Black, grey cars, etc...

[Yelkrub]

As a keen cyclist and motorcyclist i just wonder at folk on the road head to toe in black.

Always had black leathers because
a) I'm too cheap to swap leathers to match colour of new bikes
b) coloured leathers make one look like a power ranger

My Cycling gear is normally black shorts and a bright coloured top, my favourite being my orange/white "duff beer" top

My last couple of cars have been metallic graphite grey as it looks good even if a bit mucky. I've never had a black car, too much like hard work!
I had a black Triumph Bonneville though.

 

[Gsrai]

Like a lot of people I think black cars look amazing when clean but my current black one looks awful dirty.

I tend to like blue cars the best!

 

[MartynK]

I've had a few white cars. They're popular in hot, sunny, climates like SA, but my last car was a dark metallic grey BMW. My wife's (UK) car is blue, and probably the most unreliable car we've ever had - even by Ford standards - but she inherited it. Don't suppose that's got anything to do with the colour though..!

 

[Pookeyhead]

Whenever I am driving any significant distance, I always play what I've come to call the German Game. It's a really simple game. You count the Audis, BMWs and Mercedes that are NOT white, silver or black. Interesting game.

I've nothing against white, grey, silver or black... it suits some cars very well... it's just a colour after all. In fact, my Mustang is "Tungsten Grey". What baffles me, is the sheer lack of imagination in the choice of "business" people. Why must they always drive a white, black or silver German vehicle? It's like a uniform... a business uniform: An extension of their suit. Look in the car parks of industrial parks and technology parks... you know the type of place; an anti-oasis of drab architecture you need to navigate a maze of mini-roundabouts in order to enter - a non-place... Block after block of industrial units, each with their own little car parks, all full of monochrome German rep-mobiles. Jesus.. if I had such a mind numbing job, I'd damned well have a bright yellow car, or something utterly ridiculous, like a lime green Nissan Cube.... just to break the monotony. Can you imagine living with these people? The kind that always wears drab business suits, and drive monochrome German cars? I bet they give powerpoint presentations to the family to decide what breakfast cereal to have that morning.

Aaaaaaargh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring back the 70s, when cars came in colours!

As for the parking thing... swallow your egos, and buy a really crap car for the weekly grind. I don't care who opens a door onto my Micra... in fact, I sometimes just let the door open until the wall at the side of my driveways stops it any way. Sure.. people look at me driving it and may think, who's this loser dressed like a tramp, driving a 12 year old dented old person's shopping trolley.... but I don't give a ****. The fact is.. it works. My other car is approaching 10 years old now, and without a word of a lie, it looks utterly identical to how it looked when it was brand new. In fact, that's not true: The "next track" button on the head unit is slightly more shiny than the other buttons.

 

[Cobra]

It amazes me how with a plethora of larger spaces, people always decide to park next to mine. No matter how I try (even tried parking the furthest from the door), some b*****d always parks next to me leaving as little space as possible to open the door!

I was thinking just that as I was reading through, no matter how far up the Tesco ( other supermarkets are available) car park I park, the hearding instinct comes into play every time!

As for the parking thing... swallow your egos, and buy a really crap car for the weekly grind.

Maybe we are not all as rich as you and can't afford a "dog car" as an ex boss used to call his Fiesta.
( it was as you say for shopping and taking the dogs out)

 

[Pookeyhead]

Maybe we are not all as rich as you and can't afford a "dog car" as an ex boss used to call his Fiesta.
( it was as you say for shopping and taking the dogs out)

You have to be rich to own a 12 year old Nissan Micra? £500 should do it, and about half that per annum to insure it.

[edit]

I'm not even approaching rich BTW.

 

[Cobra]

You have to be rich to own a 12 year old Nissan Micra? £500 should do it, and about half that per annum to insure it.

But there are lot of people that can't justify or afford that extra expenditure.
Just sayin'

 

[Pookeyhead]

But there are lot of people that can't justify or afford that extra expenditure.
Just sayin'

If they're on here.... they're probably spending cash on cameras and lenses. If anyone moans about car park damage at Sainsbury's... I'm offering an alternative... It wasn't an order or anything. If you can't afford it, then you can't afford it (shrug). Many probably can. I didn't see why you had to make assumptions about my financial status because I drive a dented 12 year old car.


