The point in debadging?

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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:34 AM
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The point in debadging?

Can someone explain to me whats the point in debadging? Is it just purely asthetics? I would think showing the Acura logo would be a way of having pride in your car, in my opinion anyway. /shrug
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:41 AM
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some people think it looks cleaner without the badges (i.e. me) and some people like it with the badges (i.e. you) and then some people just take it off themselves because they worry thieves will steal it and scratch the trunk (i.e. me a long time ago for my integra) hhaah. its all a matter of preference i suppose.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:43 AM
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I debadged my prior car (BMW 323i) and will do the same with my TL when I get it next week. I believe aesthetically the car looks better since you see the lines of the car rather than the badges. At least for me, whenever I am behind another car my attention focuses on the badges and not the lines of the car. Just personal preference.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:51 AM
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For me, it looks cleaner. Not looking cluttered in the back.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:56 AM
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Originally Posted by GaleForce
Can someone explain to me whats the point in debadging? Is it just purely asthetics? I would think showing the Acura logo would be a way of having pride in your car, in my opinion anyway. /shrug
Pulled my badges last night, I think it makes the car look cleaner a tad sleeker, especially with my new deck lid spoiler.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 12:49 PM
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I like it, but to be honest, I left them on my 330 because i didn't want to be confused with a 323 or 325. with the tl, there is only on model so i didn't mind taking it off.

oh, yeah. and it looks cleaner.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 01:00 PM
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Oh its the "TL" that comes off. Thought you guys were ripping the Acura logo off :p
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 01:11 PM
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I'm still waiting for my 6MT Navi... how do you get the bagdes off? Are they bonded?
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by antonioe
I'm still waiting for my 6MT Navi... how do you get the bagdes off? Are they bonded?
I used a hair dryer and warmed the badges up they came off easy. i just pulled them very carefully off. since the car is new they come off easy. i had no sticky residue or anything. took less than 10 mins. the center acura symbol has two posts in it that go through the trunk. didn't mess with that.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 01:17 PM
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Can you guys all mail me your badges? I'd like to line them up to use as door protection moldings. Thanks!
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 03:27 PM
  #11  
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What?
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 03:30 PM
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Originally Posted by boltjames
Can you guys all mail me your badges? I'd like to line them up to use as door protection moldings. Thanks!
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 03:58 PM
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Originally Posted by antonioe
I'm still waiting for my 6MT Navi... how do you get the bagdes off? Are they bonded?

warm them with a hair dryer, and then slide some dental floss under the letters, and they'll come right off...for the residue left over i just scrubbed it off with a sponge and some gasoline...then clean the area afterwards...maybe wax it too, and your car will be looking clean as can be...it really looks good
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by GaleForce
Oh its the "TL" that comes off. Thought you guys were ripping the Acura logo off :p

ahaha! yeah, you definitely don't want to mess with the "A" logo...you'll be left with two holes in the middle of your trunk...
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 04:09 PM
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Originally Posted by gordon_gekko
ahaha! yeah, you definitely don't want to mess with the "A" logo...you'll be left with two holes in the middle of your trunk...
boltjames told me confidentially he ripped off his "A" logo and covered the holes with a piece of body side molding, so it matches his doors now.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 04:17 PM
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makes it look cleaner...what i don't get is why some acura rsx owners change their acura badge to a honda badge...:lol2:
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 04:33 PM
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People do it for different reasons, some of which are:
1. So people will stare at their car longer while they wonder "What kind of car is that?"
2. So people might think that they bought a nicer car than they actually did (opposite of SmokeTL)
3. So people don't go "Wow, that TL looks awesome. I'm going to buy me one, too!"
4. So people might come ask them what kind of car it is, which means someone will talk to them.
5. So the owner has some Bling Bling to wear around their neck or on their rings



Seriously, it does look cleaner, but I'm not sure I'll be doing it.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 06:02 PM
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No point to be made...I just prefer it w/o the badges.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 06:22 PM
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has anyone used goo gone? havent tried it personally but i was wondering if it will ruin the clearcoat.

Cliff
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 06:29 PM
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Originally Posted by cliff
has anyone used goo gone? havent tried it personally but i was wondering if it will ruin the clearcoat.

Cliff
I ahve...no problems. Just make sure you wash and wax the area afterwards.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 06:48 PM
  #21  
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Originally Posted by GaleForce
Can someone explain to me whats the point in debadging? Is it just purely asthetics? I would think showing the Acura logo would be a way of having pride in your car, in my opinion anyway. /shrug

It shaves off some weight and improves your quarter mile times. :toothless


No...seriously, it does give cleaner lines to the car. Plus here in the Bay Area, damn kids always pry those emblems off of cars and scratch your car while doing it.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 07:03 PM
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or if they came out with a type-s model if you debadge they could mistake it for it. lots of people debadge bmw e36's, people end up thinking its a M3. but for the most part it does look cleaner because there isn't anything obstructing the lines.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 07:11 PM
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Originally Posted by Ron A
boltjames told me confidentially he ripped off his "A" logo and covered the holes with a piece of body side molding, so it matches his doors now.
Ha ha ha ha ha!

