An observation.

"The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
12/18/2016 at 17:45 • Filed to: None

Regarding colours for cars. I noticed lately the more pricey the car, the lesser paint options you get. There are many cheap econo-boxes that have a million paint colours like a bag of jelly beans, but as soon as the price goes up you get a millon shades of grey tone and the only colour you can get it red, maybe blue. Also same thing for lower trims get more paint options, higher trims get more grey tones. Then it comes full circle, as soon you you get into mega expesive cars you get a millon jelly bean tones to choose from.

Why would that be?

DISCUSSION (22)

gmctavish needs more space > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 17:57

It seems like a relatively recent trend too. 90s and even 00s luxury cars could come in tons of colours, especially BMWs and Mercs. That said, I don’t think many people bought them.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 18:02

Because people who buy them typically don’t want to be risky with color so they can resell them later. Or because they have been brainwashed into thinking that grey and silver is elegant and stylish.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/18/2016 at 18:06

On some cars they look great, the silver on my Sonic that I use to own looked fantastic. It all depends on the body lines whether it works or not.

Kinja'd!!!

That light was not great, but it had a nice sparkle to it in good sun light.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
12/18/2016 at 18:13

Precisely. People in the “middle range” are more likely to consider resale value, and do not really care for standing out, outside of whatever badge they have a fetish for. Also, the point is to appeal to the broadest amount of people, in order to actually sell the damn things off the lot in the first place. I feel like if there was a higher demand for blues and pinks and greens, the market would shift to meet that.

carcrasher88 > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 18:21

That certainly seems to be the case. The main exception appears to be performance oriented cars...sports cars and muscle cars in particular.

I mean, look at the colors you can get on the BMW M4, many of them not offered on other 4 Series models. Austin Yellow, Yas Marina Blue, Sakhir Orange...in addition to two whites, two blacks, one beige, one gray, one silver, and two other blues.

But back to economy cars: Honda offers both Passion Berry Pearl and Mystic Yellow Pearl on the Fit.

And don’t get me started on trucks. You get a choice of 33 colors on the Ram 1500 Tradesman, even if it’s not purchased for commercial use.

Colors like Delmonico Red Pearl, National Safety Yellow, Power Tan, Robin Egg Blue, Timberline Green Pearl, etc.

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > carcrasher88
12/18/2016 at 18:26

I think the trades man offerer so many is since that trim is popular with fleet buyers, and they can choose a paint the matches their company colour. They would just need put on their logo instead of full body wrap with their company colour.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 18:55

Silver does depend entirely on application.

bhtooefr > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 19:33

And, I mean, the other day, I saw an orange Prius c.

Orange.

And you can get yellow, lime, or black with lime or hot pink accents.

Why can’t I get obnoxious colors like that on the regular Prius? (And, the Japanese market gets lime regular Priuses, and I would have bought that color if it were available.)

Frenchlicker > carcrasher88
12/18/2016 at 20:35

The robin egg blue holds a special place in my heart. If I ever buy a new Ram I would seriously consider ordering or finding one in that color.

FromCanadaWithLove > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 20:44

Imagine an Audi A6 in the colour of that Chevrolet.

Small cheeky cars can get away with crazy colours. Performance/sports cars (BMW M, Porsche, Mustang, etc.) and supercars too. Not so much big “professional” (ew) ones.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 20:46

I would say its linked to the lease market. Given that for the big 3 german brands are at over 50% lease rates, they don’t wan’t to offer them knowing that they’ll have to deal with the hassle how do we sell a cpo urple c class?

If all you offer is 4 shades of grey you’re less likely to offend the next buyer.

“gosh I really wanted charcoal but I’ll settle for fog”

Nauraushaun > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 21:21

People who buy luxury cars are boring people who want boring cars ;)

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gmctavish needs more space
12/18/2016 at 21:31

I think some of those colors are still available in Europe... it’s almost like used to just offer all colors worldwide then gave up one certain colors in North America. Also, Audi, BMW and (I think) MB will let you order just about any color you want through their custom programs - expensive, but for the one or two people who want an orange A6 or something it is a option. I know BMW will let you order in any production color they have historically offered. Some glorious bastard had the factory make him an F10 M5 in Dakar Yellow from the E36 M3.

Kinja'd!!!

gmctavish needs more space > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/18/2016 at 21:34

I had no idea you could do that, that’s amazing

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 21:38

Meanwhile at Mercedes-Benz.......

Kinja'd!!!

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/18/2016 at 21:42

Find one on a lot that has not sat for along time.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock
12/18/2016 at 21:45

Must be regional. I’ve actually seen a lot of obnoxiously colored GLA’s in the wild here in TX. The red and blue mainly, but I’ve seen the green and matte gray around too.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > gmctavish needs more space
12/18/2016 at 21:56

It isn’t cheap. Last time I looked I was configuring a 335i with a manual and Sepang Bronze for grins and it was $3,500 if I recall correctly. Another one that is out there somewhere is an E93 M3 convertible in the orange from the E90 M3 GTS. It makes more sense on M cars and the 5/6/7 series. People will do weird things though. My Subaru dealer had a less than one year old used F10 with some odd custom gray over tan 528i that was loaded up with $10,000 of Individual options (most of it was paint and interior) on a $70,000 total. Of course all that was lost on resale, because the dealer couldn’t really ask much more than going rate for a typical 528i.

gmctavish needs more space > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/18/2016 at 22:11

Holy that’s a lot. I guess I can’t expect much less for BMW mixing up a colour for a single car though.

It’s always weird to see Individual treatments on lower-spec BMWs

DipodomysDeserti > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/18/2016 at 22:55

I got my wife’s Valencia Orange X1 for a few thousand below KBB because it has sat on the lot for four months.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > DipodomysDeserti
12/19/2016 at 00:08

Those Valencia orange X1's are awesome. I remember actually searching AutoTrader for orange ones specifically. I don’t really understand why people would get gray or silver instead of orange.

DipodomysDeserti > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com
12/19/2016 at 08:03

I really like the color. What’s especially nice is That Valencia Orange was originally supposed to be a limited color for the 1M. Then BMW pulled the ultimate dickhead move and offered it on the cheapest BMW available in the US, the X1. My wife’s has a tan interior and some funky wood trim which goes well with the orange.

Kinja'd!!!