Just sayin'

 

[Gary Coyle]

I hate black with a passion, looks terrible the day after a wash, i bought this colour (ginger ale) purely because it was £1500 cheaper than a black, white, grey etc, etc, it simply doesnt show dirt at all

 

[piggin]

I was thinking just that as I was reading through, no matter how far up the Tesco ( other supermarkets are available) car park I park, the hearding instinct comes into play every time!

I am the person who parks his car the furthest away in a car park, with nothing around me & takes 5 minutes to walk into the shop. However there is always another car parked next 2 me on my return.

 

[Gsrai]

I've nothing against white, grey, silver or black... it suits some cars very well... it's just a colour after all. In fact, my Mustang is "Tungsten Grey". What baffles me, is the sheer lack of imagination in the choice of "business" people. Why must they always drive a white, black or silver German vehicle? It's like a uniform... a business uniform: An extension of their suit. .

Isnt that because they are the least cost options when speccing a car through a company car scheme, if I bought a BMW I'd want estoril blue but until recently it was a 2k option and I'd rather have a sunroof and upgraded sound than the colour - just a thought.

I don't know the stats but I reckon ther emust be very few personal "new" car buyers - the majority c.80%+ must be company cars or lease cars?

 

[ianp5a]

A colleague would only ever buy black cars. Even when it didn't suit the car. Some body shapes need a lighter colour to appreciate the shape.

My girlfriend bought a black car after writing off her old one, despite me insisting she needs a bright yellow one so that other people stand a chance when she does one of her 'interesting' manoeuvres.

 

[piggin]

I agree, most cars are on personal finance plans these days. Everyone you talk to doesn't own their car just makes monthly payments

 

[Mr Bump]

Ive never fussed much about cars, have currently got a 7 year old burgendy citroen c3 as when we went to look for a car about 4 years ago it was dirt cheap as everyone walked past it.

Was 3 years old had been traded in with 21k on it and i think we paid £4500, it never gets washed ever ever. has loads of little dents on it from supermarket stuff and stone chips. I am quite distant from cars there just A to B things. I do however wear a Rolex and have two quite expensive bicycles, its just a matter of priorities

 

[ianp5a]

I agree, most cars are on personal finance plans these days. Everyone you talk to doesn't own their car just makes monthly payments

Does that mean that the one guy doing the fleet buying likes black cars? Or did someone tell him the resell value is better because people only want black cars?

 

[Cobra]

she needs a bright yellow one so that other people stand a chance when she does one of her 'interesting' manoeuvres.

How long were you sleeping on the sofa for, after offering that little pearl of wisdom ?

I agree, most cars are on personal finance plans these days. Everyone you talk to doesn't own their car just makes monthly payments

I can't do that, ( must be an age thing) especially when cars these days cost more than my house did
( one mortgage was enough)

 

[ianp5a]

How long were you sleeping on the sofa for, after offering that little pearl of wisdom ?

I couched it.

 

[piggin]

Does that mean that the one guy doing the fleet buying likes black cars? Or did someone tell him the resell value is better because people only want black cars?

I think you can have what ever colour you want but colour is very important when selling. I once had a red Porsche boxster. I loved the car but when I went to sell I just couldn't. When I asked a dealer I was told it was the wrong colour. I was told black, blue or even yellow was a better colour for a Porsche. Don't know if this translates into other makes?

 

[piggin]

I can't do that, ( must be an age thing) especially when cars these days cost more than my house did
( one mortgage was enough)

I can't bring myself to take out one of these deals either. I can't see why you would pay for something that never belongs to you.

 

[ianp5a]

Yes. The dealers know what most people want. Everybody requests a black car because of the resell value. Everybody hates black cars really though. Fact.:')

 

[piggin]

Yes. The dealers know what most people want. Everybody requests a black car because of the resell value. Everybody hates black cars really though. Fact.:')

lol, always been the same.
When I purchase a car its the best on his lot & everyone wants it. When it comes to selling it has zero value? Very strange

 

[OldCarlos]

I hate black with a passion, looks terrible the day after a wash, i bought this colour (ginger ale) purely because it was £1500 cheaper than a black, white, grey etc, etc, it simply doesnt show dirt at all

View attachment 45656

Pic of motor not showing, Gary.




Ahh yes, on second viewing I can just see it now. it's in `camouflage` green.

 

[Pookeyhead]

Isnt that because they are the least cost options when speccing a car through a company car scheme,

Could be... or it could be because it's "sober and business like". Either way... if saving money was the issue, then why do BMW, Merc and Audi top the company car charts? Why not just give your staff a Ford Focus?

 

[viv1969]

If they're on here.... they're probably spending cash on cameras and lenses.

Or perhaps not.
I drive a 15 yo GREEN Audi, and shoot a 40D.
That's the thing about assumptions.

Just sayin'

 

[Cobra]

lol, always been the same.
When I purchase a car its the best on his lot & everyone wants it. When it comes to selling it has zero value? Very strange

Low mileage only makes a difference ( price wise) when you are buying too

 

[Cobra]

I think you can have what ever colour you want..

I believe Henry Ford said that some years ago too

 

[ianp5a]

Henry T. Ford actually never said that.

I know that for a fact, because all the quotes that people are supposed to have said, they never actually said. ... Apparently.

 

[Cobra]

I know that for a fact, because all the quotes that people are supposed to have said, they never actually said. ... Apparently.

Do you mind if I quote you on that?

 

[ianp5a]

Yes. I never said anything of the sort.

And there is no such person as Henry T. Ford.

 

[ianp5a]

Do people in the UK have cars with a matt finish. It's been a bit of a fad here in the Munich area.

 

[Cobra]

And there is no such person as Henry T. Ford.

I'm sure somewhere in the world there mus be a Henry Ford with the middle initial "T"

 

[Cobra]

Do people in the UK have cars with a matt finish. It's been a bit of a fad where I live.

I've seen an increase of them over the last few months, thankfully its just a small proportion though

 

[ianp5a]

I'm sure somewhere in the world there must be a Henry Ford with the middle initial "T"

There's a James T. Kirk.

 

[Cobra]

somewhere in the world

There's a James T. Kirk.

Not in this world he's off bugging the hell outta other life forms

 

[ianp5a]

No No. That's William T. Shatner.

 

[Gary Coyle]

Pic of motor not showing, Gary.




Ahh yes, on second viewing I can just see it now. it's in `camouflage` green.

They say that Green is the big colour next year

 

[Stu Meech]

I hate black with a passion, looks terrible the day after a wash, i bought this colour (ginger ale) purely because it was £1500 cheaper than a black, white, grey etc, etc, it simply doesnt show dirt at all

View attachment 45656

I think whoever called that colour 'ginger ale' had a rather old gone off bottle of it in the fridge!

 

[piggin]

Do people in the UK have cars with a matt finish. It's been a bit of a fad here in the Munich area.

Not that popular but you do see a few around. The big question is how do you keep them clean if you can't polish or wax?

 

[viv1969]

I'm sure somewhere in the world there mus be a Henry Ford with the middle initial "T"

You're right about the bloke without the "T" though......

Ford's autobiography, My Life and Work, 1922, includes this passage:

In 1909 I announced one morning, without any previous warning, that in the future we were going to build only one model, that the model was going to be "Model T," and that the chassis would be exactly the same for all cars, and I remarked: "Any customer can have a car painted any colour that he wants so long as it is black."

 

[Pookeyhead]

Or perhaps not.
I drive a 15 yo GREEN Audi, and shoot a 40D.
That's the thing about assumptions.

Just sayin'

Cobra was making the assumptions, not I. I merely made a suggestion that would be a solution to those whining about scratches and dents in car parks. If they can't afford it, then they can't afford it.. so what? By your logic I should not suggest anything to anyone that has any monetary commitment in case they can't afford it.

I can see how that would be a much better solution Viv. Thanks.