Colour vs spec vs condition

Colour vs spec vs condition

Author
Discussion

lestershaw

Original Poster:

1,591 posts

160 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
quotequote all
I know condition is the most important thing when buying the car you want.
However would you hold out for the colour AND spec you want .
Would you not buy a car because it wasn't the colour you wanted but it was the right spec.
Or would you buy a car in any colour if it had the spec you wanted
I know this is a tongue twister of a question but you know what I mean.

chris182

4,167 posts

155 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
quotequote all
I won't buy a car with the wrong spec or in bad condition. If the car is very common then I might wait for the my favourite colour, if it is a rare classic then it just has to be a nice colour as otherwise one could be waiting a lifetime.

myles1972

9,548 posts

173 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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I'm not rich enough to be choosy about colour, or spec to a certain degree, but I'm not foolhardy enough to not be too choosy about condition.

Nedzilla

2,439 posts

176 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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The simple answer to that is how long are you prepared to wait for the right car??

m44kts

801 posts

202 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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I had reservations about the colour of my CLS before I went to see it, spec. wise, it was everything I wanted, has black leather and dark polished wood which were my preference, it had reams of service history and appeared to be in pristine condition. Luckily after I had driven all the way from Durham-ish to Norfolk, I loved the colour straight away. I dare say I would have still bought it if I hadn't been 100% on the colour because it was the 'right' car.

myles1972

9,548 posts

173 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
quotequote all
m44kts said:
I had reservations about the colour of my CLS before I went to see it, spec. wise, it was everything I wanted, has black leather and dark polished wood which were my preference, it had reams of service history and appeared to be in pristine condition. Luckily after I had driven all the way from Durham-ish to Norfolk, I loved the colour straight away. I dare say I would have still bought it if I hadn't been 100% on the colour because it was the 'right' car.
What colour was it?

LuS1fer

41,172 posts

247 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
quotequote all
Back in 2005, I had the luck to find two almost new Mustangs both in Manchester and went to see both on the same day so had a choice of black/grey interior or a better spec silver/red interior. I like black cars but fancied the silver and red combo. Had I not had the choice, I probably would have bought the black one.

On more mainstream cars, mush depends on distance as to whether I'll risk going to look at it as I hate wasting people's time.

Dr G

15,242 posts

244 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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Most buyers want all of the above on an utterly immaculate car that is at least 25% cheaper than anything else available...

Agrilla

834 posts

185 months

Tuesday 21st February 2012
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On my daily hack, I just knew I didn't want silver ideally, so when metallic red came up I didn't love it, but the spec was right and the condition the best I'd seen (I know I was buying at the budget end, but really, I've never seen so many abused cars - yuk!).

This car is used for ferrying kids, camping trips, tip runs, and getting to work & back so condition was an utmost priority, with spec coming second ( though still important considering the amount of time I have to spend in it) with colour being way down the list of priorities.

I've been saving the old pennies though, and have been looking at a weekend/summer car, and I've still not come to any firm conclusions. I'd really like an isotope or krypton green s2 toyota engined Elise, but they are relatively rare in that colour, and to get one that colour means inevitably a much increased budget (since I've been looking on off for about 12 months, and only the newer one's seem to come up for sale at about £26k) or an older 111s in any other colour at around £16k.

This is likely to be the only one I buy though, so I don't really want to compromise on anything. Luckily I'm in no particular rush - if the planets aligned and the right car, right condition and right spec came on the market within my original budget I'd move heaven and earth to buy it now, but otherwise I will wait. I don't want to over extend myself financially, particularly not for a car that's not even my realistic dream, but dressed in silver or resale grey!

parapaul

2,828 posts

200 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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Spec, yes. Condition, yes. Colour, no.

However, for every car I've owned there has been at least one colour I would have turned down regardless of spec or condition.

ESOG

1,705 posts

160 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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When I was looking at run a round cars, especially when it came to a Mazda 626, the best deals (literally thousands less) second hand were all green colored. Hideous! I found some really well taken care of 626's but couldn't bring myself to get one in green. And believe me there was no shortage of them in that color.

When it comes to spec and condition I always play the waiting game. The thing about me is that I love sports cars in white. I've had 3 mustang 5.0's, 1 350Z, 1 G35 coupe, 1 BMW 335xi and 1 89 Esprit NA all in white. Its sort of like my signature thing when it comes to sports cars. All were second hand. I like white becsuse then I put on a nice set of wheels, lightly tint the windows and smoke the front and rear lights gently, makes for a very subtle yet elegant look.

With the exception of the mustangs, because there really is no extra options for them, I held out for the specs I wanted. I.e. Heated seats, sun roof, leather, all weather package, and AWD on the Bimmer.

The Esprit all I ever wanted was white with tan interior and luckily most white Esprits, so few there are in the states with well documented history, come in that combo as it is.

I've been very lucky I must say.

I did however also have 2 other mustangs in white but with a red interior. When I first ssaw it I couldn't stare at it as it was so hideously bright being just detailed and all. But I took the plunge as I figured its easy enough to chanhe the interior on a late model Mustang. But after living with it for a while iit grew on me and I am now a fan of red interiors. As a matter of fact I once saw a 94 Esprit S4 in white with red interior and I vow to own such a combo one day. It was so delightfully unique and dare I say elegant!

m44kts

801 posts

202 months

Wednesday 22nd February 2012
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myles1972 said:
What colour was it?
Brown laugh



Well, browny-grey, It's really hard to describe but a nice colour in the metal.