To Badge or to Debadge?

[NewNiceMrMe]

Moving on from another post...

People who debadge cars.

You could say they do it because they want to be stealthy - but most such cars are given away by plentiful other factors IMO.

You could say that people with lower end cars do it so others don't know what the car is - but then again if they don't know what it is by the other tell tale signs, then why would they be bothered anyway?

Basically, I just don't get debadging!

What do we think?

BTW - if you vote to debadge a car to remain more stealthy - can you genuinely tell me why! I mean, there are usually loads of other giveaway signs. Wheels, exhausts, styling, colour schemes, you name it. Anyone who spots the car would know anyway. Or, if they needed a badge to know, they'd surely not giving a flying feck anyway! I'm just curious to see the other side of this one, cos' I don't get it at all!

[NeilB]

I can see why some people do it to be stealth car, but I'm in favour of keeping them. Also removing them makes it look like the car has been in an accident.

[MOSE]

I'm really intersted in this argument for obvious reasons. Wher cars like BMW and Audi are concerned, I cannot understand the logic in removing or adding badges, it seems sneseless.

However, wher my owncar is concerned, it ISNT a Vauxhall, neither is it a Holden, but it is a HSV GTO, but sadly n the UK it wears a vaux badge and gets crowned with the VXR logo. I'm seriously tempted to remove all of the vaux badging and replace it all with the legit HS logos, but I'm m with various criticisms in dong this.

I'd be intersted to hear what other ppl think?

[JamesB]

I debadged my RS6 and would say that it was most definitely stealthy. I reckon at least 95% of road users didn't have a clue that it was anything other than a run of the mill Audi estate. I also did it to avoid attracting the attention of tea leaves and casual vandals. Now this probably wouldn't work with every performance car but the RS6 is one of the most understated.

<font color="#666666"> (And you did that apostrophe thing again )</font>

[lottiefox]

Do you think if I debadged the TT people would not know what it was?

[NewNiceMrMe]

Ah, that's different - because that's CHANGING BADGES.

I don't think it'd matter, and can see why you'd maybe want Holden badges - but it's not making the car stealthy or more 'showy' really is it?

[NewNiceMrMe]

[ QUOTE ]

I debadged my RS6 and would say that it was most definitely stealthy. I reckon at least 95% of road users didn't have a clue that it was anything other than a run of the mill Audi estate. I also did it to avoid attracting the attention of tea leaves and casual vandals. Now this probably wouldn't work with every performance car but the RS6 is one of the most understated.

<font color="#666666"> (And you did that apostrophe thing again )</font>

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, the RS6 Avant is a good example, and perhaps a difficult one for me.

However - if they saw an RS6 badge and knew what it meant, they'd know it was an RS6 without it in all likelihood, yes? I think they would anyway.

Secondly, you'd struggle to hide the huge wheels, flared arches and exhausts from the teabags or whatever they are, yes?

So....I still don't quite get it!

[MOSE]

[ QUOTE ]

Ah, that's different - because that's CHANGING BADGES.

I don't think it'd matter, and can see why you'd maybe want Holden badges - but it's not making the car stealthy or more 'showy' really is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, point taken. Maybe if I removed the V8 badges from the front wings then it may have that stealth presence.

[JamesB]

But the majority of people don't see things like flared arches and big exhausts (everyone's got a huge exhaust these days anyway), so the subtle styling does make a difference.

And there are a lot of people who've heard of the RS6 but don't know what it looks like. I know. I've experienced it. They hear the reputation and expect it to look like something from Star Trek.

[Scotty]

My S4 was debadged when I bought it as the previous owner was being stealthy. I put it back to standard but felt a bit weird badging it up again for some reason.

[NewNiceMrMe]

[ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]

Ah, that's different - because that's CHANGING BADGES.

I don't think it'd matter, and can see why you'd maybe want Holden badges - but it's not making the car stealthy or more 'showy' really is it?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, point taken. Maybe if I removed the V8 badges from the front wings then it may have that stealth presence.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah right! The exhausts the size of Tyne Tunnel wouldn't give it away, or the howl from 2 miles away....

[NewNiceMrMe]

[ QUOTE ]

But the majority of people don't see things like flared arches and big exhausts (everyone's got a huge exhaust these days anyway), so the subtle styling does make a difference.

And there are a lot of people who've heard of the RS6 but don't know what it looks like. I know. I've experienced it. They hear the reputation and expect it to look like something from Star Trek.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm. The RS6 is understated, very. So I can see a degree of application in it's case. Just. About. I think....

[NewNiceMrMe]

[ QUOTE ]

Do you think if I debadged the TT people would not know what it was?

[/ QUOTE ]

Probably. They might think it was Turtle.

[MOSE]

True, specially once exhaust work is finsished. Watch this space Oh, and do I go for twin turbo with the largest feck off dump valve I can find or the sweetest sounding hi-boost Harrop supercharger......decisions.......decisions. Or, just remain content with a hi-flow stage 2 tune with s/s headers and 100 cell cats?

[mccombie_5]

My dad considered this, simply because it makes the back of the car look nicer, no other reason. It's donned with loads of bits of chrome and it just looks silly.

Vauxhall *BADGE* Vectra

1.8 16v

Was much worse with the Cavalier They were Vauxhall Cavalier 2.5 V6 GLS ABS, and it looked like someone had spilled Alphabetti Spaghetti on the back of the car. He considered taking the 1.8 and 16v badges off the Vectra because it actually looks untidy.

I know my dad's mate bought a VW Golf GT TDI, and having all of that on the back drew attention to it, because the mkiv GTI is a subtle car, it now looks like every other Golf save or the wheels (his winter wheels make it look like a base model) and he gets less attention, a plus for him

[5to1]

Depends on the car really.

I think in some cases cars look better when debagded. For example on black cars, chrome badges can stick out like a sore thumb. It would be similar to getting rid of the other chrome trim.

Debadging for stealth doesn't work in most cases. Usually things like the alloys will attract attention anyway. Or the engine note. And people will then check the badge to confirm what it is.

However, in my experience most people do it to hide the fact they have a lower model. Half the 318CI's I see have been debadged. I can tell the difference because I have the higher model. And know for example it should have two exhaust pipes. But I'm guessing most of the company they keep wouldn't spot the difference, unless they saw 318 on the back.

[GTiMK5]

[ QUOTE ]

However, in my experience most people do it to hide the fact they have a lower model. Half the 318CI's I see have been debadged.

[/ QUOTE ]

I think the 3 series is one of the more common ones that is debadged from what I have seen. I assume (cant tell because badgeless) that it is mainly 320's and possibly 325's that are debadged so people dont know what they are. When I see a debadged 3 series with twin pipes I automatically assume it is a 320i. AFAIK a 330i and a 320i M sport for example look identical apart from the badge although there could be some small differences that are not immediately noticeable.

As for debadging cars such as the RS6, S4 and other performance cars, IMO people who know anything about cars will know exactly what it is straight away and for those who dont have an interest, they wouldnt know what an RS6, S4 etc is anyway, with or without badges.

As for Mose, as Chris says, it will never be stealthy mate no matter how many badges you remove. But even with the badges on I am sure you get people thinking WTF is that, especially when they hear it.

[GTiMK5]

Talking of changing badges, about 4 years ago I saw a Skoda Octavia, but the Skoda badges had been replaced with VW badges.

I suppose it would be the same as me putting Audi badges on my Golf.

[MOSE]

Or Aston badges on ya Mondeo

[Pastit130]

I usually debadge because if I do it I won't leave scratches, whereas the local toe rags will leave nasty marks from their screwdrivers.

Plus my dark blue E34 525i looked far better without the numbers spoiling the look. Passat might get cleaned up this weekend...

[Sponge]

I took some of my badges off because I think it looks better and I forgot to specify it on my order form. Audi actually have a badgeless, no-cost option. It looks tidier, sleeker and more stealthy.

The thing is, we (TSN members) give the general public too much credit when it comes to cars. Many of us may be able to tell one model from another, but most of everyone else can't. The only way they can tell what a car is, is by looking at the badge. Many are total badge snobs.

My last car was a Fiat Stilo. I loved it's looks, both inside and out, and still do. It had 'Dynamic' down the wings and 1.6 16v on the rear. The badges looked naff, so I took them off. I liked the fact there were hardly any on the road, at the time, and I quite often got admiring glances from people. Many would approach me in the street and ask what it was. Their faces were a picture when I told them it was a Fiat. This is a perfect example of how little the general public know about cars and how they're influenced by badges.

So I like it when someone notices my car and has no idea what model is. Many may suggest it's because I don't want them to know it's a diesel, but that's not the case. I mean, then can tell by the noise and cloud of black smoke I leave behind every time I floor the accelerator!

If I had more of a 'performance' car, then I'd still take the more obvious badges off, usually the boot mounted ones. I'd leave some of the more subtle ones on, for example, the front grille badge, or smaller S-Line ones on the side. I don't mind them.

Some may not understand why people take their badges off, but I don't understand why some people are so attached to them!

It also makes it easier to wash and wax!

[TP27]

The only car I've not debadged is the R. MrsTP's Polo was debadged at delivery. I don't see the need to have "POLO TDi Sport" blazoned over the boot, who gives a feck. Main reason is for cleaning...if you clean cars regularly, the polish and wax always gets gunked in the lettering and is a pain to get off. A clear boot finish is my preference.

I always smile when you see a bog standard 1.6i Vauxhall with a Ford "16 Valve" or "Turbo" badge added......

[danksy]

Badging, to make a car clearly something it isn't, i.e RS badges on a non RS car is a bit chavvy IMHO

Debaddging.... to keep people guessing is quite good fun. Sometimes people don't realise what it is

A good example of subtle badging was the Mk IV Golf Gti. It was hard to distinguish from behind whether it was the 1.8T, 1.9 Tdi (150), or 2.0L unless you were in the know

Badges with engine sizes on just don't do it for me, I mean who wants to know if you have an A3 1.6 Fsi FFS If I had an A3 1.6 Fsi, it's a clear case for being debadged

[shao_khan]

I have taken the badges off of every car I have owned for 2 reasons.

1. Easier to clean, saves me fiddling around getting stuff out of the badge crevice

2. The limited number of desirable cars I have had its also been to prevent little oiks from trying to nick them - MY R32 was about 2 days old when I caught some little git.

Editted to say Ditto on the A4 badges to Milo - Yuk

http://www.woofdoggy.com/images/Cars/Beetle/A4_Rear003.JPG

[Milo]

I ordered my old Tdi without badges. It had nothing to to with hiding the fact it was a Tdi (it would have taken more than that to disguise the fact) but it made the back end a lot neater. I didn't and still don't like the 'A4' badge where the A and 4 are different sizes. The badges on either side also looked uneven in my opinion.

I left the badges on the new car so I had a choice later on this time but the more I look at it, the more I dislike it. It just makes it look cluttered.

Personally I can't see anything wrong with debadging a car. It's pointless if you're trying to hide what it really is as anyone who may be interested to know whether it's a base model or top end will probably be able to tell whether it's badged or not. Those who can't tell the difference probably wouldn't even notice it was debadged anyway.

Re-badging is pretty much the same. Those who 'know' will think you're a bit of fool and those who don't know, probably won't know the difference between an A4 or an S4 anyway.

In my case, the debadged Tdi:

The badged A4:

I still think debadged looks better