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Has the current model ranges devalued the brand

Clearly, and forgivably, you have forgotten the Austin Allegro Vanden Plas.

Worse still was the Metro Vanden Plas!:D

At least (some of) the earlier BMC and Allegro-based VP versions earned their badges by the fact that they were actually sent to the Vanden Plas works for trimming, but the place had long since closed by the time the tag was applied to the Metro and its brethren for snob value.
 
Of course the wholesale version of motoring snobbery is to create a separate brand for your nicer models....
 
I actually liked the Classic/Elegance/Avantgarde modelling system. It was easy to understand and fairly intuitive i.e. Elegance - traditional luxury feel, Avantgarde - modern, slightly edgey (like the 210 with blue tinted windows, lowered suspension for a sportier feel).

For pretentious, remember the Rover 75 and its "Connoisseur" model!:rolleyes:

Ever noticed the previous Shape'd Vectra's had an Elegance spec also :wallbash:
 
Ok, so which special edition model name has been used both on a Metro and on a Mercedes-Benz? No prizes, etc...
 
Hard to beat. But I think I've got one. The Austin Allegro 1500 Special.

I seem to remember that was 'Special' as in 'Special needs';):eek::crazy:
 
Ok, so which special edition model name has been used both on a Metro and on a Mercedes-Benz? No prizes, etc...

I give up! Please put me out of my misery. The only connection that I can think of is Princess Diana. And I don't want to go to the land of sick jokes...

Mind you, if anyone's up for a real sick joke, I've got a blinding Jordan gag...
 
I give up! Please put me out of my misery. The only connection that I can think of is Princess Diana.

The one I was thinking of was Piccadilly. There was Mini Piccadilly in the UK, but our cousins on the mainland also got a Metro version. Then sometime around 2003, the Mercedes dealership on Piccadilly W1 (used to be Normand, but is now a branch of M&S :rolleyes:) introduced a special edition W168 Piccadilly, which later became part of the official line-up.
 
Now when this model range came out you had a choice of classic, elegance and Avantgarde.

All ranges had their own design elements, whether you wanted a little more luxury or a little more sporty flair..

but all models could have the option of the AMG body kit as a premium option..

Now.. the model range seems to have a sport, which throws in the AMG body kit...


Which is far better.

If you previously bought an Avantgarde and then wanted it to look a little meaner it would cost you around £4500 for the kit and the wheels.
Now, this was simply a £4500 option that lost nearly 90% of its value come trade in time.
By adding the sport with the kit it means the residuals are far higher, in fact a sport is only a smidge higher than an avantgarde for contract hire which says a lot.

We need to move over to models designation that include certain options, Range Rover has S which is pretty basics, then SE which adds leather, xenons and bluetooth, then HSE which adds loads of extras including navigation. Now, come trade in you get your money back on the extra you paid going from an SE to an HSE, where as with BMW, Audi and Merc you just get told "sorry, options are worthless come trade in."


So, I am glad that they are moving in this direction personally.
 
Which is far better.

If you previously bought an Avantgarde and then wanted it to look a little meaner it would cost you around £4500 for the kit and the wheels.
Now, this was simply a £4500 option that lost nearly 90% of its value come trade in time.
By adding the sport with the kit it means the residuals are far higher, in fact a sport is only a smidge higher than an avantgarde for contract hire which says a lot.

We need to move over to models designation that include certain options, Range Rover has S which is pretty basics, then SE which adds leather, xenons and bluetooth, then HSE which adds loads of extras including navigation. Now, come trade in you get your money back on the extra you paid going from an SE to an HSE, where as with BMW, Audi and Merc you just get told "sorry, options are worthless come trade in."


So, I am glad that they are moving in this direction personally.

I agree and disagree at the same time :cool:

i agree about the financials but disagree, cause the "presumed" more premium package is so much more accessible, that the market will become saturated with them, and in doing so, kinda takes away the point of it.

You buy a bodykit to make your car look better, but logically speaking, its for the pleasure of others as you dont see it whilst you are driving around..

so in my opinion, the kit, which was an uplift to the car, to make it feel special is now absorbed into a generic range appearance, and thus, the sparkle has kinda faded with the way the model ranges are now..

I agree, that this new range definition helps to maintain residuals with out loosing money on otherwise ""worthless" options as the model designation helps to prop the value up, but with the new low levels of residuals, its not something to shout home about.

And as per previous posts, not everyone choosing for example the AMG kit wants the sportier interior.. some might want the wood luxury interior with the exterior impression of power and styling, and now, if you choose the Sport model, you have to take it with the package..

eg. I dont think you can specify the sport model in the new e class with nappa leather.. and i personally would want nappa... though i might be wrong on this point
 
Residuals are at an all time high at the moment, however, finance houses are playing it safe with all time low balloons.

I agree on the spec. being pants, I would want a sport or an avantgarde or sport, but I want a light interior and black wood, but to get an all light interior you have to have an SE, and to get the black wood avantgarde.
 
Residuals are at an all time high at the moment, however, finance houses are playing it safe with all time low balloons.

I agree on the spec. being pants, I would want a sport or an avantgarde or sport, but I want a light interior and black wood, but to get an all light interior you have to have an SE, and to get the black wood avantgarde.


Designo? ;)
 

Again silly money for what should be offered as standard.

All the promo videos are of a car with light interior, but try and order one!! :wallbash:
 

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