Midbadged cars - the correct etiquette?
Midbadged cars - the correct etiquette?
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Discussion

camp freddie

Original Poster:

255 posts

205 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
I've met with two clients this week; an architect and a developer.

Example 1 - The architect
Arrives at the meeting in a black Mercedes E-Class saloon. Towards the end of the meeting somebody asks how he's getting on with his "AMG" merc, to which he replies great and if I've seen it. Now this is just a diesel Mercedes, that's been fitted with AMG wheels, boot spoiler and E55 and AMG badges. The Elegance badges on the side, cloth seats and lack of visible exhausts are tiny give clues that this is no E55 AMG.;)

Example 2 - The developer
After meeting on site, we walk back to our cars and he tells me he's recently bought an M6, good choice I reply. As we turn the corner, the M6 is revealed to me. It's nothing more than a 630 with an M badge on the boot! I'm then asked what I think.

So my question is, how is one to act/ reply when placed in these situations? Should you go along with the fakery and claim you know nothing about cars or stand up and say that's not a AMG, M6 etc?

davemac250

4,499 posts

235 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
camp freddie said:
I've met with two clients this week; an architect and a developer.

Example 1 - The architect
Arrives at the meeting in a black Mercedes E-Class saloon. Towards the end of the meeting somebody asks how he's getting on with his "AMG" merc, to which he replies great and if I've seen it. Now this is just a diesel Mercedes, that's been fitted with AMG wheels, boot spoiler and E55 and AMG badges. The Elegance badges on the side, cloth seats and lack of visible exhausts are tiny give clues that this is no E55 AMG.;)

Example 2 - The developer
After meeting on site, we walk back to our cars and he tells me he's recently bought an M6, good choice I reply. As we turn the corner, the M6 is revealed to me. It's nothing more than a 630 with an M badge on the boot! I'm then asked what I think.

So my question is, how is one to act/ reply when placed in these situations? Should you go along with the fakery and claim you know nothing about cars or stand up and say that's not a AMG, M6 etc?
Depends.

Will they make you money?

Do you need them 'on-side'?

If not, guffaw loudly, point and shout 'Like fk is it you numpty fk-wit'

LeighW

5,380 posts

218 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
camp freddie said:
So my question is, how is one to act/ reply when placed in these situations? Should you go along with the fakery and claim you know nothing about cars or stand up and say that's not a AMG, M6 etc?
Depends how much you value/need the clients. wink

V88Dicky

7,373 posts

213 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Tell them that they are skinflint charlatans, and if they are ashamed to drive the said cars, they shouldn't have bought them.

Or ask either to show you the delights of their respective 5.5l V8/5.0l V10. That should make them see the error of their ways! biggrin

The Nur

9,168 posts

215 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Be honest and show them up (privately of course, implications of making a fool out of someone at work can be hideous!)

Maybe they will think twice next time before they devalue their car and other peoples opinions of them.

Dracoro

9,033 posts

275 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Reply politely and enthusiastically with "Ah, the M6, nice car. What's it like when you're nearing 9000rpm, that V10 must be magic!"

DrTre

12,957 posts

262 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
The correct, adult, mature response is to insert ones tongue between ones lower lip and bottom teeth then turn to them rapidly stroking ones chin (and adding in the obligatory long fake chin strokes) while saying "M6? Chinney rackon, Jimmy Hill, Cinzano, CHINNEY!!!!!!!!!"

ZesPak

26,150 posts

226 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Tell them that they are skinflint charlatans, and if they are ashamed to drive the said cars, they shouldn't have bought them.

Or ask either to show you the delights of their respective 5.5l V8/5.0l V10. That should make them see the error of their ways! biggrin
yes

Just ask them for the economy on that monster V8/V10, and when they say it's "only" an I6/4, you just say: oh, I tought M6/E AMG only came with those engines.

It's what I do, it makes them realise that not everybody is fooled by a stupid sticker on the boot.

Garlick

40,601 posts

270 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
DrTre said:
The correct, adult, mature response is to insert ones tongue between ones lower lip and bottom teeth then turn to them rapidly stroking ones chin (and adding in the obligatory long fake chin strokes) while saying "M6? Chinney rackon, Jimmy Hill, Cinzano, CHINNEY!!!!!!!!!"
hehe

Prince Rupert

430 posts

235 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Tell em you don't like liars, bullshi**ters etc, etc

dougc

8,241 posts

295 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Say 'I love a nice V8/V10 rumble - mind if I hear you fire it up' and then stand back and watch them squirm.

mat205125

17,790 posts

243 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Tell them that they are skinflint charlatans, and if they are ashamed to drive the said cars, they shouldn't have bought them.

Or ask either to show you the delights of their respective 5.5l V8/5.0l V10. That should make them see the error of their ways! biggrin
Than ask them how you should be able to consider doing business with them if they are not even honest enough to tell you what car they drive.

Dapster

9,554 posts

210 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Fake awe at the tatfest using your superior knowledge to make it clear he's a numpty with false gushing respect....

"An E55, amazing!! I've always wanted one of these. It's great! Did you have to pay extra to re trim it in cloth, replace the vented disks for solids, replace the instruments and replace the engine for a diesel?? I'd imagine most people will fall for the fact that this is an E200 CDi with a council house makeover but you've done really well here!"

Keep going until he actually puts his hand over your mouth like the Bernard Cribbins / John Cleese scene in "The Hotel Inspectors" in Fawlty Towers...

hornetrider

63,161 posts

235 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Don't forget 'itchy belm'

edo

16,699 posts

295 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
camp freddie said:
I've met with two clients this week; an architect and a developer.

Example 1 - The architect
Sad, & pathetic

Example 2 - The developer
Sad, & pathetic

bazking69

8,620 posts

220 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
It all depends if they are useful to you. It isn't worth upsetting someone who is of use to you now or in the future, not over the badge on their car anyway.

Nod, smile, chuckle to yourself.

adycav

7,615 posts

247 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Yeah, as others have said ask them to pop the bonnet/fire up the engine as you are a keen petrolhead and all.

Oh, and hehe at itchy chin etc

Original Poster

5,429 posts

206 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
If it were a client, I would simply keep quiet.

RB Will

10,877 posts

270 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Show them up as the fraud they are. Tell them it's not the badge on the back that makes it an AMG/M6

Rawwr

22,722 posts

264 months

Thursday 20th May 2010
quotequote all
Punch them to the ground and walk off in disgust.