THE current trend to cut back on car badging could knock hundreds of pounds off future residual values, according to a warning in the latest CAP Black Book. CAP director Andrew Wilkinson says future buyers will take the safe option and assume such cars have the lowest possible specification - and value them accordingly.

The fad started on more prestigious brands such as BMWs but has now spread to the volume makers. Wilkinson notes: 'The fad could be dangerous. Not badging cars is fine where the buyer knows the car and is not much of a problem with a BMW, say, where specs tend not to change too much. The problem arises when badging becomes an option on cars such as Rovers or Fords.'