Potential Hot Take: Black is a ridiculous color for a convertible.

"BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast." (boxerfanatic) 08/13/2018 at 18:45 • Filed to: None

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I get why people like black cars. They look slick. They look sinister. They look like Johnny Cash on 4 wheels.

And almost any body-style, I have no real problem, other than they can be a bit hard to see, they tend to mask the design, for better or for worse... and they are by all reports, insanely difficult to maintain and keep looking good.

However, Convertibles in black, I don’t get. Convertibles are cars for fun and sun. They are spring, summer, and fall. They are for the enjoyment of the great outdoors, and inspire people to enjoy, and be a little bit happier. Especially sports car convertibles, especially SMALL sports car convertibles.

They are the antithesis to a hearse... they are informal, and lively, not formal, and somber as a funeral.

In sunny weather, BLACK also has the highest thermal gain, and gets HOTTER.

Why should any convertible be painted black?

Why should a convertible, like the ND Miata come in black, but hardly any other vibrant colors other than Soul Red, and a very muted blue... then grayscale.

Why should S2000 be well known for being either silver or black?

Why aren’t convertibles still the poster children for continuing high vibrance colors... they aren’t economy cars... they aren’t family sedans, they aren’t appliances, they aren’t just about minimizing the appearance of dust. They are about LIFE, and maybe a little more abundantly than without a convertible.

Do the world a favor... if you want a fun car, especially a fun-in-the-sun car...

Get a fun in the sun COLOR on your car. Enjoy it. Let other people see it and brighten their day a little, too.

...Caution, however, side effects include singing to the radio, smiling uncontrollably, waving at strangers, or potentially going “ full-Corky Romano.”

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:05

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I’m hoping for an S2000 for a weekend car once the ST is paid off. My set goal was to wait for either a spa or Rio yellow, or new formula red. I already drive a hot pepper red ST so I may as well stick with the bright colors!

When I think S2000, I either think NFR or Suzuka blue.

Chuckles > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:11

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I’ve had my black convertible for a few years now, and while I love the car, I do wish it was a different color. But when I’m trying to buy a car that’s old enough to legally buy a beer, I really don’t care what color it is. It checked all of the boxes that I was looking for, so I can live with the black. It does get awfully hot in the summer sun.

I still think it looks pretty good, even in black.

wafflesnfalafel > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:14

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agree - I like black (though it’s a pain to maintain..) but I really like the one off colors, yellows, oranges, bright greens, bright blues, slate blues, etc.  That new Sebring Orange Corvette is offering is cool.

AestheticsInMotion > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:14

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Hey. Convertibles can be fantastic winter cars. 100% agree about colors though. More greens, purples, yellows, oranges, tans..... Less white, silver, black, red. 

Just Jeepin' > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:19

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Yellow is the proper color for an S2000, and I know there are plenty out there. 

daender > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:25

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Miata-nerd: that Miata in the GIF is a ‘92 Sunburst, given away by the one-year-only color.

I got stuck with a silver Miata because that was the only good one available at the time. I would’ve preferred blue, green, and teal but not red (Bleh!) but I made it work by having the windshield frame wrapped in black.

RT > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 19:49

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Counterpoint:

404 - User No Longer Available > RT 08/13/2018 at 20:03

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Counter-counterpoint:

Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 20:10

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You are so right but, I will extend it to all cars. We should have colors and fun again.

WilliamsSW > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 20:17

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I get what you mean, but having once ordered a convertible from the factory ( Pontiac, sigh...) in black, on some cars it just works.

facw > 404 - User No Longer Available 08/13/2018 at 20:25

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This one is just better, and not only because of the three spoke wheels.

facw > daender 08/13/2018 at 20:30

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It may not be a popular opinion around these parts, but I think silver is a good color for cars. It’s just oversubscribed, companies need make (and more importantly dealers need to order) a wider variety.

And with that said, I drive a silver car (first-gen S60) , but silver is not a great color for it, there were blue and red versions that were nicer, but as you noted, buying used limits your options.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > AestheticsInMotion 08/13/2018 at 20:59

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We put snows on our 99 NB for a few years... between salt, and a bit of brake fluid leakage on the rear left brake caliper being flung up into the fender well, it developed a little bit of rust... I kind of wish that hadn’t happened.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > Chuckles 08/13/2018 at 21:00

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Black Miata is better than no Miata... but I would be tempted to vinyl  wrap...

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > facw 08/13/2018 at 21:02

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Agree... silver looks objectively good... but overused. It especially looks good as a neutral backdrop for an accent color, like a stripe, or a red interior or something.

Chuckles > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 21:06

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A decade ago I might have agreed with you, but at the age of 32 I have no desire to spend a penny on a purely cosmetic modification. Also I'm lazy.

t0ast > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 21:20

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I can agree with this statement for the most part .

Black wasn’t my first pick, but I think the look with black wheels turned out alright.  Still, it gets unbearably hot in the peak Midwestern summer heat and even worse while waiting around between autocross runs.  The AC can only just barely keep up on some days.  I definitely would have shot for a different color if I could go back and do it again.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 21:24

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I fully support your thesis. Convertibles, sling with cutesy economy cars should be bright fun colors. That’s what my cutesy economy convertible is orange 

daender > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 21:27

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I have a blue interior for exactly that reason! Black and tan was too boring and standard. I don’t know of anyone crazy enough to swap 10AE blue carpet into a Miata! Most of the time it’s 10AE owners swapping out their carpet for black.

Oats > AestheticsInMotion 08/13/2018 at 21:31

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I had snow tires on my S2000 for the winter I owned it. Of course because I bought them it only snowed twice. Still, I drove it in the cold where my other set of summer only tires wouldn’t have been great .

I actually enjoyed driving with the top down more in the cold than the 90 degree heat.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > daender 08/13/2018 at 21:35

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I think “splash Green” or teal is my new favorite NB color there’s one I’ve been seeing around town this summer. It’s so hot 

UnderSTeerEnthusiast - Triumph Fanboy > Just Jeepin' 08/13/2018 at 21:39

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At least two different hues to choose from too. Spa and Rio yellow, just depends on the year. Some years I think there was both 

Oats > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 21:45

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You know what is ridiculous for a convertible, black leather seats. I guess it is not ridiculous if your goal is maximum back/butt sweat.

daender > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/13/2018 at 22:04

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NB Miatas rock the blues and light greens pretty darn well!

Splash Green :

Crystal Blue :

Razor Blue :

Personally, I would love to have a Laser Blue Miata but those are incredibly rare:

Nauraushaun > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 08/13/2018 at 22:50

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Nope. I reject black entirely.

They look slick. They look sinister.

Fuck sinister. You’re not batman. No, don’t paint your lights black, idiot. Don’t be a child. I don’t mind childish when it’s fast or fun or weird, but black is “I’m a moody 12 year old” cool.

they tend to mask the design

This. All features, all points of interest in a design are lost.

How much of the character of this design would you lose if it were black? The fit of the headlights, the moustache, the turbo-only SMIC grills on either side of the bumper. The affect the glasshouse (including roof) has on the profile and appearance of the car...the black b-pillar and weather stripping that’s done to this effect, the shape and curve of that fat c-pillar, the black pinstriping around the car that’s been removed on this example lol. You’d probably lose the subtle hood hump as well.

All of it.

Fuck a black car

Lokiparts > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. 09/28/2018 at 08:35

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Yeah, I can only say I don’t understand everyone’ s g e n e r a l d e s i r e to own a grayscale vehicle. Maybe it’s some kind of weird desire for anonymity. All I know is that in the parking lot at work my car d e f i n i t e l y d o e s n ’ t b l e n d i n w i t h t h e o t h e r s .