Whispering wealth
Discussion
Suppose you had decided on your new car, which happened to be the top end version of a popular model in terms of both power and general spec, and were just about to place the order when the dealer mentioned another version you might be interested in. One with the same mechanical and internal spec, near enough the same price, but looking as far as possible like the poverty model, no badges body kit or external trim and maybe just wider wheels or an extra exhaust giving the game away to the knowledgeable.
Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
Austin Prefect said:
Suppose you had decided on your new car, which happened to be the top end version of a popular model in terms of both power and general spec, and were just about to place the order when the dealer mentioned another version you might be interested in. One with the same mechanical and internal spec, near enough the same price, but looking as far as possible like the poverty model, no badges body kit or external trim and maybe just wider wheels or an extra exhaust giving the game away to the knowledgeable.
Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
The UK is very M Sport/S Line sensitive - it has to have silly wheels, blacked out trim and the right badges for resale. Something that appears to be pov spec with all the bells and whistles hidden inside would not hold its value like the same car with all the gymnasium carpark visuals.Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
andy43 said:
The UK is very M Sport/S Line sensitive - it has to have silly wheels, blacked out trim and the right badges for resale. Something that appears to be pov spec with all the bells and whistles hidden inside would not hold its value like the same car with all the gymnasium carpark visuals.
I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
That is deeply depressing.I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
Resale doesn't worry me because most cars we've owned are intended as long termers and tend to be less common anyway.
We buy what we want not what anyone else approves of.
One thing i really like about Wifeys ageing 2.5 XT Forester is that the only giveaway of it not being a 2.0 litre NA model is the bonnet intercooler scoop and it sits on its standard 17" wheels instead of 16s, i like cars that don't advertise and a wolf in sheeps clothing if i wanted a new car would be ideal.
Only 1 E39 M5 i fancied and still regret not buying was an approved used in Oxford Green with tan leather and wood trim, don't suppose it attracted the usual buyers which might explain the bargain price at the time.
We buy what we want not what anyone else approves of.
One thing i really like about Wifeys ageing 2.5 XT Forester is that the only giveaway of it not being a 2.0 litre NA model is the bonnet intercooler scoop and it sits on its standard 17" wheels instead of 16s, i like cars that don't advertise and a wolf in sheeps clothing if i wanted a new car would be ideal.
Only 1 E39 M5 i fancied and still regret not buying was an approved used in Oxford Green with tan leather and wood trim, don't suppose it attracted the usual buyers which might explain the bargain price at the time.
Austin Prefect said:
andy43 said:
The UK is very M Sport/S Line sensitive - it has to have silly wheels, blacked out trim and the right badges for resale. Something that appears to be pov spec with all the bells and whistles hidden inside would not hold its value like the same car with all the gymnasium carpark visuals.
I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
That is deeply depressing.I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
Perceived image is everything, hence 118d M Sport being an actual thing, although I’d argue it’s the German brands that are most afflicted.
Smint said:
Resale doesn't worry me because most cars we've owned are intended as long termers and tend to be less common anyway.
We buy what we want not what anyone else approves of.
One thing i really like about Wifeys ageing 2.5 XT Forester is that the only giveaway of it not being a 2.0 litre NA model is the bonnet intercooler scoop and it sits on its standard 17" wheels instead of 16s, i like cars that don't advertise and a wolf in sheeps clothing if i wanted a new car would be ideal.
Only 1 E39 M5 i fancied and still regret not buying was an approved used in Oxford Green with tan leather and wood trim, don't suppose it attracted the usual buyers which might explain the bargain price at the time.
Can’t be many about We buy what we want not what anyone else approves of.
One thing i really like about Wifeys ageing 2.5 XT Forester is that the only giveaway of it not being a 2.0 litre NA model is the bonnet intercooler scoop and it sits on its standard 17" wheels instead of 16s, i like cars that don't advertise and a wolf in sheeps clothing if i wanted a new car would be ideal.
Only 1 E39 M5 i fancied and still regret not buying was an approved used in Oxford Green with tan leather and wood trim, don't suppose it attracted the usual buyers which might explain the bargain price at the time.
https://collectingcars.com/for-sale/2003-bmw-e39-m...
I specifically bought an SE BMW rather than the Sport version so I could stay under the "Chav Alert" radar and enjoy a more comfortable ride and cheaper tyres.
It is also an anonymous grey to make me even more invisible, and it only costs £197 to insure because nobody wants to steal it.
It is also an anonymous grey to make me even more invisible, and it only costs £197 to insure because nobody wants to steal it.
Austin Prefect said:
Suppose you had decided on your new car, which happened to be the top end version of a popular model in terms of both power and general spec, and were just about to place the order when the dealer mentioned another version you might be interested in. One with the same mechanical and internal spec, near enough the same price, but looking as far as possible like the poverty model, no badges body kit or external trim and maybe just wider wheels or an extra exhaust giving the game away to the knowledgeable.
Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
You wouldn't worry about resale value as you'd know it would be lower before deciding to buy so the act of purchase guarantees no worries in that regard. Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
In reality, there is just absolutely no market for the concept. The whole reason everything gets offered with body kits is that what the market actually demands is base spec engine and interior with highest spec exterior. This is because consumers want to suffer the misery of the s
ttest engine spec and crappiest interior while pleasuring random strangers with aesthetics they can't see for themselves when using the object. DonkeyApple said:
You wouldn't worry about resale value as you'd know it would be lower before deciding to buy so the act of purchase guarantees no worries in that regard.
In reality, there is just absolutely no market for the concept. The whole reason everything gets offered with body kits is that what the market actually demands is base spec engine and interior with highest spec exterior. This is because consumers want to suffer the misery of the sttest engine spec and crappiest interior while pleasuring random strangers with aesthetics they can't see for themselves when using the object.
I always thought the old Orion 1.6i was an example of the concept. A fastish Ford for those who regarded an XR3 as too flash.In reality, there is just absolutely no market for the concept. The whole reason everything gets offered with body kits is that what the market actually demands is base spec engine and interior with highest spec exterior. This is because consumers want to suffer the misery of the s
ttest engine spec and crappiest interior while pleasuring random strangers with aesthetics they can't see for themselves when using the object. Austin Prefect said:
Would you regard this as preferable or be worried about resale value?
In this scenario I'm wealthy. Why would I worry about resale value?You paupers amuse me, with your worrying about a few pennies on the future resale value of a cheap runaround that probably costs less than £200k. Just chuck another Fabergé egg on the fire, light your cigar with a wad of £50s like a normal person and stop fretting.
andy43 said:
The UK is very M Sport/S Line sensitive - it has to have silly wheels, blacked out trim and the right badges for resale. Something that appears to be pov spec with all the bells and whistles hidden inside would not hold its value like the same car with all the gymnasium carpark visuals.
I’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
Yup. But cars with the biggest engine but where someone hasn't ticked all the image options make some of the best buys at three years old. The dealers know that the sort of person who will pay anything just aren't drawn to these loser wagons so tend to be inspired to not invest hours before n talking bI’ve swapped my X5 wheels for smaller ones and the salesman was aghast at the idea saying I had to keep the old ones for resale or it’d be ‘worthless’. He’s right.
ks and just focus on what will get the car gone. If the car has the silly wheels then these shift on eBay in days and the smaller, more base wheels are plentiful and cheap.
It's ideal when buying to hold rather Han just to experience for a year or two. With the latter you have to compromise what you want because of what the next owner will want but with the former it's just 100% about what you want. Plus, paying 10% less on the way in is a far greater saving than giving away 20% on the exit.
Austin Prefect said:
I always thought the old Orion 1.6i was an example of the concept. A fastish Ford for those who regarded an XR3 as too flash.
Vauxhall did similar with the last Vectra and first Insignia. You could have the 2.8T engine in the bodykitted big-wheeled VXR, or you could have it in the old man lux spec with modest wheels in the Elite. OK, the Elite had a different map with a bit less peak power but that was rectified with a quick trip to Courtenay. Also the auto wasn't available on the Vectra VXR (but was on the Insignia).
The trick is finding that elusive first nutter owner who specced everything in terms of interior but ignored the outside bits. I’m sure he’d have had a stern talking to by the salesman about residuals. One thing that cracks me up about the BMWs is the ‘Individual’ shadow line blacked out trim is anything but individual. Same as all the semi-identical ‘I’m just a crazy dude’ beard growers at weddings.
Austin Prefect said:
I always thought the old Orion 1.6i was an example of the concept. A fastish Ford for those who regarded an XR3 as too flash.
It was once not uncommon to be able to buy the highest performing model without the trim. I assume you can still buy things like the 340 etc without the msport/sline/amglike stuff?Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff