Spoilers have to be the tackiest accessories ever!

Status
Not open for further replies.
Joined
May 30, 2008
Messages
2,376
Location
New York
Why do car manufacturers insist on putting tacky and non-functional spoilers on just about anything that rolls? When I see a spoiler on something like a Camry or a Focus I think "what a jerk." Anybody with me on this?
 
Originally Posted By: asiancivicmaniac
I like mine

Jerk!
wink.gif


Sometimes they look fine, sometimes they don't.
I like the real spoilers that guys put on their track toys but they are functional and light.
30lbs+ of molded plastic 3 or 4' off the ground of a factory spoiler doesn't say performance to me but 99% of folks don't care about stuff like that.
 
You can't choose a Mustang from dealer stock here without a spoiler.

Even the most base-model of Mustangs has the biggest /adds drag not downforce/ 0-angle spoiler added on.

I don't want it either but if I special order mine "spoiler delete" I have to pay full sticker price.

It will probably be cheaper to just take it to a quality body shop and have the holes filled and the trunklid re-shot.
 
Are you talking about stock spoilers or aftermarket? The stock ones are petty tame and often when you pick out your car...well... it's just there. My Lexus SC doesn't have one, my GS does. It was how it was on the lot. My mother got a Ford Focus 4 door, had one from the factory. Shrug. Wasn't a big deal; not worth removing, IMO.
 
On my car the spoiler has function & utility...it's a trunk lid handle at a proper height that prevents getting dirty hands fumbling around in the back-spray muck at the trunk lid-bumper interface.

And, it certainly is no more useless that all the pseudo hood and fender intakes, ports, and oulets trashing many cars.
 
Stock spoilers are the lamest of the lame. I suppose they are supposed to shout "sporty!," but they really shout "waste of fine plastic" to me. I can't believe someone is willing to pay for them as an accessory. I can sort of understand the look-at-me fashion statement of the ridiculous rice rocket spoilers that look like they were put together from an Erector set, but in the end they are ridiculous. Sure, on race cars where they actually do something they make sense. On street cars they just ruin what little style most cars have.
 
OE spoilers are "OK" - but yea, some of these aftermarket spoilers that kids/teenagers add to their "riced up" hondas and acuras make the car look disgusting...heh.
 
I've never seen a stock spoiler look bad... at least nowhere nearly as bad as most of the aftermarket wings I see bolted onto cars. There's a S10 out in the parking lot with a whale tail bolted to the bedcover that would rival Shamu's - what a waste of money!

Now the tackiest accessory ever... gotta be truck nuts.
 
Even the Yaris has an optional spoiler above the hatch window. Is that to keep downforce on the rear of the car during high speed cornering? It's almost as though Toyota is making fun of themselves!
 
well the ugliest oem spoiler i've seen is the ones on the pontiac g6 2 door. i'm not sure if its a gxp or just an appearance package.
 
Quote:
And, it certainly is no more useless that all the pseudo hood and fender intakes, ports, and oulets trashing many cars.



Don't forget 17-18” factory wheels with tiny 8" brake rotors found on some econoboxes.

Yeah, there is a lot of useless stuff put on cars just for looks besides spoilers. Plus a small spoiler can actually improve the look of the car and even if it doesn’t, there is really no downside to it, but the rubber for those 18” wheels will cost a lot to replace.
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Even the Yaris has an optional spoiler above the hatch window. Is that to keep downforce on the rear of the car during high speed cornering? It's almost as though Toyota is making fun of themselves!


Some of the small spoilers above the rear window are actually very useful in hatchbacks and wagons. They divert the airflow and help keep the rear window free of all the salty slush that flies around during winter. I'd definately opt for one, luckily I drive a sedan.
 
Quote:
Tacky?


Yes!

By the way, there is at least one practical downside I have found. Spoilers often make it harder to clear snow and ice off the car, and sometimes they catch a load sliding off the roof and cause it to block the rear window.
 
Originally Posted By: willix
Tacky?
2008-porsche-gt3-rsr-tmr-3.jpg

Not at all. It has a practical use on that car, just as the ones on hatchbacks and wagons do. One is for genuine downforce, the other for a smoother aerodynamic transition.

Now a "whale-tail" on a Yugo? Well, as the saying goes, "Know when to say when."
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom