Hot Take: Green should be a regular option.

"BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast." (boxerfanatic)
08/16/2019 at 14:55 • Filed to: Green Cars, Toyota, lexus, Toyota 86, Lexus LC500

What is the deal with Toyota?

First the 86 Hakone Special edition, now the Lexus LC500 Inspiration Edition. (above)

Green with brown/bronze is a classic color combination, and modern paints really look great, not under-saturated and nearly black.

Evidently Toyota thinks it is so great that people will pay extra simply for that colorway on a special edition limited-run, and then deny it to regular buyers, and any other car models.

And not many other car companies are doing much better in terms of offering a gorgeous green paint option, rather than the 15 shades of gray and silver, and 5 more variations of black and white, plus a few beiges thrown in.

PAINT CARS GREEN AGAIN!

My parents had no trouble getting their first new car, a 79 Fox Mercury Capri in this color green with tan interior... but it was vinyl, and liked to rip skin off in the summer heat, and cold in the winter.... and it was a 4-cylinder car in the midst of the malaise era.

Why is it so hard to get a green coupe now? Especially to the point where it COSTS more to get green paint and brown leather as the sole differentiators of a Special Edition...

DISCUSSION (24)

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 15:09

Because people care more about resale value than enjoying it while they have it. So everyone gets a boring color, some options, and an automatic to make sure they cast the widest net possible when it's time to sell it.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 15:11

I think this is basically the standard oppo opinion. The Limerock Green C7 was the best looking C7 Z51. Shame it was a one year color.

Kinja'd!!!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/16/2019 at 15:15

The problem is when you lay it all out like that, it makes sense to behave in such a manner...

E90M3 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/16/2019 at 15:16

It seems because everyone does this, the few cars that aren’t the boring colors seem to, ironically, hold their value better.

E90M3 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 15:16

Completely agree.

WilliamsSW > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 15:19

This is not a hot take, it is an indisputable fact.

Those who disagree should be sent to the gulag immediately.

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now)
08/16/2019 at 15:29

With Brownstone...

Kinja'd!!!

... mmmmmmmmmm.

jimz > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 15:44

I mean, you’re not wrong

the “Green Gem” option Ford had circa 2016 was really nice; it was pretty dark but out in the sun it was a really neat deep, dark green.

punkgoose17 > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 16:02

Agreed. Green is a wonderful color for cars.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > E90M3
08/16/2019 at 16:04

I think they get held on to longer because those buyers really enjoy their car. So not nearly as many are on sale, out of the already few sold in the bright color. Do I can see that too

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 16:09

Kinja'd!!!

I loved my former green miata.

for Michigan > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 16:15

Green, purple, yellow, orange, blue that isn’t basically cold metallic gray. I’m even on board with raspberry and teal. Cars should be colorful, not drab.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
08/16/2019 at 16:19

Ironically, the Emerald Green regular production paint color looked better than the non-metallic British Racing Green special edition green on the NB Miata.

lone_liberal > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 16:43

I’m not a huge fan, other than BRG on certain cars, but I wholeheartedly agree that it should be an option. Why have 4 shades of gray but no green?

Ash78, voting early and often > E90M3
08/16/2019 at 16:49

For used cars, I know I sure as hell will wait on something better (and pay more) if the only option is silver/gray . I won’t buy black, and I’ll only consider white if there’s something really compelling elsewhere, like contrasting mirrors or roof rails.

Green is like an instant sale if I can find what I want.

Ash78, voting early and often > for Michigan
08/16/2019 at 16:52

I’m so conflicted because there’s a VW Alltrack with $5k on the hood near me. It has chrome rails and some cladding that breaks up the monotony, plus it has brown glove-leather-colored interior.

So much want. But ugh. Gray.

SiennaMan > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast
08/16/2019 at 17:04

Good lord yes.

SiennaMan > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 17:05

Am I the only one here who thinks this is about as hot a take ( here) as “cars are fun and should be enjoyed”?

I'm right there with you on the green cars..

fintail > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/16/2019 at 17:08

I knew an ex-car salesman who actually referred to green cars as “no sale green”.

E90M3 > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
08/16/2019 at 17:12

That's also a valid argument.

Chariotoflove > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 17:27

Not a hot take at all.

M.T. Blake > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 18:21

#GREENISTHENEWBROWN

Spread the word. From sea to shining sea. From the mountains to the valleys. From Hanalei to the Highlands. Go my fellow minions, be the ball, let’s get that goal.

BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast. > SiennaMan
08/16/2019 at 19:55

The hot take bit was a bit tongue-in-cheek... I was hoping it wasn’t an unpopular opinion, but just a little self-deprecation to lighten the mood.

SiennaMan > BoxerFanatic, troublesome iconoclast.
08/16/2019 at 20:17

Sorry, that came off a bit edgier than I intended. Caulk it up to frustration at the dearth of green cars.. ;-)