CLASS-conscious car styling can lead to weaker used values when it makes a car hard to identify, warns CAP Black Book, the trade-confidential benchmark guide to used car values.
Writing in the latest edition, senior editor Tony Styles says the trend among some car makers towards omitting model badges can lead to weaker values and increases the risk of costly mistakes for dealers.
He said: "Badging appears to have disappeared altogether from many models and to complicate matters further there are even models with matching engine sizes but varying power outputs.
"Although this lends the car an air of exclusivity there can be a price to pay in residual values. By their nature trade buyers are cautious which means that if there is any doubt about model identification they will only start bidding based on the value of a standard entry model.
"Over time this can undermine the residual values of cars.
"Sales managers must check such cars themselves, especially when offered in part exchange, because if the car is incorrectly identified, they might suddenly be out of pocket by £1,000 or more."
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