# 'Fake' trim on cars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 7, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819 "2005-05-07T15:17:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58956e/32.png) [@Hoodoo\_Ulove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hoodoo_Ulove)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/21 "2005-05-07T21:09:30Z")
> [@jackelope](#): > > Sarcasm aside, you’ve probably figured out by now that I have no problem with people who want their cars to be aesthetically appealing. You obviously think a minimalist ideal is better; others disagree. _De gustibus_, and all that. > > People like to personalize their stuff and take pride in it; if you’re the type of person who pays attention to the cosmetic appearance of your vehicle (as you folks clearly are), **why on earth would you want it to look just like everybody else’s factory-fresh car?** > Very curious, thinks I. Who says we would? When I bought my first car I shaved \*\*off \*\* the hood ornament and other extra trim. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/22 "2005-05-07T21:36:42Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > If you think spinners on rims are bad, there’s something even **worse** coming down the pike. Rims that will _flash messages to people!_ They’ll even have a touchpad inside the car so you can compose messages! I would invest in weapons stock. This new invention is sure to be a boon to the drive-by industry. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/23 "2005-05-07T23:08:47Z")
> [@Hoodoo Ulove](#): > > The most beautiful cars, most would agree, are race cars. 100% function. Cars are fuckin’ machines. Would a wild animal of grace and power look better with a little extra decoration? But if you used a race car for driving on the highway, that would no longer be “100% function”. “Function” means the right tool for the job, and a race car is a definitely not the right tool for driving to work. A “100% function” production automobile for normal use (commuting, road trips, etc) would have a moderate sized engine with just enough power to merge safely with freeway traffic. It would maximize interior space while keeping exterior size reasonably small. In other words, it would be a hatchback, station wagon or minivan. After all, the trunk of a sedan/coupe is an unnecessary aesthetic feature - a station wagon version of the car would have the same footprint, virtually identical performance and more cargo space. IMHO the Scion xB and Honda Element are some of the most functional designs out there. The fact that such vehicles aren’t the majority implies most people don’t want cars that are “100% function.” Most cars are designed to give the impression of high performance (which may or may not reflect actual performance). It seems pointless to quibble over “fake trim” when the entire shape of the car is usually dicated by aesthetics. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/24 "2005-05-07T23:13:52Z")
> [@](#): > > After all, the trunk of a sedan/coupe is an unnecessary aesthetic feature… I would say that a trunk serves a function as a place to secure valuables out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/25 "2005-05-07T23:23:16Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > I would say that a trunk serves a function as a place to secure valuables out of sight. True, but that seems like a very small advantage. On a station wagon you can still use a box or cover to keep it out of sight. Also most modern station wagons and minivans have tinted rear windows. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/26 "2005-05-07T23:30:54Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > True, but that seems like a very small advantage. On a station wagon you can still use a box or cover to keep it out of sight. Also most modern station wagons and minivans have tinted rear windows. Doesn’t matter. Many people see something under covers and think that it _must_ be valuable. Many cars have alarms, doesn’t stop the determined thief. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/27 "2005-05-07T23:32:31Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > On a station wagon you can still use a box or cover to keep it out of sight. Also most modern station wagons and minivans have tinted rear windows. True, but there seems to be a stigma attached to driving a station wagon (or “crossover vehicle” as they are now called :rolleyes:) or minivan. I drive an Escort wagon, btw, and don’t have a problem with it. It has a cargo cover (nothing more than a glorified horizontally mounted window shade). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2005, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/28 "2005-05-07T23:33:33Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > :rolleyes:) :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/29 "2005-05-08T00:18:46Z")
I had a 1999 Toyota 4Runner. If you got what was called the Highlander package, there was a hood scoop [like this](http://www.rvs.com.tw/products/centerprotector/images/cp_new_surf185_pic.jpg). All it did was break up the huge expanse of the hood and nothing else. I can’t tell you how many people kept asking me about ‘the supercharger’ - even after I told them that the scoop did nothing. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/30 "2005-05-08T00:21:51Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > True, but there seems to be a stigma attached to driving a station wagon (or “crossover vehicle” as they are now called :rolleyes: ) or minivan. Which was sort of my point. It’s normal to drive a vehicle that’s built for lots of speed and power, or at least looks like it. There’s a stigma attached to driving more functional but boring-looking vehicles. As for storage, I have a couple of beat-up cardboard boxes in my minivan to use for storing various small items, including some valuables. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/31 "2005-05-08T00:35:11Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Which was sort of my point. It’s normal to drive a vehicle that’s built for lots of speed and power, or at least looks like it. There’s a stigma attached to driving more functional but boring-looking vehicles. I’ve posted before that a person should choose the vehicle tht most nearly matches the mission they intend to accomplish with it. There is no ‘one vehicle’ that will be right for everyone. But functional != boring-looking. My MGB or Porsche are functional in their intended purposes, and not at all boring-looking. I tried to be pretty specific in the OP. I’m not talking about the shape of a car, nor the decorative chrome bits that are obviously chrome bits. I’m talking about the ‘air scoops’ on the Mustang, the ‘hood scoop’ on **adam yax** ’s Toyota, etc. These decorations, like the chrome strip on the MGB, serve no purpose – but they _look_ like they do. That is, they’re ‘fake’ trim instead of ‘real’ trim. They are masquerading as something they are not. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/32 "2005-05-08T01:14:41Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > But functional != boring-looking. My MGB or Porsche are functional in their intended purposes, and not at all boring-looking. So what are some things they can do that a similar sized hatchback cannot? Admittedly I was thinking about US public roads. The Autobahn may be a different story. > [@](#): > > These decorations, like the chrome strip on the MGB, serve no purpose – but they look like they do. That is, they’re ‘fake’ trim instead of ‘real’ trim. They are masquerading as something they are not. My point was that on most cars, the entire vehicle is masquerading as something they are not. Maybe I didn’t make it clear - I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with this. I once came very close to buying a Karmann-Ghia convertible, which is probably the ultimate “sheep in wolf’s clothing”. Cars are not just functional machines. They are usually part hobby, part luxury item, part status symbol. It’s only natural that they be designed with heavy emphasis on aesthetics. Fake trim is just another way of accomplishing this, and as such I see nothing wrong with it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/33 "2005-05-08T01:30:02Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > So what are some things they can do that a similar sized hatchback cannot? Yes. An early MGB had 94 horsepower (the latest ones had _much_ less – about 65, if memory serves) and had a top speed of 103 mph. They’re not very fast. But they handled extremely well. The Porsche is obviously a much faster car, but they also handle extremely well. (Mine had Bilstein Sport Shocks on it.) A ‘similar sized hatchback’ (except for the MGB GT in the case of the MGB) is probably not going to handle as well as a sports car because of weight distribution, suspension, and steering geometry. > [@scr4](#): > > My point was that on most cars, the entire vehicle is masquerading as something they are not. True enough. But that’s outside of the scope of this thread. The Karmann-Ghia is a nice little car. I don’t think it’s masquerading. It was an inexpensive little sports car based on the VW Beetle. As I mentioned in the OP, I’ve been reading old car magazines. Many of the imports of the day (1960s) didn’t have gobs of power, but they were stylish. And they were pretty-much unadorned. The point of the OP is that cars can be stylishly-designed – indeed, they can look faster than they are – without resorting to fake air scoops and such that are nothing more than chrome-plated pot metal. And stylish wheels can be made (and have been made) without the complexity and frivolity (and possible safety issues) of spinners. That is, I’m not talking about the overall style of the car; but of type of decorations that have been mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/34 "2005-05-08T01:57:35Z")
I saw a mid-80’s Chevette with a front spoiler (as part of an “appearance” package). ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/35 "2005-05-08T02:05:52Z")
Okay, I give you the _ultimate_ in fake trim pretensiousness, a souped up and customized [Trabant!](http://www.unicos.cz/skoda/klub/trabant/trabant.htm) ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/36 "2005-05-08T02:06:34Z")
In that spirit, I’ve got another beef. Those plastic wind deflector things that people mount on the leading edge of the sunroof and over the top edge of the door windows. Do they really cut down noise? I don’t see a single car manufacturer offering them as an option. I think the jury is out. Also, that little plexiglass wind deflector on the leading edge of the hood. Seriously ugly. Car bras too. Feh. Personally, I like to debadge my car as much as I can. I’m not into advertising what trim level of car I drive or where I bought it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/37 "2005-05-08T02:10:22Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > In that spirit, I’ve got another beef. Those plastic wind deflector things that people mount on the leading edge of the sunroof and over the top edge of the door windows. Do they really cut down noise? I don’t see a single car manufacturer offering them as an option. I think the jury is out. Also, that little plexiglass wind deflector on the leading edge of the hood. Seriously ugly. Car bras too. Feh. The deflectors on the sunroof and windows are for deflecting rain, not noise. The one on the hood is supposed to deflect road debris like stones. Also, try telling someone those deer whistles don’t work. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/38 "2005-05-08T02:10:55Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Okay, I give you the _ultimate_ in fake trim pretensiousness, a souped up and customized [Trabant!](http://www.unicos.cz/skoda/klub/trabant/trabant.htm) It’s so ugly it’s cute. 🙂 I love the nylon strap holding the front air dam up. 😃 Talk about a snow plow. I don’t know what’s under the hood but it would be a bunch of seconds faster without all that extra weight in fiberglass trim. Wheels/tires look sticky though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/39 "2005-05-08T02:11:42Z")
That’s pretty pretentious, **Tuckerfan**! > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Car bras too. Feh. I don’t like the looks of car bras, but they’re functional. The front end of the Cherokee is peppered with pockmarks caused by crap being kicked up by other cars. The PNW seems to be especially nasty when it comes to flying debris. It’s amazing, the number of cars with cracked windscreens. I’ll probably get a bra for the MG. After waiting two years (and counting), I’m not in any hurry to have the paint chipped! Maybe I’ll see if I can have one made in white so that it’s not as noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819/40 "2005-05-08T02:13:58Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > The deflectors on the sunroof and windows are for deflecting rain, not noise. The one on the hood is supposed to deflect road debris like stones. And [air, too](http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/showCustom-0/Pr-p_Product.CATENTRY_ID:2004995/c-10101/Nty-1/p-2004995/Ntx-mode+matchallpartial/N-10101/tf-Browse/s-10101/Ntk-AllTextSearchGroup?Ntt=deflector) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-trim-on-cars/302819.md?page=3)