Didn't Ford try this in the 80's ..... sorry to anyone who is under 40 who only know of the 80's from school history lessons... anyway ford tried it with the RS models.... you could only get them serviced at RS dealers, but you could buy them from any ford dealer..... people in cities didn't care...people in the countryside were miffed ..... I'd say it was more to do with Ford having to train fitters and supply equipment to dealers more than it was to try to be exclusive or summat...... but now it's more a marketing tool to keep the business going.