Most people come into a period of their life where personalization and expressing themselves becomes a key part of who they are. This often translates into some kind of modification to their cars as well. Some like to mimic what they’ve seen in the most recent Fast & Furious movie, while others go with more local trends. Either way, the sheer desire to be different often shields our inner know-better in one way or another. Putting excessively flashy wheels on a car that has no business anywhere near them is one prime example. Another is putting a big, bench-like spoiler on a car that shouldn’t be anywhere near such an aerodynamic device. The glory of freedom means that we’re generally free to do what we like to our cars – within legal limits, of course – but the other nice thing about freedom is that others are free to criticize those decisions and point out exactly when that pre-wired desire to be different takes precedence over common stylistic sense.

With that in mind, we’ve found a nice selection of cars that meet the aforementioned criteria. The cars that you’ll see on this list probably shouldn’t have flashy wheels, but they do. Others on this list have been fitted with spoilers when the owner probably should have known better. Some are worse than others, mind you, but they are all guilty of ignoring their sense of style in an effort to stick out, be different, or maybe even annoy those who know better. I present to you 12 cars that don’t need flashy rims and 11 that definitely didn’t need a spoiler.

20 Wheels And More

via 2007 hq

We’re not sure when this picture was taken, but it feels as if this vehicle is actually a car out of time. According to Did You Know Cars, chrome is seen as something that gives a car a “high-end look.” Of course, the use of chrome dates way, way back, and it’s always been a prevalent source of class, but sometimes people take it too far. This was a big problem in the 1990s and even the early 2000s, and that’s why this car just seems a little out of its time. Outside of the excessive use of chrome all over the place, look at those overly flashy wheels. This thing is seriously riding on chrome spinners. They are flashy, no doubt, but a little too flashy, when you consider all of the other chrome plaster from top to bottom. With all the extra chrome, the owner could have stuck with the stock wheels and been fine.

19 Mirrors

via atx car pix

These old-school Buick Roadmaster wagons were pretty freaking awesome. In the final years before their demise, they were even considered as the ultimate sleepers. Why, you ask? Well, according to Driving Line, every model from '94, '95, and '96 was powered by the same 5.7-liter LT1 V-8 found under the hood of none other than the Chevy Corvette.

It wasn’t quite as powerful, only delivering 260 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque but imagine what a little bit of tuning could accomplish!

And, that’s why this car resides right here on this list. When you consider the sheer potential of the car we’re presenting, it surely didn’t need those flashy chrome wheels, and it certainly doesn’t deserve to be stanced like this. It’s a downright shame, but it is what it is, right?

18 Lost Functionality

via car id

If you go out and buy yourself one of the only good vehicles made by Fiat Chrysler Corporation – the Jeep Wrangler – you don’t make a left into the first wheel shop you see and get the biggest, flashiest wheels you can possibly find. This even holds true if you have a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited like the one seen in the picture here. When it comes to the Wrangler Unlimited, which is mainly differentiated by its second set of doors, Jeep even went so far as to make sure this extra-long Wrangler had a similar off-road capability. According to Motor Trend, the approach and departure angles are even similar, ranging between 38.5-42.2 and 38.7-42.2, respectively. The breakover angle is a bit higher at 21.5 to 25.8 degrees, but this is still a go-anywhere type of SUV. But, what was once a vehicle that could thrash most of anything mother nature’s terrain could throw at her is now limited to light road duty thanks to these big flashy wheels.

17 Colors Too

via european auto source

You might be under the impression that chrome is what will make wheels too flashy, but that isn’t the case at all. See, having a color that sticks out like a sore thumb can be just as flashy, and it can look just as bad. The BMW 1 Series you see in this photo serves as a prime example of exactly what not to do.

Now, with a pair of black wheels in the same design, this thing might look nice.

Even a set of wheels that match the white pain would be okay, but this orange color that matches absolutely nothing is a huge eyesore. On second glance, it does match the orange leather that we can see on the driver’s seat through the windshield, but that isn’t enough to justify these wheels.

16 It’s Just Too Much

via hubcap tire and wheel

The Cadillac Escalade, which is – essentially – a rebadged Chevy, is meant to be an SUV, but for some reason, GM thought we needed cars like the Chevy Avalanche. And, that’s pretty much what this is, but it rocks Cadillac badges, some extra chrome, and a slightly upscale interior. It’s bad enough if you drive an Escalade truck, yet people like to make these things look even worse by adding outrageously flashy rims into the mix. That’s what you see here: an Escalade truck sitting on massive chrome wheels with rubber bands for tires. Now, a smaller wheel with some meat around it, even in chrome, might not look so bad, but these things just stick out like a sore thumb. According to So Cal Custom Wheels, they are Dub Spinners Bellagio – S777 wheels. There are no sizing options offered, but these look to be at least 22s, if not 24s, and yes, they spin.

15 A Bit Much

via joes stereo

Sometimes, just sometimes, a car can look good with wheels that match their body paint. Other times, it just comes off as being too flashy or, in this case, it’s as if the owner is just trying too hard. Not only do the wheels offset things a little too much because of those super thin spokes, but the black inner wheel area is so dark you really can’t make out the rest of the wheel. Traditionally, black and red go together, but this is too much. The owner would have been better off with all black wheels. Those grooves in each spoke are a nice touch, and they are symmetrical, but it’s just not enough.

On the plus side, the wheels aren’t too big, so at least it shouldn’t affect handling too much.

After all, according to Motor Trend, the Camaro can be had with anywhere between 275 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to as much as 650 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque. This isn’t the range-topping ZL1 1LE, though, so it’s probably packing just 455 ponies and 455 pound-feet.

14 Way Too Big

via reddit

When some people try too hard, they really try too hard, and such is the case with this model. According to a thread on Reddit, this is a somewhat famous Mercedes that is famous only because it was shared about every five minutes for an entire day after originally being spotted.

Did the owner have to cut the wheel wells so the rims would actually fit? Probably. Does the owner need a step stool to get into it? Well, we’re guessing so.

This is a prime example of what happens when a lack of thinking ruins an otherwise cool-looking car. Those wheels have to be 24s and are designed specifically for high-riding trucks.

13 Copper or Gold?

via reddit

Usually, people go too flashy by adding too much chrome, big wheels, or big chrome wheels. In this case, the owner went too far by going with these weird, yellowish wheels. We’re not sure if they are copper colored or some weird shade of fake gold, but they stick out like a sore thumb against the black body color. The design of the spokes are kind of cool, but a more traditional color, or even chrome, in this case, would have worked out much better in the long run. The owner could have even gone with a slightly larger wheel with a more down-to-earth color. Another inch or two wouldn’t be too bad at all, and there would have still been room for a decent size tire.

12 Tuner Gone Wild

via american force

Normally, it’s a car owner that does something to their car that just leaves a bad taste in our mouths. This time, however, we’re actually casting shade over a model built specifically for the SEMA show. According to PinsDaddy, this truck was a project completed by American Force, a fairly well know American wheel company. Usually, their wheels look pretty amazing on trucks, but the tuner took it a little too far with this specific project. To put it mildly, these flashy wheels are just too small. I know; that’s not something we would usually say, but when you consider how high the truck sits, the wheels and tires look, well, funny. Maybe if the tires were bigger and beefier – that might solve the problem. But, sadly, that didn’t happen here, so we have to go ahead and say that these flashy wheels have no place on this truck.

11 Poor Bentley

via wallpaperup

Bentley, despite being owned by Volkswagen, produces some of the finest cars to ever grace this planet of ours. They usually feature plush interiors that are second to none, feature outrageous options like interior scent delivery systems, champagne coolers, and the like.

