What’s your colour?

Last year, the 'new black' was, erm, well black. With 465,249 of all new cars registered finished in the once sexy number, black was adorned to a massive 24.7% of all cars sold in 2010. We all know that black suggests power, authority, confidence and wealth (apparently) but here’s a thing, with so many around, didn’t black cars then just become the norm and failed to be as impressive as they once were? Now before you say it, Henry Ford never said of his Model T, ‘You can have any colour you like as long as it’s black’ – that was just an urban myth. A true saying about the colour black however is, that it does show streaks and watermarks when washed. Yes, this can look unsightly on a mirror-like finish and that’s why you must leather the car immediately. Mind you, there’s nothing better than a clean, black car.

But what of the new colour, white? This paler shade made a huge return last year with around 25% of the total number of black cars sold in 2010 (188,463 or 10% of the total number of cars sold). Because white is a relatively new kid on the block (well, new since its last big wave of the eighties) this colour really does stand out. Not because it’s bright, but more likely because the cars themselves look different or unique (take that pearlescent version for instance). Top manufacturers are putting more white ones out there, complete with black wheels to accentuate the cars poise.   

Speaking of standing out, have you ever noticed when buy a new (or newer) car, that you think no one else has one like it? - until three of the same pass you in the street! Is this because you never really noticed the shade before but you are now looking for it?

In the early to mid-2000’s, it was impossible to find anything out there but silver, even the ones on every billboard advert had a silver car with its front wheel slightly turned (ask VW who’s colour pallet consisted only of silver). Last year, silver metallic came out in second place with 402,537 sold – or 21.4% of the total market – a favourite with people who hate washing cars – they say it doesn’t show the dirt as much. Still, you can’t go wrong when it comes to resale.  

So what does all this say about you, the buyer?  In terms of personality traits, it's more than possible to choose a colour that 'matches' your style – just ask the manufacturers how they do it (and they spend millions around the planet researching what it is we like).

If none of the popular colours suit, you can always have your car 'wrapped' in vinyl in a shade you like. Not cheap (you can expect to pay around £2,000 for a full wrap), but it has its advantages - if you don’t like the drab shade of brown you’ve mistakenly applied, simply peel it off and start again (if you have a spare to £2,000 waste that is). Brown incidentally, was the last on the colour pallet of all cars registered last year with just 6,967 hitting the streets. Let’s hope the owners weren’t too worried about resale values – one of the biggest residual negatives up there with high mileage and poor service history making the motor worth a lot less. Wonder how much my 100,000 mile Reliant Robin in sky blue pink with yellow dots will fetch?

Choose your Used Car by colour

Added: 08 December 2011

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