Five Big Signs of an Automotive Poseur

You know the guy—he looks the part, but he’s not. He’s a poseur, or poser—whatever. Yes, there’s some layering and subtlety here, and though some cases of posing are blistering examples you can see from space, others are not because of minor details that act as exceptions to the rules. Some mods that qualify as poseur parts in SoCal might be correct in Chicago. Don’t confuse a work-in-progress with a don’t-get-it or want-to-look-the-part.


There are some core facets to pinning down a poseur. Non-functionality or non-use is a key component—you’ve got no reason, no need then why? Is your look out of date? Are parts installed properly? Are they necessary? Contradictory? Is the only purpose of a part or a vehicle to make you look like something you’re not? Are things overdone? Show cars, by nature, are poseurs. They’re not supposed to DO. They’re supposed to look like they DO. That can be a purpose, but the purpose is to be a poseur. You want to be a poseur, fine—here’s your sign.


We scoured the web for evidence of various poseur mods, so if you see a likeness of your own ride, don’t act like you’re not guilty. The following aren’t the only ways to identify a poseur, just the best. We had indicators that didn’t make the list, and there are many other ways you can identify a poseur (use the questions we asked in the last paragraph). Call this honorable mention: spinners (powered or otherwise); GPS on the dash (pointless tourist distraction as bad as texting—you’re acting like you know); too many gauges (no one pays that much attention); under-installed stereos (things rattle, amps overheat, no range to the sound and bass); the plastic toupee protector in convertibles (like windows up with the top down); and styles that mimic bad engineering (like VIP tire settings).

Monster Decklid Wings
A classic poseur part: If the big, honking wing on the back of your car/truck/ute has no reason then you have no excuse. Are you racing where downforce is helpful? Is your car naturally skittish and prone to oversteer like the Porsche 911? It’s even easier to tell a poseur wing if it’s set badly. At the least, a wing should be set nearly flat to let air flow cleanly past it and not impede mileage, if not oriented for the creation of downforce to aid traction (as is a wing’s bent). Wings that point up reduce downforce, and cause spooky traction behavior.


The only real purpose for monstrous wings is downforce and stability—take the Mitsubishi Evolution’s massive two-plane spoiler/wing. It’s a car built with homologation in mind (factory-race use, essentially) with fixed and adjustable surfaces, all of which have a purpose for being there. Even the tall sail panels increase linear stability at high speed, and improve slide-balance in rally-style use. Other famous examples include Chrysler’s Daytona/Superbird. Wings were part of its aerodynamic advantage, and led to NASCAR dominance before being outlawed.