Chimaera colours - desirability vs. resale?

[verysideways]

Hi all,

I am looking at a few cars at the moment, pretty much set my heart on a 450 (though wouldn't turn away the 'right' 400) around 98/99/00.

A couple of them are dark blues (think Iris, Starmist, Tahiti) and a couple are much lighter blues (Paris, Silhouette, Eclipse).

Anyone got any opinions on how desirability of these colours might affect resale? I don't think any of them is particularly lurid, and although dark blues are very nice there are also lots around. So whilst there may be fewer buyers for the lighter blues, there are also fewer cars in those colours. See what i mean?

I am very close to a deposit on a light blue car...

Thanks

VS
(or should that be VC - very confused)

[bobski]

Paris Blue, with aluminium dashboard and all dark blue interior (one colour!) - very pleasing - see my profile!

[lockhart flawse]

Personally I think the shade of blue will matter less than the overall condition as the cars get older. When I was buying mine I excluded yellow and silver (the new white) but was otherwise ready to accept any colour if the car was "right". None of the shades you mention should harm the resale prospects IMHO.

L.F.

[targarama]

Something pleasing to the eye, but less common is probably best. Deep blues and deep greens are very common on these cars. When I came to sell my Cosmos Blue car I had a number of buyers very keen and they all said the 'bright but nice' colour definitely influenced their choice. So I'd go lighter.

[zippee]

targarama said:

Something pleasing to the eye, but less common is probably best. Deep blues and deep greens are very common on these cars. When I came to sell my Cosmos Blue car I had a number of buyers very keen and they all said the 'bright but nice' colour definitely influenced their choice. So I'd go lighter.

Agreee with targarama. The dark blues are very common but don't stand out so well. Hence the reason I also went for Cosmos blue. Picks up the sun beautifully!
If your after a late Chim I had a look a a georgeous 450 (in a lightsilvery blue) on an S plate at Offords on Saturday.
3/4 leather, full Leven kit and 15000 miles. It really did look fantastic! Not sure how much they want for it but may be worth giving them a call.

[JonRB]

I've never been a fan of red cars, personally, but that didn't stop me from buying my Cherry Pearlescent Chimaera 500 as everything else was right about it and I figured I could live with the colour. As it turns out I really like it now.

So given that, I would imagine many other potential buyers would have the same attitude. So long as the colour isn't totally hideous then it shouldn't affect the resale value too badly.

[brioss]

zippee said:

targarama said: Something pleasing to the eye, but less common is probably best. Deep blues and deep greens are very common on these cars. When I came to sell my Cosmos Blue car I had a number of buyers very keen and they all said the 'bright but nice' colour definitely influenced their choice. So I'd go lighter. Agreee with targarama. The dark blues are very common but don't stand out so well. Hence the reason I also went for Cosmos blue. Picks up the sun beautifully! If your after a late Chim I had a look a a georgeous 450 (in a lightsilvery blue) on an S plate at Offords on Saturday. 3/4 leather, full Leven kit and 15000 miles. It really did look fantastic! Not sure how much they want for it but may be worth giving them a call.

I see that one at Offords over the weekend, I beleive its this one www.pistonheads.com/sales/50628.htm

Its not in my price range though (possibly over priced ?) Im keen for Imperial blue, Iris blue and Olympic blue.
Does anyone know how many colour are availble when ordering a 98/99 Chim.
I seems every other 98/99 chim in the classified section is in Starmist blue, its a nice colour but appears very popular.

>> Edited by brioss on Monday 9th January 12:18

[verysideways]

Brioss, i suspect we have been to see a few of the same cars...

Don't like the interior of the Offords car myself. I prefer a lighter interior, and such low mileage on a 7 year old car puts me off to be honest.

[exuber-bob]

Starmist blue with dark blue leather interior, aluminium dash IMO the best combo (Sorry not for Sale)...BUT...you will enjoy whatever the combo.....agree with hte earlier comment re mileage, much better to have a regularly used well maintained car. I use mine every day in the summer, 3/4 days per week winter...Good hunting

[edtvr]

No matter what colour you choose, It will be one hell of a motor,
Me,I choose Eclise!

Ed

[bigdods]

Just remember blue is faster. And imperial blue has the powdered dilithium crystals included to give it that extra edge ;-)

On a serious note, I wanted Imperial blue but would have settled for another colour if in the right condition. I was lucky, found a lovely imp blue 450 - everyone that has seen it comments on the colour :-)

[razorman]

Everyone is saying the right things.
Condition is the most important and colour is totally down to individual taste.
Condition will decide if anyone should buy it and colour will probably decide if they will having narrowed the field.
I'm getting old so I prefer a classic sedate colour and original trim.



Couldn't find a smilie for old fart!

>> Edited by razorman on Monday 9th January 20:13

[forthright mc]

surprised i didn't run into any of you guys who were up Offords on saturday. i was up there too nosing round the showroom i might have seen you there.
was 2 fellas with their missus' looking at the Cerbs and another guy looking at the grey V8S in the showroom was it any of you guys?
the Offords Chimaera is a beauty its been there a little while now but the colour and spec is spot on spoke to Simon up there the other day and he doesen't think he'll have trouble shifting it come spring time.
BTW they also have an imperial blue P reg 400 for sale with a desirable spec too check out their website.

>> Edited by forthright mc on Monday 9th January 20:47

[verysideways]

I'm looking for imperial/iris, or paris/silhouette/eclipse, with magnolia or magnolia/blue or biscuit, ideally 450 but 400 would be okay, around 98/99 (facelift front and rear lights). I reckon that's reasonable
Keep my fingers crossed eh?

[zippee]

forthright mc said:

surprised i didn't run into any of you guys who were up Offords on saturday. i was up there too nosing round the showroom i might have seen you there. was 2 fellas with their missus' looking at the Cerbs and another guy looking at the grey V8S in the showroom was it any of you guys? the Offords Chimaera is a beauty its been there a little while now but the colour and spec is spot on spoke to Simon up there the other day and he doesen't think he'll have trouble shifting it come spring time. BTW they also have an imperial blue P reg 400 for sale with a desirable spec too check out their website. >> Edited by forthright mc on Monday 9th January 20:47

Must have just missed you as I left about mid-day. Passed a yellow Chim just after the crossing at Buckden which I believe you saw actually at Offords. The guy looking at the V8S was there when I was, giving them both a thorough check over.
Not sure if you would have met the chap with the Pre-Cat Griff, he's from St-Neots, just round the corner from the Kings Lane garage

[petros]

Fastest colour is green. Stands to reason, there's no British racing Blue or Red is there? Only British Racing GREEN.

[tahiti450]

Of the dark blues, which is of course the most classy colour, Tahiti blue is my favorite (see my profile) with real depth and iridescence, not as dark as Starmist, nor as purply as Imperial. Avus Blue would also be high on my list.
I do agree that lighter colours show off the Chimaeras' styling features more like the nose, bonnet vents and door cut aways, etc and I really like the Halcyon Atlantis Blue, sort of a metallic turqoise, lush!
have a look at the pics on PH classifieds for examples.

[vixpy1]

Blue is faster.. and nicer

[cic450]

Olymipc Blue Pearl, you know it makes sense

cic

[gf350]

verysideways said:

Brioss, i suspect we have been to see a few of the same cars... Don't like the interior of the Offords car myself. I prefer a lighter interior, and such low mileage on a 7 year old car puts me off to be honest.

I wouldn't be put off by the mileage personally if its got a good service history and it has done a couple some of mileage every year. I bought my '98 450 a year and a half ago with 20k ish on it and its been no trouble, I replaced the battery when I got it as a precautionary measure and it had a leaking master cylinder replaced at the last service (not expensive), only other slight probs were the door button stoped working (loose wire knocked loose by the window michanism) and the intermitant windscreen wiper action wasn't quite right (from where I'd sprayed oil on the connection, cleaned it off and it worked again) oh and an indicator bulb - all fixed myself.
The interior all looked almost new, the roof is in good condition, aircon works fine, good chassis etc.. etc.. drives perfectly.
Plus if your going to do a lot of miles in it yourself it will still have a reasonable mileage if you sell it in a couple of years or so.
GF