Post: #1

I bought a new car recently and as part of the process I researched car colors. I found that a car's color really does matter. Now that I'm finished with the purchase, before I forget what I learned I thought I would share it in a data sheet.

Silver/medium-to-light gray- The second most popular and common color of cars. Advantages: Most visible and safe (a British study found that silver cars are 50% less likely to be in an accident than other colors). Good for blending in with the crowd if you don't want to be noticed. Don't show dirt and grime as readily as other car colors. Not as hot in the summer or in a sunny climate. Some studies show that this color is easier to resell and thus has less depreciation, but other studies contradict this. Disadvantages: May be more likely to be stolen than other colors because easier to hide and resell. Not good for if you want to stand out or show some personality.

Black- Advantages: Looks badass, especially at night. Absorbs more heat in a colder environment. Disadvantages: Runs hotter in a warm/sunny environment, requiring more air conditioning power. Shows dust and scratches more readily, thus requiring more trips to the car wash.

White- The most popular car color. Advantages: Displays status, affluence, and opulence, especially on higher-end cars. Runs cooler in warmer/sunnier environments. Doesn't show scratches as readily. Disadvantages: Can show some dirt more readily than other colors. Doesn't retain heat as well in cold environments.

Red- Advantages: Stands out and shows more personality. Can make your car look faster and more exciting. Disadvantages: Some insurance companies charge a higher premium, but not all. Red paint fades faster than other colors. Attracts bird poop (Seriously). Opinions differ on whether red cars really get pulled over more often by the police or not.

Orange/blue/green/yellow- Advantages: Shows more personality. Some studies show that unusual colors don't depreciate as fast as more neutral colors. Disadvantages: May be harder to maintain the paint scheme or resell depending on the local market.

In my experience, car dealers will often give a better price on less popular colors, such as black, dark gray, blue, red, etc. but it depends on the make and model.

Post: #2

This is very different from my experience.

Black is a status/power color. This is the best color is you can act congruent.

Silver is a little less dominant, conveys elegance more than power.

White conveys that you are boring.

Red/yellow - aggressive/fun. You are likely to get pulled over by the cops more simply because you get more attention. Yellow is a little out there, you'll turn some folks off.

Unusual colors - these are impractical in my opinion unless they are modest like burgandy, hunter green or dark blue. Something like orange, copper, chartreuse, etc. are more difficult to find, dealers don't stock them. So you likely will pay more to obtain, and many people will object to them when you sell the car so at a minimum it will take longer to sell your car.

Post: #3

I forgot to mention that an Australian study and I read about somewhere put a white and a black car out in the sun. After a couple of hours when they measured the interior temperature, the white car was ten degrees cooler inside than the black car. I don't know if that was ten degrees F or C.

Post: #4

(06-06-2018 09:07 AM)Hypno Wrote:  This is very different from my experience.

Black is a status/power color. This is the best color is you can act congruent.

Silver is a little less dominant, conveys elegance more than power.

White conveys that you are boring.

Red/yellow - aggressive/fun. You are likely to get pulled over by the cops more simply because you get more attention. Yellow is a little out there, you'll turn some folks off.

Unusual colors - these are impractical in my opinion unless they are modest like burgandy, hunter green or dark blue. Something like orange, copper, chartreuse, etc. are more difficult to find, dealers don't stock them. So you likely will pay more to obtain, and many people will object to them when you sell the car so at a minimum it will take longer to sell your car.

I think white on a Ford Focus or something is boring but on a GWagon or a luxury car I think it looks really crisp, clean and sharp

Post: #5

Ah, recession white as we call it in the uk due to its popularity after the GFC amongst the lower orders.

10 years ago it was the basic, no cost paint colour that nobody wanted.

Now, miraculously, it costs money to spec a car in white.

Post: #6

Not to sound like a Nazi but.....
If it ain't white, it ain't right

Post: #7

Obviously depends on the car but black would always be my default.

Post: #8

(06-06-2018 02:26 PM)Pinocchio Wrote:  Obviously depends on the car but black would always be my default.

This is the case for my default penis taking