Rebadging Adds a Luxe Look to Cars

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed)
Nov 13th 2006 at 6:06PM

Naming your Porsche is one thing, but the line must be drawn somewhere, since more and more car buyers want to pass their cars off as something they're not. We're not talking about body kits and fresh paint, but about buying the manufacturer's emblems from more expensive cars to try to make their own seem more impressive. This isn't necessarily a new concept, but apparently automakers don't have a problem selling the parts. Mercedes dealers sell the lettering and logos that indicate "cars are the high-end AMG version for about $65" and the GM of the country's top-selling dealership says that 1-2% of all buyers "ask to have their car rebadged." High performance companies, like Shelby Automobiles and Saleen, on the other hand, aren't about to risk their reputations by selling their various indicators of authenticity, so not every brand is available for purchase.

No one who knows their wheels is going to blink twice at an obviously mis-branded vehicle, so the question remains as to who these buyers think they're fooling? Most likely, the answer is themselves.

Tags: brand, car, cars, dealers, emblem, logo, logos, mercedes

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Stewart Elliot Nov 13th 2006 8:05PM

Growing up, the one thing that intrigued me was a car with NO badges. I remember seeing a BMW 635CSI shortly after they came out, with no badges, I made it my mission to find out what it was, and it became a childhood favorite. Much better idea I think !!

leh Nov 14th 2006 1:44AM

For sure on that!

If i were to buy a benz or a bimmer - especially the high-end versions - i would go for the 'delete badges' option. less offensive and the car looks better

Europeans seem to do this all the time - as i understand it, almost all of these cars come without badges, it is up to the dealer to put them on in the first place.

Joe Nov 21st 2006 8:23PM

honestly, i also think that no badges looks a lot better, a lot cleaner but if you must have them GET THE RIGHT ONES!!! Your not kidding anyone!

Karen Nov 21st 2006 8:28PM

I drive a Mercedes and the emblem is in the grille. I think its just a car,no big deal.Don't worry about what you drive. Save your money, don't waste it on something that gets you from point A to point B. I wish I had the money it cost me to buy the car and insure it for the last 4 years, not to mention the cost of gas to fill it.( they all run on 94 octane).

tp4bungh Nov 21st 2006 8:38PM

We don't need no stinkin' badges...!!!

Dan Woodall Nov 21st 2006 8:50PM

After becoming involved within a multi-car crash.. I had the body shop to remove any badging ( exceprt the one on the grille) that was on my 2001 Dodge truck.. it gave it a cleaner, yet more agressive look... along with many compliments.

shut the hell up Nov 21st 2006 9:16PM

Ok so first off i for one hate those type of people. my dad is a car collector and has 32 cars 8 of them being mercedes AMGs they are not meant to be on a ford pinto or a chevy cavalier i agree that the badges are tackey but try owning one. at least they can't do nothing to my range rover HA!

Armando Nov 21st 2006 9:19PM

Emblems and badges are for people who need to be reminded what kind of car they drive. I personally prefer the no emblem or badge look, much cleaner and smoother.

Marshall Nov 21st 2006 9:36PM

I drive a Lincoln LS with only dealership badging. It is plenty for me as the car itself is its own best
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Rturn Nov 21st 2006 9:51PM

I hate rebadgers. Several years ago I was at a Mustang club gathering with my then new 97 Mustang Cobra and this guy there had what was a brand new base V6 Mustang. He replaced the hood, front and rear facias, guages with the SVT white face, badges, tires, rims and rotors all to make it look like that years Cobra. He spent so much making it look that he could have just bought the Cobra to begin with. I personally now have one of the new Mercedes R500 and one of the options I have is the AMG appearance pack which is 19 inch AMG wheels (which I got for better handling) and different front and rear spoilers. But the AMG embossed wheels make people think its the R63 AMG version and its kind of annoying. I am all for no badges at all. I would like to take mine off so people dont know what kind of "minivan" that was that just smoked their ass...lol.

Neely Nov 22nd 2006 11:11AM

I am a mercedes driver, and know many other mercedes drivers. I also know the people who put AMG badges on a 230 model. The fact is, the only people you will actually impress if in fact you drive a higher end model, are the people who can tell the differences between them. So if you put an E 55 AMG badge on an E320, someone who recognizes the differences between those two models will know it actually is not by the subtle differences (i.e. carbon fiber dash). I suggest leaving the car alone.

Roni Nov 21st 2006 10:17PM

Ok, that is justthe lamest thing ever. However when I was a kid my mom used to sew on the guess patch onto the back pocket of my palemeno jeans becuase we couldn't afford guess ones at the time and those were the designer jeans of the time!!! So I had every color guess jeans(palemeno jeans) you coule think of. Ok, but I do think that is going alittle far with the emblem on the car thing. I think everyone should be happy with what they have in this life nissan, tauras, honda, etc. It just looks so stupid t oput it on your car. Everyone who knows cars will point it out as a fake and you will just end up looking like a loser/poser. Just be happy to have a car that gets you around.

Cyan Nov 21st 2006 10:24PM

Seriously...the obvious question is "why"??? You can't change what's under the hood, so why spend the extra $$ to buy badges when real car enthusiasts know that it's a fake?!! C'mon, even girls can tell the difference!

Diva Nov 21st 2006 10:40PM

I don't want my Corvette turned into a Mercedes!

Justin Nov 21st 2006 10:55PM

I agree. Why waste time and money to try and turn a car into something it isn't. I say keep it stock. Keep it as original as possible. It's worth more when resold, than if you do all kinds of crazy things to it. Besides, why try and impress somebody with a fake. If anything it will tell them that you have a low self-esteem, and them may take it as an insult to their intelligence. Come on. Like we can't tell a Focus from a mercedes. Just accept the fact you don't have that car and move on with your life. Ok, time to get off my soap box.

Jimbo Nov 21st 2006 11:07PM

LOL! Reminds me of 20 years ago I rebadged by Chevy Chevette with a badge off my brother's old Beamer--- just for the irony of it. (I also put a bra on the front!) Wouldn't do it today, of course, but back then in college it was a funny thing to do to my crappy ride.

Marie Nov 21st 2006 11:19PM

About 30 years ago my husband humored me by buying me a mercedes badge for my tiny car. One day he gave someone a ride who exclaimed, "Wow! I never rode in a mercedes before." My husband said, "You still haven't"---and 30 years later, I still haven't either.

Fielding Mellish Nov 21st 2006 11:25PM

I drive a 2002 Ford Focus SVT. I paid 1100 bucks to have 'SVT' hand-painted on the doors and hood of that car. I don't ever want to forget I am driving a Ford, let alone an SVT. I turn many heads when I am driving to and from Ford's service center, at least 4 times a year, getting yet another thing fixed.

Ford needs to go to Japan and learn how to make an automobile.

Tommy Nov 21st 2006 11:30PM

I wish every car came with no badges only because its a disgrace to the cars that actually are authentic. When i was on the market to purchase a car, i looked mainly at German cars, and i'll never forget that this one kid had a real nice "M3" i pulled up along side it and checked it out...it looked nice from A-far, but when i saw it, i noticed the 318i black sticky stuff that was left on the back trunk lid when he peeled the badges off, he couldnt even debadge a car correctly....after that i walked away. This is a long story but stuff like this happens, i ended up buying a AUTHENTIC Audi A4 V6 Quattro 5spd! with all the right badges on.