We were told not to install spoilers after the fact and really not on the turbo. Yours being a 98 may have been before they discoverd the issue.

[blackonblack]

Originally Posted by mgwerks

SUre they do. That's why auto-spoilers were factory installed on the turbos...

Also note the location of the turbo spoiler at top of hatch...it was for downforce on the tail at high speed. They found the aftermarkets mounted low could cause lift (wing effect) when mounted further down the hatch. It was real dangerous when mixed with the factory turbo wing. Looks are not always safe...the shape of our cars is the culprit.

[LadybugEwa]

Originally Posted by blackonblack

VW never installed a spoiler on a New Beetle. (Other than the factory turbo electric one). It may have been dealer installed after the fact. We were told not to install spoilers after the fact and really not on the turbo. Yours being a 98 may have been before they discoverd the issue.

I'm sorry, but that's just
This car being a 98 with a VW stamped spoiler, you're telling me it's had some kind of issue for 9 years? I've been driving it around for more than 2 years myself with this "unsafe" spoiler on the back? I highly doubt this, as it's had no sort of 'stability' issues.
Having worked for a few years, I know that employers often tell you for whatever their reason. Believing it, that's your choice

[blackonblack]

Originally Posted by LadybugEwa

I'm sorry, but that's just
This car being a 98 with a VW stamped spoiler, you're telling me it's had some kind of issue for 9 years? I've been driving it around for more than 2 years myself with this "unsafe" spoiler on the back? I highly doubt this, as it's had no sort of 'stability' issues.
Having worked for a few years, I know that employers often tell you for whatever their reason. Believing it, that's your choice

Of course a 98 2.0 never reaches speed to be concerned with. They were concerned with speeds in excess of 98 mph. My employer was not the source. VW was!! Dont beat the messenger.

Peace
Mech 25 years
Ops mgr 10

[CA Solt]

Originally Posted by blackonblack

Also note the location of the turbo spoiler at top of hatch...it was for downforce on the tail at high speed. They found the aftermarkets mounted low could cause lift (wing effect) when mounted further down the hatch. It was real dangerous when mixed with the factory turbo wing. Looks are not always safe...the shape of our cars is the culprit.

This is just incorrect -It was the Audi TT that experienced destabilization at speed, there is no documented case of NB's having this issue.
The spoiler on the NB is just that -a spoiler which is designed to disturb the airflow enough to move the pressure point at the car's rear enough to decrease coefficient of drag- not to provide downforce.
This is an old topic -one which we put to rest long ago on the old org. My main beef with this new forum is the lack of access to that old site.
Dealers did install various wings and spoilers back when - I don't see where anyone claims VW did (except by default through dealerships).

[Evanrude]

Hey, Kitchen, I just deleted my last 2 posts on here because they were completely off topic

Hope we didn't ruin the post for you