It's pretty simple - hide the fact that you are driving a small engine model. Especially lately, trim packages can be quite similar, with the engine-related badge being a key determinant about the car. Remove it, and people don't know what it is. [snip]
Debadging has been a thing in Europe for at least 40 years. I have even seen debadged fintails.
So I get that - you buy the cheapest-level C-class or whatever and want people to think it is something more expensive. But if I buy a C450 or whatever, why would I do that?
I see guys over in the Cadillac groups with ATS-Vs that cost $60K debadging and plasti-dipping parts. It makes them look just awful IMO.
I think plasti-dipping anything makes it look awful. Not only is it unattractive in it's own right but it makes you wonder what awful stuff it's covering up.
I plastidipped my Fit's plastic hubcaps. Granted, it is not exactly tragic to cover up cheap wheel covers.
My buddy's Crossfire had the wheels powder coated black by the previous owner. Funny thing is that two of them leak air and can't be balanced. Totally wrong for a car like that and you wonder what they were covering up.
Plasti-dipping plastic hubcaps on a Fit? I'd have to see a picture but I'm guessing I wouldn't like it unless it was a fancy color like green or blue or red.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
It's pretty simple - hide the fact that you are driving a small engine model. Especially lately, trim packages can be quite similar, with the engine-related badge being a key determinant about the car. Remove it, and people don't know what it is. [snip]
Debadging has been a thing in Europe for at least 40 years. I have even seen debadged fintails.
So I get that - you buy the cheapest-level C-class or whatever and want people to think it is something more expensive. But if I buy a C450 or whatever, why would I do that?
I see guys over in the Cadillac groups with ATS-Vs that cost $60K debadging and plasti-dipping parts. It makes them look just awful IMO.
I think plasti-dipping anything makes it look awful. Not only is it unattractive in it's own right but it makes you wonder what awful stuff it's covering up.
I plastidipped my Fit's plastic hubcaps. Granted, it is not exactly tragic to cover up cheap wheel covers.
My buddy's Crossfire had the wheels powder coated black by the previous owner. Funny thing is that two of them leak air and can't be balanced. Totally wrong for a car like that and you wonder what they were covering up.
Plasti-dipping plastic hubcaps on a Fit? I'd have to see a picture but I'm guessing I wouldn't like it unless it was a fancy color like green or blue or red.
I did em in black to match the rest of the black trim on the car.
I seem to have deleted the pics off my phone. I did post them around here somewhere at the time. It didnt look great or anything, but I preferred it to stock.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Just finished up some meetings in Milwaukee. Weather is really pleasant here....high '70s and sunny.
Something that's a first for me, Hertz put me in a Honda CRV as a rental. I don't know that I've ever seen a Honda "anything" as a rental. I know Craig has said many times that Honda doesn't do fleet sales to rental car agencies. I'll assume Hertz ended up with the CRV as part of some sort of anomalie.
Anyway, not a bad little compact CUV. Engine is willing (although not very fast). Steering has good feel and is precise. Typical FWD understeer, though. Was surprised how well it road.
Brakes did well.
Transmission shifts smoothly and quickly up or down the range. Surprising amount of room in such a small package. Plenty of cubbies around and in the dash.
Base model, so not much in the way of equipment. But, it has power windows and locks. Lots and lots of hard plastics throughout. Nice padding on the center console and door arm rests.
Pretty comfortable. I can see the appeal.
A lot of appeal. Just a car that does most things right. We are on our 4th one now.
I've been gone seven years now so it's possible Honda has started selling cars direct to the rental companies but I doubt it. In the past I know some rental companies would buy cars through dealers but not often. Anything is possible.
I have seen C. R.V. s offered by rental compnies, and other cars not seen before. My guess is since the usual rental cars, like Impala and most Chrysler are backing out of the rental market the rental companies are forced to buy other brands.
Didn't the domestic companies sell to rental car companies because they had to produce more than they could sell due to union contracts?
Maybe Honda is in the same boat these days...or are they still non union? I know that Mitsubishi out in Indiana is a UAW shop.
you just took Mitsubishi out of consideration for me! We're the Evo MR's built with UAW labor?
Yeah, like you would ever buy a Mitsu.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Speaking of rebadging, I can understand why some drivers might want to rebadge their vehicles or even remove some or all of its badging. I have seen more of the latter (remove badging) on the streets and highways down here in South Florida, mostly on cars driven by young(er) drivers.
When I was in the car business appraising trades, I never really paid much attention to the badging on the car I was evaluating - the facts were in the VIN#. The VIN identifies the model, make, year and now, even the major options on the car such as safety features.
When I contacted my insurance company to inform them of my new car, once I gave them the VIN, they immediately knew what options were added to the build - even knew the color of the paint. Once a VIN is put into software used by manufacturers, insurance companies and of course CARFAX, all data about the car is listed.
I do know of several instances at my dealership when a car was appraised by new managers, mistakes were made because a CARFAX was not pulled and the appraiser relied on a given car's badging to determine trade value. In those cases, the value of the trade was off by as much as $3000 over actual value.
I had a dealer actually take a gauge to judge paint thickness to determine if my trade had been wrecked. I think it depends on the dealership, but I always ask for the "high end" of trade value, when I do trade. So, the dealerships want to make certain they've got a top notch car.
Same manager said on cars with low miles (almost always true of mine), late models (which mine almost all are) and relatively high(er) end brands (which mine have been recently), any alterations whatsoever are "dinged" in the trade evaluation.
He identified different wheels than stock, body modifications (de-badging was a "no-no"), engine modifications, etc all extracted a trade amount penalty.
RE: Rebadging. When I worked for a major publishing company the experts wanted to promote our Sci - Fi line of paperback books. On the front cover across the top the wrote the words "science Fiction" in wavy letters. We all thought it looked great, but St - Fi readers hated it.
The reason (and I don't read Sci - Fi ) is because S - F readers are very savvy and very particular. They know the authors they like and they know what artists did the cover art. They don't like to be talked down to. They are knowledgeable and sophisticated.
Maybe the same with European drivers, maybe the see badges as dumbing down.
My, my, how expectations have changed. They describe the car as "obviously not a hot rod", and, alas, they managed to crawl to 60 mph in a snail-like 5.4 seconds. LOL!
So, we are in this ultra modern hotel in Bielefeld Germany which is close to where the Garry Weber tennis match will be. Our room is so modern, that the bed is in one room, then the bathroom runs parallel with it and the shower is on the back wall, right even with where our pills are on the bed. The shower is all glass and is complete walk in..........it even glasin for a width of about 4 feet and from floor to ceiling in the bed part of the room.....all that is clear glass - not frosted!
If someone is shy around their mate, this is not a good hotel to be in.
I think as technology speeds up, so do we. Someday, we'll be in the line at DMV, and a sign will say "You wait will be 3 seconds", and we'll react: "Oh, man, C'MON!"
Germany can be fun in that much of it is traditional looking, much is still addicted to insane bureaucracy, but some of it is like living in the future (like the trains, roads, some transit, etc). I remember a hotel in Munich that had this cool little kitchen area that was hidden in a wall, and power door opened it. I also remember a laundromat with machines that were like nothing I had seen, and a shower with computer controls.
So, we are in this ultra modern hotel in Bielefeld Germany which is close to where the Garry Weber tennis match will be. Our room is so modern, that the bed is in one room, then the bathroom runs parallel with it and the shower is on the back wall, right even with where our pills are on the bed. The shower is all glass and is complete walk in..........it even glasin for a width of about 4 feet and from floor to ceiling in the bed part of the room.....all that is clear glass - not frosted!
If someone is shy around their mate, this is not a good hotel to be in.
My, my, how expectations have changed. They describe the car as "obviously not a hot rod", and, alas, they managed to crawl to 60 mph in a snail-like 5.4 seconds. LOL!
I've always said that my stock Mazdaspeed 3-which also ran 0-60 in 5.4 seconds-really couldn't be considered to be fast by today's standards. A mid-5 second 0-60 isn't slow, but I'd say it's definitely no ball of fire- not with V8 ponycars clocking the 0-60 run in the high 3/low 4 second range.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
My, my, how expectations have changed. They describe the car as "obviously not a hot rod", and, alas, they managed to crawl to 60 mph in a snail-like 5.4 seconds. LOL!
It's amazing to think that at the start of the horsepower wars a dozen or so years ago a 5.4 0-60 was almost super car territory.
I often wonder what technology occured in the early 2000s that allowed the continuing bumps in horsepower within increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
As far as the Stelvio itself goes, I'd consider one only on an extremely attractive lease. Ditto for the Giulia. Alfa sales are dead in the water and I have serious reservations about reliability as well as FCA's long-term viability.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
So, we are in this ultra modern hotel in Bielefeld Germany which is close to where the Garry Weber tennis match will be. Our room is so modern, that the bed is in one room, then the bathroom runs parallel with it and the shower is on the back wall, right even with where our pills are on the bed. The shower is all glass and is complete walk in..........it even glasin for a width of about 4 feet and from floor to ceiling in the bed part of the room.....all that is clear glass - not frosted!
If someone is shy around their mate, this is not a good hotel to be in.
With all that pickleball exercise you get I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
So, we are in this ultra modern hotel in Bielefeld Germany which is close to where the Garry Weber tennis match will be. Our room is so modern, that the bed is in one room, then the bathroom runs parallel with it and the shower is on the back wall, right even with where our pills are on the bed. The shower is all glass and is complete walk in..........it even glasin for a width of about 4 feet and from floor to ceiling in the bed part of the room.....all that is clear glass - not frosted!
If someone is shy around their mate, this is not a good hotel to be in.
With all that pickleball exercise you get I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.
OTOH.........it is a great shower if you are an exhibitionist.
A soon as I think people can't become any less brain dead, I see something like this. Boo to both the car driver and the cycle driver.
Just saw a Mercedes C63 available at Hertz for rent. Who would have thought?
My buddy who works nights for Hertz says they have a lot of high end cars in their "executive" catagory. He drove a Mustang one night and drives many MBs as well.
And this is in a third-tier area as far as high rollers goes.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Speaking of rebadging, I can understand why some drivers might want to rebadge their vehicles or even remove some or all of its badging. I have seen more of the latter (remove badging) on the streets and highways down here in South Florida, mostly on cars driven by young(er) drivers.
When I was in the car business appraising trades, I never really paid much attention to the badging on the car I was evaluating - the facts were in the VIN#. The VIN identifies the model, make, year and now, even the major options on the car such as safety features.
When I contacted my insurance company to inform them of my new car, once I gave them the VIN, they immediately knew what options were added to the build - even knew the color of the paint. Once a VIN is put into software used by manufacturers, insurance companies and of course CARFAX, all data about the car is listed.
I do know of several instances at my dealership when a car was appraised by new managers, mistakes were made because a CARFAX was not pulled and the appraiser relied on a given car's badging to determine trade value. In those cases, the value of the trade was off by as much as $3000 over actual value.
Oh, so now we know why they canned you.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I spent the first half of the day with my daughter as she got her learners permit. This evening I took her to a large parking lot where she drove for the first time. Much more instruction and practice needed but she did well. My girl is growing up!
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
Today was my last day of work at my old company and I finished the day early around 11. For my half day of funemployment, I decided to pick up some beer and spend the afternoon detailing the GTI. It was the most relaxing afternoon I've had in quite some time.
A couple pictures.
2025 Jetta GLI Autobahn, 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xE
Just finished up some meetings in Milwaukee. Weather is really pleasant here....high '70s and sunny.
Something that's a first for me, Hertz put me in a Honda CRV as a rental. I don't know that I've ever seen a Honda "anything" as a rental. I know Craig has said many times that Honda doesn't do fleet sales to rental car agencies. I'll assume Hertz ended up with the CRV as part of some sort of anomalie.
Anyway, not a bad little compact CUV. Engine is willing (although not very fast). Steering has good feel and is precise. Typical FWD understeer, though. Was surprised how well it road.
Brakes did well.
Transmission shifts smoothly and quickly up or down the range. Surprising amount of room in such a small package. Plenty of cubbies around and in the dash.
Base model, so not much in the way of equipment. But, it has power windows and locks. Lots and lots of hard plastics throughout. Nice padding on the center console and door arm rests.
Pretty comfortable. I can see the appeal.
A lot of appeal. Just a car that does most things right. We are on our 4th one now.
I've been gone seven years now so it's possible Honda has started selling cars direct to the rental companies but I doubt it. In the past I know some rental companies would buy cars through dealers but not often. Anything is possible.
I have seen C. R.V. s offered by rental compnies, and other cars not seen before. My guess is since the usual rental cars, like Impala and most Chrysler are backing out of the rental market the rental companies are forced to buy other brands.
Didn't the domestic companies sell to rental car companies because they had to produce more than they could sell due to union contracts?
Maybe Honda is in the same boat these days...or are they still non union? I know that Mitsubishi out in Indiana is a UAW shop.
you just took Mitsubishi out of consideration for me! We're the Evo MR's built with UAW labor?
Yeah, like you would ever buy a Mitsu.
Well, there are not a lot of sporty dual-clutch cars out there, so the EVO MR appealed to me a lot; however, I never drove one.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I saw that on the news, it was horrible. What's wrong with some people?
Well for one thing you have to be a real dummy to try and kick a car while on a motorcycle. Basic physics.
What I thought was amazing was the fact the motorcycle didn't go down and got away after all of the carnage!
He's probably in cuffs now. Looks like the video ID'd him.
I think the most they'll get him for is a hit & run, if they are lucky, and that's just a slap on the wrist from what I've seen. I wish it were treated more seriously. Anyway, the guy on the motorcycle did kick the car, and that was his mistake, all the mistakes and fault for everything that happened after that lies with the pathetic driver of the sedan.
Also, what was up with the truck driver moving forward like nothing bad was clearly happening or about to happen?
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
Wife came back from her biz trip with gifts for me
Nice! Our Barnes and Noble carries Classic Porsche and Top Gear- as well as serveral other British magazines; Autocar is not as easy to find. To save a bit of money and time searching I subscribe to BMW Car and Thoroughbred and Classic Car
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Also, what was up with the truck driver moving forward like nothing bad was clearly happening or about to happen?
He/she was most likely a typical moronic US vehicle operator("driver" is much to generous a term); I'm guessing said operator was texting or phoning- and/or looking at the road only 10 feet in front of them.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Comments
My buddy's Crossfire had the wheels powder coated black by the previous owner. Funny thing is that two of them leak air and can't be balanced. Totally wrong for a car like that and you wonder what they were covering up.
Plasti-dipping plastic hubcaps on a Fit? I'd have to see a picture but I'm guessing I wouldn't like it unless it was a fancy color like green or blue or red.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
nosing and decking, and was considered quite kool.
I did em in black to match the rest of the black trim on the car.
I seem to have deleted the pics off my phone. I did post them around here somewhere at the time. It didnt look great or anything, but I preferred it to stock.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
As Mark Twain said about prospecting: "NOTHING that glitters is gold".
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
When I was in the car business appraising trades, I never really paid much attention to the badging on the car I was evaluating - the facts were in the VIN#. The VIN identifies the model, make, year and now, even the major options on the car such as safety features.
When I contacted my insurance company to inform them of my new car, once I gave them the VIN, they immediately knew what options were added to the build - even knew the color of the paint. Once a VIN is put into software used by manufacturers, insurance companies and of course CARFAX, all data about the car is listed.
I do know of several instances at my dealership when a car was appraised by new managers, mistakes were made because a CARFAX was not pulled and the appraiser relied on a given car's badging to determine trade value. In those cases, the value of the trade was off by as much as $3000 over actual value.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Same manager said on cars with low miles (almost always true of mine), late models (which mine almost all are) and relatively high(er) end brands (which mine have been recently), any alterations whatsoever are "dinged" in the trade evaluation.
He identified different wheels than stock, body modifications (de-badging was a "no-no"), engine modifications, etc all extracted a trade amount penalty.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
http://autoweek.com/article/car-reviews/first-drive-2018-alfa-romeo-stelvio
The reason (and I don't read Sci - Fi ) is because S - F readers are very savvy and very particular. They know the authors they like and they know what artists did the cover art. They don't like to be talked down to. They are knowledgeable and sophisticated.
Maybe the same with European drivers, maybe the see badges as dumbing down.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If someone is shy around their mate, this is not a good hotel to be in.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-us-canada-40380154/california-road-rage-results-in-motorway-car-crash
Note to self: refrain from sharp steering wheel input in an old Sentra.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I often wonder what technology occured in the early 2000s that allowed the continuing bumps in horsepower within increasingly stringent emissions regulations.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I saw that on the news, it was horrible. What's wrong with some people?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Yep, only would consider a used one, or what @roadburner said, with an extremely favorable lease, or if your in-laws owned the dealership.
Just saw a Mercedes C63 available at Hertz for rent. Who would have thought?
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
And this is in a third-tier area as far as high rollers goes.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Before my time of course....
That was quite impressive.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
A couple pictures.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Enjoy your break, having this break might feel like getting off of a fast moving merry go round.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Also, what was up with the truck driver moving forward like nothing bad was clearly happening or about to happen?
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive