How dull are our choices in car colour?

[spookly]

Dave Hedgehog said:

as is cavansite blue

Had to do a double take. I originally read that as caravansite blue :-)

[mhurley]

I've always though Mercedes owners seem to be specify either silver or black

[mhurley]

I've always though Mercedes owners seem to be specify either silver or black

[s55shh]

I paid £1500 extra for premium paint when I bought my Elise 17 years ago and chose a derivative of Audi paradise green. I've still got it. It's unique and makes me smile when I open the garage. No regrets. I recently talked myself out of buying a new Skoda superb as the colours were all so bland. The shame is that in other markets they have access to loads more colours than us including a few wacky ones.

[Wills2]

Trabi601 said:

I wanted my F10 in a bold colour - but the most bold choice available was Mediterranean Blue.

Why no Estoril, Yas Marina, Valencia, Melbourne Red?

BMW will paint your F10 or any car you buy from them in any colour you like within reason, but I guess you just didn't want to pay?

[aeropilot]

Wills2 said:

Trabi601 said:

I wanted my F10 in a bold colour - but the most bold choice available was Mediterranean Blue.

Why no Estoril, Yas Marina, Valencia, Melbourne Red?

BMW will paint your F10 or any car you buy from them in any colour you like within reason, but I guess you just didn't want to pay?

Not any you buy from them.

Individual isn't an option on every BMW, and restricted to only a few colour options on many models even when available.

[Trabi601]

aeropilot said:

Not any you buy from them.

Individual isn't an option on every BMW, and restricted to only a few colour options on many models even when available.

And even when it is available, it is circa 10% of the value of the car - which is all front-loaded into a lease, so over 3 or 4 years, you have to pay for the full cost.

We need more choice as standard or as a normal cost paint option.

[kambites]

If they thought the demand was there, they'd offer it.

[Iva Barchetta]

I'm glad I chose Tango red for my Fiesta.

My silver Fiat was the only car they had for sale at the time I wanted to buy.

I am jazzing it up a bit though.

[RenesisEvo]

I recall one evening leaving work, and noticing that every single car left in the office car park was monochrome - grey, silver, black, white. How terribly depressing. I was guilty too, only because I'd driven a different car to work that day - I'd wanted a red one, but my perfect used car just happened to be silver and I compromised.

Going against the grain slightly, recently I've spotted two brand new Fiestas in a sort of duck egg blue - at the time I couldn't find anything about it anywhere, now it turns out it might be 'Bohai Bay Mint'... confusingly Ford's car configurator doesn't allow it on an ST-Line but I've seen it on a Zetec S; someone managed to order that colour before it was widely known, and/or during the phase out of the Zetec S. Anyway it looks great, something totally different to the normal blue/grey/white/red. More please - as posted before, there used to be such a wide range of standard colours. Now most cars come in one hideous/dull shade, and anything else is significantly extra - capitalism over choice.

I deliberately chose a colour that I liked for my Fiesta that was a bit different to all the others, plus then I could easily find it in the office car park! Life's too short to not have the colour you like if the choice is yours - if I'm paying for the privilege of a brand new car, Im having it spec'd exactly how I want it.

[Wills2]

aeropilot said:

Wills2 said:

Trabi601 said:

I wanted my F10 in a bold colour - but the most bold choice available was Mediterranean Blue.

Why no Estoril, Yas Marina, Valencia, Melbourne Red?

BMW will paint your F10 or any car you buy from them in any colour you like within reason, but I guess you just didn't want to pay?

Not any you buy from them.

Individual isn't an option on every BMW, and restricted to only a few colour options on many models even when available.

If you're talking about individual collection then yes it's restricted IF you just go off the brochure or website, but they have lots of other individual paints available and the Individual manufaktur program that will do most things that are within brand guide lines.

As an example you can have Imola red on your 520d if you want etc....

[Nickbrapp]

RenesisEvo said:

I recall one evening leaving work, and noticing that every single car left in the office car park was monochrome - grey, silver, black, white. How terribly depressing. I was guilty too, only because I'd driven a different car to work that day - I'd wanted a red one, but my perfect used car just happened to be silver and I compromised.

Going against the grain slightly, recently I've spotted two brand new Fiestas in a sort of duck egg blue - at the time I couldn't find anything about it anywhere, now it turns out it might be 'Bohai Bay Mint'... confusingly Ford's car configurator doesn't allow it on an ST-Line but I've seen it on a Zetec S; someone managed to order that colour before it was widely known, and/or during the phase out of the Zetec S. Anyway it looks great, something totally different to the normal blue/grey/white/red. More please - as posted before, there used to be such a wide range of standard colours. Now most cars come in one hideous/dull shade, and anything else is significantly extra - capitalism over choice.

I deliberately chose a colour that I liked for my Fiesta that was a bit different to all the others, plus then I could easily find it in the office car park! Life's too short to not have the colour you like if the choice is yours - if I'm paying for the privilege of a brand new car, Im having it spec'd exactly how I want it.

I've seen plenty of those fiestas about it's a lovely colour, they also did a lovely copper/ bronze colour but I've only ever seen one in the dealer and never on the road.

Ford also offer a blue very close the the RS nitro blue on standard focus now

[aeropilot]

Wills2 said:

aeropilot said:

Wills2 said:

Trabi601 said:

I wanted my F10 in a bold colour - but the most bold choice available was Mediterranean Blue.

Why no Estoril, Yas Marina, Valencia, Melbourne Red?

BMW will paint your F10 or any car you buy from them in any colour you like within reason, but I guess you just didn't want to pay?

Not any you buy from them.

Individual isn't an option on every BMW, and restricted to only a few colour options on many models even when available.

If you're talking about individual collection then yes it's restricted IF you just go off the brochure or website, but they have lots of other individual paints available and the Individual manufaktur program that will do most things that are within brand guide lines.

As an example you can have Imola red on your 520d if you want etc....

Indeed, which is great if you are buying a car that is made in one of the BMW factories that have the full Individual facilities....like the 5 Series.
The list of models which Individual ISN'T an option on is longer than the list that it is.

[Nickbrapp]

Uncle John said:

I've the following:

Deep Navy
Lagoon Blue Metallic
Radifocani Red Metallic
Magnetic Brown Metallic


Now if you can guess the cars these are on then a virtual internet pint to you!!

A ford ( focus?)
A fiat
A Alfa ( most likely a GT)
A skoda superb

[Mr Tidy]

Nickbrapp said:

What's worse is BLACK interiors, god they are so so boring, why are people obsessed with them? Especially when you can spec white or cream etc.

Edited by Nickbrapp on Monday 25th July 08:18

Couldn't agree more! Both my BMWs are Sport models so get the black headlining, but thankfully my Montego Blue Z4C has Pearl Grey trim (although my Imola Red 325ti does have black - I would have chosen grey if I had bought it new)!

But the weirdest combination I seem to see quite often is white or silver with a cream interior - just looks washed out and colourless to me!

[ukaskew]

kambites said:

If they thought the demand was there, they'd offer it.

How do 'they' know? Serious question, would love to know how they decide what we get to choose from.

The previous gen Focus RS seemed popular in green, yet this time out it's several shades of bland plus a token blue.

[petop]

Dont have a photo together but i have...
Mint Green Fiat 500
Bright Orange Mini Cooper
Fire Red Aston Martin

[Dave Hedgehog]

spookly said:

J
Had to do a double take. I originally read that as caravansite blue :-)

OMG I will from now onwards only be able to see that as caravan site blue, I wonder if it's a similar shade to periwinkle blue ?

[RenesisEvo]

Nickbrapp said:

I've seen plenty of those fiestas about it's a lovely colour, they also did a lovely copper/ bronze colour but I've only ever seen one in the dealer and never on the road.

Funny you should say that - I chose the copper colour for mine. It's called Copper Pulse. I see a few about where I am, further afield less so. It looks fantastic in good light, yet doesn't become too dull on a grey day (well, unless it's not been washed for a while).

[jamieduff1981]

Nickbrapp said:

Pints said:

Nickbrapp said:

What's worse is BLACK interiors, god they are so so boring, why are people obsessed with them? Especially when you can spec white or cream etc.

I think the black interiors, especially black headlining, look great. Each to their own.

Two greys and one navy car owner here.

Edit: Although they were probably listed as "hue of blackbird belly" or "shades of speaker box" on the options list.

Edited by Pints on Monday 25th July 08:26

I think black headliner looks good but with the black seats and black plastic it's just so ZZZZZ



I think this looks much better

Your car, your choice.

I generally prefer dark interiors. The only exception thus far being TVRs which I think look better light (probably because they're so small inside). I strongly dislike your light interior picture up there and would walk away from such a car. I prefer cabins to feel small. Black headlining is good for that.

I prefer colours on the outside. I have a solid red car, a French racing blue car and a purple car. I've got a dark grey pickup, because that's what they had in stock and I wanted one immediately for my business rather than following a 9 month lead time, and I have a black and a silver car too because when I used to be poor I had to buy second hand on condition and almost all cars are black, silver or grey.