But I did put an A-Spec badge *and* a Type-S badge right under the "TL" badge. Looks wicked-pissah!
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 08:17 PM
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I thought the same too initially - what's the point. Then I saw a car with the 'acura' and 'TL' logo removed and that convinced me. The car does look cleaner. The 'A' in the center is still on. See my previous thread;

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77732

See what I mean?
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 08:21 PM
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I recommend debadging the car, then REBADGING with the logo of something far more expensive, like a Porche or Lamborghini. Then go to a clueless dealer and trade the car in for far more than it's worth. Then, when the dealer realizes what has happened and demands compensation, come to this forum and start a thread claiming the dealer is ripping you off. Garner everyone's sympathy by conveniently failing to mention that you rebadged the car. Just a suggestion!

Never mind. It's been done.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 08:21 PM
  #26  
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The point of debadging originated from the Autobahn (where from the factory, you can get cars without badges). Owners with the V-12 Benz' for example would fool possible Ferrari owners who thought it was a S320 or SL 320 or so (they sell I-6 S-class sedans and verts overseas).

So basically it was to fool people into thinking you had a smaller engine, and rip them a new one during a race.

Since the TL has one engine, to debadge is to give yourself a cleaner look on the trunk.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 08:54 PM
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The negative to debadging a TL is a fairly large one:

The TL looks very very much like the cheaper TSX. If every TSX owner debadged, I'd be very happy. Until they do, someone point me to a site where I can buy a double-sized "TL" badge please.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 10:01 PM
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Originally Posted by casooner90
I thought the same too initially - what's the point. Then I saw a car with the 'acura' and 'TL' logo removed and that convinced me. The car does look cleaner. The 'A' in the center is still on. See my previous thread;

http://www.acura-tl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77732

See what I mean?
the car debagged looks like total crap. IMO
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 10:02 PM
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posted twice (is this a bug of the forum software?)
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 10:03 PM
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I took off the badges off my TL, but then I felt funny because I've always been used to seeing badges on my cars.... the TL looks smaller (naked) from behind without the badges.

Maybe I'll cover the letter with carbon-fiber or cubic zirconias and re-install them...
or maybe use magnet strips to hold the badges,
so I can remove them quickly when I want to.

Where can I find the sticky material that goes behind the letters ?
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by 2004TL_believer
the car debagged looks like total crap. IMO
What's debagged?? I guess any car debagged (not debadged) would look like crap.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 10:24 PM
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what do you guys think of blacking out the letters on a NBP instead of debadging it? i saw it on a lexus, looks good, b/c you still get that clean look and have the letters on.
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by TLGator
I recommend debadging the car, then REBADGING with the logo of something far more expensive, like a Porche or Lamborghini. Then go to a clueless dealer and trade the car in for far more than it's worth. Then, when the dealer realizes what has happened and demands compensation, come to this forum and start a thread claiming the dealer is ripping you off. Garner everyone's sympathy by conveniently failing to mention that you rebadged the car. Just a suggestion!

Never mind. It's been done.
Good slam TLGator. I remember that post. ROFL
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Old Apr 22, 2004 | 11:52 PM
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Two reasons to debadge.

First, it cleans up the lines of your car. Having both the logo and the word Acura all over your car is somewhat redundant. The caliper logo on your grill is instantly recognizable as Acura.

Second, many BMW owners (318, 325.. etc.) suffer from feelings of inadequacy over not spending the extra 20 large to buy an M3. Debadging removes this stigma, leaving only the crappy acceleration and puttery exhaust note as your only clue.

One word of caution, if you debadge, you must REMOVE ALL DEALER identification. Nothing singles you out as the owner of a previously abused Acura/Lexus/BMW as having a JimmyBob Inbred Quality Kia Used Car license frame.
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Old Apr 23, 2004 | 08:34 PM
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Originally Posted by TLOBLLC
Two reasons to debadge.



Second, many BMW owners (318, 325.. etc.) suffer from feelings of inadequacy over not spending the extra 20 large to buy an M3. Debadging removes this stigma, leaving only the crappy acceleration and puttery exhaust note as your only clue..
Clearly, u did not read my post.
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Old Apr 23, 2004 | 09:16 PM
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Originally Posted by jobes
Good slam TLGator. I remember that post. ROFL
Yeah, that whole thread was completely ridiculous. The guy had us all giving advice about how he was getting scammed and so forth, then he's like, Oh, did I forget to mention I rebadged the car to a more expensive model?

The shit on this forum is better than HBO.
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Old Apr 23, 2004 | 09:35 PM
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Kind of like this freak!?

[QUOTE=moeronn]
5. So the owner has some Bling Bling to wear around their neck or on their rings

QUOTE]

http://images1.fotki.com/v1/photos/8...jpg?1018069886
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Old Apr 23, 2004 | 10:15 PM
  #38  
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The car looks MUCH cleaner without badges. Why? Because the car was designed without them, and they were tacked on later by marketing, etc. Who cares what other people think about what model it is? Jeez! The ONLY consideration is: DOES THE CAR LOOK BETTER? YES!

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Old Apr 23, 2004 | 10:17 PM
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I'll keep mine on.
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