NickTH

Met a guy at the gas station.
While wait for fill up, I noticed a nice AMG emblem opposite his E350 emblem on the trunk.
I asked how it drives...
He laughed & said the AMG emblem is $10 on Ebay.
But the E350's 300 hp is plenty for him & says why pay extra $50K for 270 more hp when he can't use it all on city streets?

I thought my E400 was well worth the extra few thousands for the turbo V6.

But what ya'll think about the fake AMG emblem...?

PaulE550

Seems there a quite a few posers out there. I don't know who they think they're fooling by plastering a AMG emblem on an obviously non-AMG car. Then again, if it helps them feel better about themselves or whatever, then what the hell.

Next time you see him, tell him to plaster a couple of V8 BITURBO emblems from e-bay on the sides of his car as a finishing touch. If he wants to look foolish, he should go all the way.

Johnny Rad

If it gets them off, why not? It doesn't hurt me.

I don't get the hate, dismay, protectionism with AMG badging...
- I wear Adidas, but ain't an athlete.
- I wear leather, but like animals.
- I'm full or irony. Etc, etc, etc.

Doesn't matter. It just doesn't matter.

Davidkuo0330

I own both the W212 E350 and W212 AMG E63. We know the signs of a poser and would loved to just mess with him in the AMG. Just for the fun of it.

NickTH

So David,

After owning & driving both.... worth the extra $$$ ?

MBSebas87

haha i just can't believe that's actual question. Posers keep multiplying these days smh

petee1997

I don't undestand why they do it, however it doesn't bother me. After all it's their car.

rediesel

That dude at the gas station is a lame poser. DON"T BE LIKE THAT DUDE.

If an E350 is good enough (like dude says) why put and AMG badge on it if he thinks it's a waste? If an E350 is plenty for him to handle then an AMG definitely isn't for him.

Is an E63s twice the car a base E350 is? I think so, and I'd say the market agrees since they obviously sell quite a few of both.

Rob CL

Exactly... The guy is either channeling his inner Pvt. Joker [see below], or he's suffering from some serious denial.

MJ50

sometimes even dealers put AMG badges to the customers because they got "AMG package"...

nycebo

Twice the car? Seriously? Come on man. I'm a sports car fanatic but would never delude myself into thinking that sports cars are twice the car that wagons are just because they can pull. Most of the time, I lumber around in stop and go traffic or just cruise on highways. It's the blessed weekend day that I can sort of "get on" my sports car. But, Porsche, AMG, and BMW M-class sell these cars because they know we are suckers for the horsepower wars and willing to pay them much higher margins for basically the same overall car chassis. Nevertheless, they both get you there, right? Or is that you only want people who actually have AMGs to be able to show/tell the world that they can afford/have REAL AMGs?

By the way, as for sales, ALL of Mercedes' AMG cars (all models) totaled about 11k units last year. That's compared to 66,400 E-class units, 212,086 total passenger cars and 118,305 light trucks. AMG is a blip on the radar, but a hell of a great margin buffer for MB's bottom line.

Now, I love speed and suspension as much as the next guy. But, I remember my last trip to the track and watching a buddy in a Miata absolutely lacerate everything in front of him, regardless of brand or power. There was quite a look of astonishment from many people in the infield. Consequently, unless you're out on the track in your 500hp machine and just killing it, the real poser is YOU, especially if you're hammering away on some poor dude who just happens to have/love the AMG logo. If they think it's cool, fine by me and why not share the love for a great brand. Indeed, they are just buying in to the same hype that most of us also do on a daily basis with more than just cars (dare I ask how much you pay for your t-shirts?). Besides, we're all driving a superb manufacturer's car. And, unlike that dude with the $10 badge, AMG, M-class and 911 TURBO buyers often pay over $50k for those same "look at me" badges.

Now, if you tell me that you DE_BADGED all that AMG marketing....

NickTH

There wasn't an "AMG package" avail for my 2015 E400.