As some of the finest cars ever made, there’s really no reason to go with aftermarket wheels, and especially not a set like you see here that offset the white body style so much that they don’t even look good when the car is traveling at speed.

The model you see here is a Continental GT which, according to Car & Driver, starts out at a divorce-inspiring $201,225 before any taxes, options, delivery fees, divorce lawyer fees, or alimony payments. Okay, jokes aside, these wheels just don’t belong here.

10 No Love

via youtube

The Porsche Panamera is a fine car. Even the first-gen model that came before the 2017 generational shift had a certain stylish pizzazz to it that just couldn’t be beaten by other sports sedans on the market. It was powerful and quick too. According to The Car Connection, it was available with anywhere between 310 horsepower and 520 ponies and could hit the 60-mph sprint in as fast as 3.7 seconds. That’s pretty impressive, but what is more important is that Porsche made it a point to deliver the Panamera as a whole package. In other words, it didn’t need aftermarket equipment to look good. And, that’s why this image made it to the list. For some reason, someone thought this car needed big wheels with rubber bands for tires, and it completely destroys the look of the car. When it comes to the Panamera, less is almost always more, so it certainly doesn’t need flashy wheels like this.

9 Manufacturer Error

via acurazine

When we see cars that don’t deserve any type of spoiler treatment, it usually comes in the form of bad choices made by the owner and something from the aftermarket parts bin. Well, according to Auto Evolution, the BMW M4 here is actually a GTS model which did, indeed, come with the spoiler you see here. The problem isn’t necessarily that the car doesn’t need a spoiler. As something that calls the track home too, a spoiler isn’t necessarily out of place, but for being a stock add-on, this thing just looks way too much like an aftermarket mod for our taste. Something with more elegance would make a little more sense and would be a lot more stylish here.

8 Too Much Wing

via battleaero

The Mazda RX-8 was the spiritual successor to the RX-7, but as Car & Driver points out, it was a four-seater sports car which actually put it in the same category as the Nissan Maxima at one point in time. Yes, Nissan actually referred to the Maxima as a four-door sports car. Don’t worry we’ll wait while you stop laughing. Anyway, the cool thing about the RX-8 is that it allowed Mazda to bring back the rotary engine – a welcome comeback for all fans of the impressively quick RX-7.

It wasn’t insanely powerful at a maximum output of 247 horsepower and 164 pound-feet of torque, but it was impressive nonetheless and quite agile too, even with those weird half doors in the rear.

It looks weird enough with those doors, and yet the owner of this one thought it needed a massive aftermarket spoiler that we have no choice but to call ugly. It looks like it’s meant for a serious track monster or something that needs a lot of aero help but something tells us it’s just out of place on this car.

7 Lots of Pity

via bimmerpost

The fourth-gen 3 Series was a phenomenal car and, in coupe form, you could get the M3 – a model that, according to Car & Driver, offered up 333 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. As a production package, it held its own quite well and could deliver a run from naught to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. It could also run the quarter mile in as fast as 13.5 seconds on a stock tune. There’s always some less-that-witty BMW owner that’s not satisfied with a good package and decides to do something ridiculous. Such is the case here. As if that outrageous wheel stance and offset tires aren’t enough, the owner of this poor car went all out with the most annoying aftermarket spoiler money can buy. This just screams “I want attention.”

6 Not So Fast & Furious

via cars and racing stuff

When Fast & Furious came out, everyone wanted an orange Toyota Supra or a super-fast Honda Civic. Unfortunately, it also led to a number of vehicular crimes that can only be described as atrocities to the car world. And that’s probably why we’re looking at this image of a 1996 Chevy Cavalier coupe that has been modified rather extensively. It has the weird body decals on the side that are reminiscent of something from Fast & Furious, the sponsor decals that were probably bought on an online auction site, the body-colored tint on the taillights, and the aftermarket spoiler that is about as useful as a park bench. The rear bumper even has chipping paint in true Cavalier form. The worst part is that the Cavalier was never fast. According to Edmunds, even the Z24, two-door coupe delivered just 150 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque.

