Choosing a car colour may seem like a trivial, unimportant aspect of the car buying process, but there’s plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise. In fact, picking the “wrong” colour may result in a variety of issues in the future, including poor resale value and potentially even an accident.
When choosing a car colour, most drivers play it safe. According to the 2012 DuPont Automotive Color Popularity Report, white is the most popular paint job for new cars, followed by black, silver, grey and red. However, that doesn’t mean that you should play it safe too. Instead you should consider a variety of factors and make your choice based on them:
1. Pay Attention to the Trends
Car colours here essentially play the same role they do in fashion – they always follow the trends, drawing influences from nature, fashion, home decor, colour popularity and new pigment technology. That’s why colour trends can change at a moment’s notice. For instance, silver was one of the most popular colours in the early 00s, but now white and black vehicles dominate the market.
Some colours suit certain vehicles more than others. For example, sports cars often look better when they are bright and flashy, but luxury vehicles seem more appealing when they stick to more conservative colours, like black, silver or grey.
2. Take a Good Look at Yourself
Car owners that choose white vehicles are perceived as people with a modern attitude and preference for simplicity. Like any Apple product, a white car looks “clean” because of how minimalistic it is. Since the beginning of time, white has been the colour of purity and righteousness. However, while it has grown to be a popular and safe choice for car buyers, it also tends to be involved in the biggest amount of accidents – at least according to a study by researchers at the University of Auckland. So, perhaps, it’s not the “safest” choice.
Black cars, another trendy choice, are often seen driven by business executives, collared-shirt professionals and other sophisticated aficionados. That’s because black is associated with power, and powerful people know it.
Silver may be considered a second-place prize, but when it comes to cars, it symbolizes class and elegance. It’s neutral and inoffensive enough to let you go unnoticed in rush-hour traffic, but shiny enough to seem upscale upon closer inspection. It’s also one of the safest colours, according to the study from the University of Auckland.
While white, black and silver are solid colours for those who want to blend in, red is an apt choice for those who want to stand out. But that comes at a price. Studies have also shown that the colour red causes birds to instinctively panic and loosen their bowels. In other words, a red car is more susceptible to bird droppings than a vehicle of any other colour (except maybe blue).
3. Consider Your Environment
While you might have a favourite colour and want to exemplify that with your car, you must also consider your environment. If you live in a rural area and have to navigate across gravel roads and muddy patches, owning a white vehicle may not be the most appealing choice.
Moreover, cars can become giant ovens on a sunny day. If you live somewhere without shade and have to park outside, you are probably familiar with opening the car door and feeling the gust of heat come at you from inside. Choosing the right car colour may cool you down a bit during those sultry days. White and silver are scientifically recognized as being the coolest, and black being the hottest.
You will use your air conditioner less often if you select a cooler car colour. This will enable you to save fuel overtime. In fact, white or silver vehicles raise fuel economy by two per cent and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 1.9 per cent.
For more information on various car colours, be sure to check out our free Dealer Cost Report.