But I do have "AMG" stamped on my 4 factory wheels that came with the car,...

MJ50

many dealer call sport pkg "amg package"...

Sgooter

That fake AMG emblem from reminds me of past times when there were fake spiral cell phone antennas stuck on the rear window of many deadbeat cars, and they're still available on eBay even today! Posers have serious character flaws.

g4benz

I guess I should remove my license plate holder which says AMG on it? The previous owner put it on. I guess it's because my E550 has the sport package..

To each his own I guess..

NickTH

I should replace my AMG wheels to those shiny spinner wheels & put "OMG" emblems on....

Speedriven1

If you were really cool you'd put the E350 badges and bodywork on the 63.

PaulE550

The fact that we have AMG wheels doesn't make what we drive AMG cars. But you obviously already know that. There's the difference in engines, transmissions, suspension system, brakes, etc. etc., that differentiate regular MB vehicles from the high performance AMG line. Same holds true with BMW's M line being different from the regular 3,4, and 5 series models. Apples and oranges.

AMG Sport, from what I can see, is more of a marketing effort, in-line with BMW's M Sport or Lexus' F Sport efforts, to up sell some cosmetic enhancements and minor mechanical upgrades ( stiffer suspensions, maybe better brakes, etc. ) on their regular series vehicles than anything else. It seems to be a winning strategy for all the car companies from the number of these type vehicles I see around here. The target audience appears to be people looking for a bit sportier looking vehicle. Who simply want something a bit more upscale or unique in style, but don't want or can't afford the high end vehicles they're supposed to remind you of. It does also intentionally or not on both MB's and BMW's part, blur the lines between the two very different product lines they build.

That some people feel the need to slap an AMG or M logo on their obviously non-AMG or non-M vehicles is of course a matter of personal choice. To me it just looks silly. However, it it helps them feel better to pretend they are driving something that they are not, then let them feel good about themselves. They're not fooling anyone but themselves at the end of the day.

Sean1234

I dont get guys that do this. Anyone who knows what a AMG is knows it not real. And everyone else has no clue to what the hell does it matter. lol

Doesn't bother me but I never got it

thenew3

You guys do know that in some countries (Asia mostly) MB will ship a car from the factory (such as E200) with the AMG emblems all over the car if you get certain options/packages.

So even MB does it straight from the factory!

NickTH

I totally understand why MB & other manufacturers slap those AMG emblems on: Pure PROFIT!!!
Low Supply + High Demand = more PROFIT

We remember car shopping a few yrs ago, when a some BMW, Audi & MB models were in short supply here in the US; BMW's top marketing President flatly stated that manufacturers can't keep up with demand (esp from China & other countries) & that they can sell them all out at & above MSRP, so why deal with US customers who insists on discounts off MSRP?
& by slapping on "R", "M", "AMG" badges (made in China for less than a dollar) can hugely increase PROFITS!
He estimated that by adding $10K of performance equip, they can upcharge $30K - $50K to the prices of those cars...

PaulE550

Sure. It's all part of the AMG Sport marketing effort, which is a world-wide marketing strategy. In China, slapping an AMG logo on a vehicle will net several hundred, if not a few thousand more, for MB. The Chinese are buying status symbols and AMG is a well-known symbol to them. It doesn't what model they buy as long as it comes with an AMG badge.

rediesel

I don't know between $7-30. $35 was too much last time I was at Margaritville on vacation, and I really wanted that T-shirt for my collection.

Rob CL

Not exactly apples to apples... The market in your example is as credible as the car(s) in question.

See here: http://jalopnik.com/the-ten-greatest...ade-1694449178

nycphotography

Obviously he doesn't think he's fooling anyone, as he said "$10 on ebay".

He sees it as flippant humor and did it as a joke. Not exactly a Poseur.

Now seeing the car w/o talking to the driver... one might get a completely different impression. Which might also say more about the witness than the driver.