5 Accidental

via corvette forum

If you want to hurt a Corvette fanboy, just show them this picture. Not only does it have some weird, sharpie scribbling all over the rear fascia but it has this big, outrageous carbon spoiler. According to Corvette Forum, the owner is transitioning this into a track toy (someday), but if you take a look at some of the responses, people weren’t too keen on the big aftermarket spoiler. As pointed out by one user, it’s better than the taped-on spoilers some people use, but it’s certainly not a fit for most Corvette guys. Hopefully, the owner really does start taking this thing to the track. Otherwise, it just looks too riced out. But, that’s the ticket to success here – having a spoiler like this can serve a purpose, but it’s up to the owner to make that purpose happen. If he doesn’t, then this car really didn’t need that spoiler. Or the scribbled drawings on the rear, for that matter.

4 WRX Fun

via fastwrx

The Subaru WRX is a relatively sporty car and, in some forms, it will really put you in your seat. The model you see here is a 2011-2014 model and, admittedly, it does look a little weird without anything on the rear. There are a number of smaller spoilers that you could go for, but unless you’re doing some serious mods, the 268 horsepower that’s shunted to all four wheels doesn’t really require the aerodynamic dominance offered up by this after-market spoiler.

According to Car & Driver, the WRX in base form and stock configuration is good for a 5.5-second cruise to 60 mph and a top speed of 144 mph. The STI model you see here can do it even faster.

That’s not bad for a car that you could get into for less than $30,000 (considerably more for an STI) when it was new. And, there’s plenty of mods out there too. This spoiler, on the other hand, is just an eyesore and what appears to be an otherwise stock car. At least the mounts for the spoiler on the STI look decent, but it’s still way too much for our taste.

3 Baby Subbie

via reddit

Ah, the Subaru BRZ. It’s a car that’s designed to be more of a driver’s car than a performance demon. It’s agile and handles corners well, but it isn’t fast by any means. According to Edmunds, the best you can do with a stock configuration from the factory is 205 horsepower, and that’s if you go with the manual transmission (don’t you even think about an automatic). With that said, the most the BRZ may need is a small spoiler to help with downforce a bit, but this big STI-like spoiler just takes things too far. It does kind of go along with the body lines and all, but it’s just too beefy and actually makes the car look too small. And, believe me, the car is already small as it is – it doesn’t need any help looking smaller. So, it lands on this list as a car that definitely didn’t need a spoiler. Too bad, though, as the right spoiler would have looked really nice.

2 Another M3

via superstreet

What is it with Bimmer guys throwing big spoilers on the M3? Maybe they are called spoilers because most aftermarket add-ons of this nature actually spoil the look of the car. Seriously, this Voltex spoiler is outrageously huge, poorly mounted, and is just out of place. That weird diffuser add-on at the bottom isn’t helping matters, either. Sure, maybe there’s some extra goodies under the hood, but unless this thing is pumping out some serious power, that spoiler is just downright unnecessary at best. Our hearts go out to the car, and we pray that the owner thinks a little more next time before they bolt on something like this park bench of a spoiler on another car.

1 Aftermarket Confusion

via vertex auto

Believe it or not, the Carrera you see in this picture is actually sporting an aftermarket spoiler. It’s part of a kit offered by Vertex Auto that provides a unique mounting system that maintains a somewhat stock look. That doesn’t make the spoiler is necessary, though, and it serves no purpose at all outside of aesthetics. Now, it doesn’t necessarily look bad; we just feel that the Carrera was good just the way it was and doesn’t need any aftermarket add-ons to look good. To each their own, though, just don’t expect us to get on board with a spoiler like this on a Carrera anytime soon. So, we’ve placed it on this list. Sure, it’s not as criminal as some of the other cars here, but it’s not exactly right either.

Sources: Motor Trend, Edmunds, Car & Driver