Stupid trim level names

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

[TW]Fox

Man of Honour
Joined
17 Oct 2002
Posts
160,215
Why do some manufacturers insist on such utterly ridiculous trim level names? This is going to seem like an Anti Vauxhall rant but its not, honest, its just that unfortunately they are the worst. I mean things like...

Ford Fiesta 1.25 STYLE
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 ENJOY
Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 ENVOY
Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 LIFE
Fiat Punto 1.2 SPORTING
Nissan Primera INSPIRATION
Seat Alhambra ECOMOTIVE
Renault Clio 1.2 EXTREME
Ford Mondeo 1.8 EDGE
VW Golf MATCH

I mean seriously, who thinks up these stupid names and why? What the heck is a Corsa Enjoy anyway?

You don't get people like Merc, Audi doing this, do you? Well with the possible exception of the absolutely patheticaly named 'Audi A3 Sportback Sport' obviously.

Mercedes E320 Enjoy? Nope. Audi A6 3.0 TDI ECONETIC? Nope. Just simple, professional and descriptive sounding trim levels.

What gives?

Bentley Continental GT Life... perhaps not ;)

I'm not so much talking about special editions more actual normal trim levels.
 
Different people buy 1.2 - 1.6 cars than your executive saloon types :p

Barry the 18 yr old chav would love a 1.2 Punto SPORTING. It makes him go faster!

These trim badges obviously work in their intended markets, otherwise they would cease to exist :)

*Edit: However, they are bloody stupid!*
 
Cr0fty said:
These trim badges obviously work in their intended markets, otherwise they would cease to exist :)
Click to expand...

I think its more that your average Meriva buyer doesn't particularly give a stuff whether its a Meriva Life, Meriva Enjoy, Meriva Wibble or a Meriva Smeg.
 
I'm a big fan of the Clio Be Bop and the Micra 1.0 Envy.

Imagine telling a girl that. "Yes, I have 1 litre envy."
 
Target clientèle for the cheap crap at the bottom of the market. These people will go for things with stupid names, just as they will also go for many other cheap gimmick'y stuff like stereo's with thousands of flashing lights on them.

The buyer of a new Mercedes/BMW/Audi/Bentley etc is not going to appreciate a stupid name, and instead would rather one or two types of car with the rest of the stuff available as options.
 
BMW have been getting silly recently as well...

"Would sir care for a BMW X6 xDrive35d? Or perhaps a BMW Z4 sDrive35i?"

I mean, who comes up with this stuff? :confused:
 
I agree with you on most of your examples Fox but the 'Sporting' one as used by Fiat at least has some meaning - not that a 1.2 Punto is a Sports car, I dont argue that, but the 'Sporting' models have all the equipment to suggest that it is a performance version of the particular model and thus it will appeal on looks grounds.

Think how many 18 year olds considering Puntos a few years back wanted the GT Turbo version but couldn't afford to insure it...the 'Sporting' models with low powered engines but suggestively sporty trim and wheels would appeal, and the name is perfectly descriptive in my view - not too different from the many manufacturers who offer a Sport specifation on the lowest powered models.

To me the Punto 'Sporting' isn't too far removed from a 116i M Sport from a badge engineering point of view (not to pick on BMW specifically out of spite by the way, just to illustrate my point :)). All the looks and image of the quick version, but with none of the associated running/ownership costs.
 
andi said:
3l RWD is slightly more sporty than a 1.2 FWD hatchback.
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Oh, gee, is it? Thanks, I thought for a moment they were pretty much on a level par.

I was just pointing out that Sport/ing is a fairly common trim name., whether its for the hatchback or executive car market.
 
Sport generally refers to models which have been tailored more towards a more 'sporting' drive for the drivers benefit than comfort for the passengers, so it'll be a model with stiffer ARB's, lower suspension, sports seats, body styling and suchlike. Which is fine but the car in question should at least be able to pull skin from a rice pudding as well.
 
Alex UK said:
BMW have been getting silly recently as well...

"Would sir care for a BMW X6 xDrive35d? Or perhaps a BMW Z4 sDrive35i?"

I mean, who comes up with this stuff? :confused:
Click to expand...

Isnt the xDrive35d the 3.5 litre Diesel for the offroaders (the X series), and the sDrive35i the 3.5 litre petrol injection engine for the Sport series of cars?

Makes perfect sence.
 
Skeeter said:
Isnt the xDrive35d the 3.5 litre Diesel for the offroaders (the X series), and the sDrive35i the 3.5 litre petrol injection engine for the Sport series of cars?

Makes perfect sence.
Click to expand...

No it doesn't, he's bang on, the new naming convention is utterly retarded.

Old Z4 with a 3 litre N/A engine: Z4 3.0i.
New Z4 with a 3 litre N/A engine: Z4 sDrive30i :confused:

And there is neither a 3.5 litre petrol nor 3.5 diesel, they are both Twin Turbo 3 litres.
 
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