Not Paying For Paint
Discussion
One or two colours tend to be free but metallics are now extra and some metallics are even more extra.
Here is an example:
Back in 2005, Mazda offered black as a FREE colour so it can't cost much.
Nowadays, I think every manufacturer charges around £499 for a metallic.
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Some have an even lesser FREE palate so that the Fiat Panda only gives you white as a free colour, everything else costs more.
I think Ford offer two or three free colours and one is a very nice red so why you would pay £500 for a very similar red is beyond me (Racing Red and Flame Red).
Personally, I think it's a big CON, like charging you £100 or more for a spare wheel you used to get FREE and like rear headrests you used to get free but which is now on the options list.
Don't get me wrong, some new cars are very cheap and this may be why and I suspcet they appeal to the options in us all to rely on a higher spec car being sold. Certainly the "available" cars when you buy new tend to have options already.
Here is an example:
Back in 2005, Mazda offered black as a FREE colour so it can't cost much.
Nowadays, I think every manufacturer charges around £499 for a metallic.
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Some have an even lesser FREE palate so that the Fiat Panda only gives you white as a free colour, everything else costs more.
I think Ford offer two or three free colours and one is a very nice red so why you would pay £500 for a very similar red is beyond me (Racing Red and Flame Red).
Personally, I think it's a big CON, like charging you £100 or more for a spare wheel you used to get FREE and like rear headrests you used to get free but which is now on the options list.
Don't get me wrong, some new cars are very cheap and this may be why and I suspcet they appeal to the options in us all to rely on a higher spec car being sold. Certainly the "available" cars when you buy new tend to have options already.
Ah - seems to be the norm then.
I was looking at Clios specifically and only white is free. Lesser models have a French Blue and an Inca Yellow at £225. The "standard" metallics are £495 but some are £595 as they say "Renault i.d." before them in the brochure. I assume this is related to being exclusive to certain trim levels (R.S.). There is a Flame Red which apparently is extra special because the lacquer is also coloured so is extra-lovely. Then the Liquid Yellow is £1300 - similar to the Ford Orange in the R.S. range which I think was quite pricey.
I was looking at Clios specifically and only white is free. Lesser models have a French Blue and an Inca Yellow at £225. The "standard" metallics are £495 but some are £595 as they say "Renault i.d." before them in the brochure. I assume this is related to being exclusive to certain trim levels (R.S.). There is a Flame Red which apparently is extra special because the lacquer is also coloured so is extra-lovely. Then the Liquid Yellow is £1300 - similar to the Ford Orange in the R.S. range which I think was quite pricey.
LuS1fer said:
One or two colours tend to be free but metallics are now extra and some metallics are even more extra.
Here is an example:
Back in 2005, Mazda offered black as a FREE colour so it can't cost much.
Nowadays, I think every manufacturer charges around £499 for a metallic.
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Some have an even lesser FREE palate so that the Fiat Panda only gives you white as a free colour, everything else costs more.
I think Ford offer two or three free colours and one is a very nice red so why you would pay £500 for a very similar red is beyond me (Racing Red and Flame Red).
Personally, I think it's a big CON, like charging you £100 or more for a spare wheel you used to get FREE and like rear headrests you used to get free but which is now on the options list.
Don't get me wrong, some new cars are very cheap and this may be why and I suspcet they appeal to the options in us all to rely on a higher spec car being sold. Certainly the "available" cars when you buy new tend to have options already.
The Renault metallic red has a coloured lacquer coat (instead of clear) which makes it slightly different. Malta Blue is also £595 (maybe for exclusivity -it's GT only)Here is an example:
Back in 2005, Mazda offered black as a FREE colour so it can't cost much.
Nowadays, I think every manufacturer charges around £499 for a metallic.
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Some have an even lesser FREE palate so that the Fiat Panda only gives you white as a free colour, everything else costs more.
I think Ford offer two or three free colours and one is a very nice red so why you would pay £500 for a very similar red is beyond me (Racing Red and Flame Red).
Personally, I think it's a big CON, like charging you £100 or more for a spare wheel you used to get FREE and like rear headrests you used to get free but which is now on the options list.
Don't get me wrong, some new cars are very cheap and this may be why and I suspcet they appeal to the options in us all to rely on a higher spec car being sold. Certainly the "available" cars when you buy new tend to have options already.
CarCluster said:
Ah - seems to be the norm then.
I was looking at Clios specifically and only white is free. Lesser models have a French Blue and an Inca Yellow at £225. The "standard" metallics are £495 but some are £595 as they say "Renault i.d." before them in the brochure. I assume this is related to being exclusive to certain trim levels (R.S.). There is a Flame Red which apparently is extra special because the lacquer is also coloured so is extra-lovely. Then the Liquid Yellow is £1300 - similar to the Ford Orange in the R.S. range which I think was quite pricey.
I think it varies but the sad fact is you won't see any of that money back, come resale, though it might sell quicker.I was looking at Clios specifically and only white is free. Lesser models have a French Blue and an Inca Yellow at £225. The "standard" metallics are £495 but some are £595 as they say "Renault i.d." before them in the brochure. I assume this is related to being exclusive to certain trim levels (R.S.). There is a Flame Red which apparently is extra special because the lacquer is also coloured so is extra-lovely. Then the Liquid Yellow is £1300 - similar to the Ford Orange in the R.S. range which I think was quite pricey.
CarCluster said:
Am I right in thinking that there was a time when flat paint was free on a new car (any colour)
As others have said, flat paint was and still is free, but the choice of flat colours has dwindled. These days you only get white (and maybe flat red or flat black if you're lucky). As recently as the 80s and 90s, it was pretty common for manufacturers to offer flat light blue, flat dark blue, flat maroon/burgundy, flat pale yellow, and flat beige (Austin Rover). I assume these colours got dropped due to lack of demand.
excel monkey said:
As others have said, flat paint was and still is free, but the choice of flat colours has dwindled. These days you only get white (and maybe flat red or flat black if you're lucky).
As recently as the 80s and 90s, it was pretty common for manufacturers to offer flat light blue, flat dark blue, flat maroon/burgundy, flat pale yellow, and flat beige (Austin Rover). I assume these colours got dropped due to lack of demand.
And don't forget the old codger's second favourite after biege, flat purple - every manufacturer at one time had a purple of some discription!As recently as the 80s and 90s, it was pretty common for manufacturers to offer flat light blue, flat dark blue, flat maroon/burgundy, flat pale yellow, and flat beige (Austin Rover). I assume these colours got dropped due to lack of demand.
LuS1fer said:
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585.
Renault metallics are £495, Flame red is £595, Flame red is a actually a different paint process to the other metallics, it has a far deeper and richer colour, haven't a clue if it actually cost more to produce though, I would say as it is a process that is different than the other metallics then it probably does cost more to produce and apply.White on the Clio is free and there are two "id" colours that are non metallic; French Blue and Inca Yellow, these are £225.
There are other colours throught the range of other Renaults that are different prices too, £1200 for liquid yellow on the 200, for example.
I was told, a while back that due to the relative unpopularity of flat no cost colours that it actually costs a manufacturer more to paint a car in the non metallic "free" colour than in the cost option metallic colour.
LuS1fer said:
One or two colours tend to be free but metallics are now extra and some metallics are even more extra.
Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Colours like red and light blue are slow to cover/build up so require more coats hence why you pay a premium on these colours. Renault metallics are £499 but the best metallic red is £585. Why?
Ford metallics are £499 but the Magenta and Candy Blue are an astonishing £700-plus. You can buy a feckin' car with 12 months MOT for that!
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff