Spoilers have to be the tackiest accessories ever!

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: OpelFever
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.


We had an '85 Olds Cutlass Ciera Wagon that had one of these roof flow directors. The rear window didn't even need a wiper (it didn't have one either). The flow director kept that window CLEAN.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
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?


+1 just add some big wheels a loud exhaust and driver with baseball cap turned sideways wearing his dads pants and your riding cool.

 

[Beachboy]

I like the OEM spoilers, even on 4-cylinder four door family sedans like mine! To those to claim spoilers are pretentious and useless.....what about your fancy alloy wheels and 19" tires? Those are just as pretentious and useless. Do you think your fancy wheels are saving any significant amount of weight and improving handling? NO! Some of us just like having a bit of glitz on our otherwise mundane commuter cars. Plus, I like how most factory spoilers have the high mounted rear brake light integrated into the spoiler rather than cluttering up the back window. Frankly, I wish they'd bring back another cosmetic item I love....the vinyl roof. I really am growing to hate the solid color schemes of the last 30 years.

 

[Stu_Rock]

I am strongly opposed to non-functional spoilers. I've never owned a car with one, but if I did, I would remove it.

I'd rather have a pair of holes with rubber plugs than one of those awful things.

Functional spoilers are OK. I've owned two station wagons that had them for rear window cleaning. They worked great.

 

[jon08]

I had a 1999 Ford Contour SE with the factory spoiler. I liked it. Looked better than the models without it. Sure it was non-functional, but it housed the LED center brake light.

 

[JHZR2]

Just shows peoples stupidity and lack of understanding of physics.

 

[cbear]

I think a lot of OEM spoilers exist for easy mounting for the third tail light. This was especially true when they were first required in the late 80s.

 

[Old Mustang Guy]

When I had stripes painted on my 06 Mustang GT I had the spoiler removed. The body shop filled in the holes and painted the stripes. I love the smoother look and not seeing the spoiler in my rear view mirror.

 

[JimPghPA]

When I went shopping for a used car for my mother, she requested that the car have two things. One was cloth seats so they would not be too hot to sit on when left outside all day in the summer, and the other was the little thing that sits on top of the back of the trunk so she could judge where the back of the car was when parking. She did not know what a spoiler was or what it does, to her it is just a great way to see where the back of the car is so she can park it without hitting the vehicle behind her.

So now you know the function of the non-functioning spoiler.

 

[Trav]

Originally Posted By: Beachboy
Frankly, I wish they'd bring back another cosmetic item I love....the vinyl roof. I really am growing to hate the solid color schemes of the last 30 years.



OMG How about a nice fake convertible top

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: OpelFever
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.


My '98 Pathfinder had one like that. They were factory installed on some older SUVs and large wagons here. I haven't noticed them on any recent vehicles though.

 

[morris]

in 1966 i bought a new dodge charger. almost to late dodge found that the wing shape of the body would lift the back end, over speeds of 90 mph. and just barely got a small spoiler registered in time with NASCAR. that spoiler is VERY hard to find now days. allso i did get my charger to get lite at 100 mph.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: Stu_Rock
I am strongly opposed to non-functional spoilers. I've never owned a car with one, but if I did, I would remove it.

I'd rather have a pair of holes with rubber plugs than one of those awful things.

Functional spoilers are OK. I've owned two station wagons that had them for rear window cleaning. They worked great.


I used dime-sized cutouts from a large black decal to cover my holes when I removed the spoiler from my Mazda3 hatch. The spoiler didn't look bad and, unlike many trunk spoilers, it didn't block the view at all. It just seemed silly to have a tacked-on piece of plastic adding weight in the worst possible location for no good reason, even if it was only five pounds. I probably did lose an insignificant amount of downforce, but I gained an insignificant amount of fuel economy!

 

[stang5]

This is one of the most functional spoiler/wind deflector, I have the same one on my 91 pathfinder and it kept the rear glass hatch clean all the time, never had to use the rear windshield washer ever...

 

[HM12460]

My F-150 doesn't have one, thank goodness.

 

[ls1mike]

Really depends on what it is on.

Don't know how functional it is on the Trans Am, I guess it helps keep the rearend planted at 120. I just know it would look goofy without it.
I am guessing since this dosen't really need one, most daily drivers don't

 

[Lethal1ty17]

they just look good on some cars. my car would look funny without it

 

[Drew2000]

Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Beachboy
Frankly, I wish they'd bring back another cosmetic item I love....the vinyl roof. I really am growing to hate the solid color schemes of the last 30 years.



OMG How about a nice fake convertible top

Only if it comes with "opera windows"!

 

[rshunter]

Originally Posted By: Drew2000
Originally Posted By: Trav
Originally Posted By: Beachboy
Frankly, I wish they'd bring back another cosmetic item I love....the vinyl roof. I really am growing to hate the solid color schemes of the last 30 years.



OMG How about a nice fake convertible top

Only if it comes with "opera windows"!

EEEUUUUWWWWW...

 

[ms21043]

Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
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?


They insist on installing them because people want them.

Actually for me driving is already pretty boring stuff.

I know that tons of cars have these decorations, but what if there were no spoilers? or different hubcaps or wheels? Why have cars in different colors for that matter? Lets just all drive tan 4 door generic mobiles... Yeah, what a snooze fest that would be.