General Discussion

haele

(15,326 posts)

31. If you're leasing a car, you get the cheap color.

Thu Feb 26, 2026, 04:38 PM

Feb 26

White and Silver/grey are pretty bulletproof when it comes to maintaining the paint job over the lease should you get a scratch and don't want to get dinged on the turn-in. Black can also be easily matched
All that being said, if you're buying a new car with a fancier color, even if it's off the lot, you're going to pay anywhere from $700 to $2k more. While a cool color or finish your skin generally starts about $500 more.
If you want that cool lavender rainbow mirror or pearlescent skin on your compact sedan, it's going to cost you $3k or 4k more, while trying to get the paint job will cost twice that much. But you can always remove the skin and have a pretty decent paint job remaining that will improve your sale price when it's time to sell or turn in.

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bitofalright

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Highlight:

Why are so many cars today painted black, white, silver, gray? Is it cheaper for the manufacturers? [View all] raccoon Feb 26 OP

Paint manufacturers have lost the recipes for other colors dalton99a Feb 26 #1

Several manufacturers charge extra for pretty paint spooky3 Feb 26 #33

Maybe brightly-colored cars get targeted too often for traffic violations than more subdued-colored cars. Aristus Feb 26 #2

That's my guess. Ritabert Feb 26 #7

We have a bright red MX-5 Miata PCIntern Feb 26 #48

And ebony interiors. Frasier Balzov Feb 26 #3

I wanted a gray interior but it wasn't available--the black spooky3 Feb 26 #34

Does the manufacturer... 2naSalit Feb 26 #41

Not when I bought the car. Nt spooky3 Feb 26 #44

Same here I had a gray interor in my last doc03 Feb 26 #43

I have a black dog Bluestocking Feb 26 #51

Way too hot!! My last car had a light grey interior and I loved it's lightness FemDemERA Feb 26 #59

I intentionally bought a turquoise car so I could find it in parking lots Ocelot II Feb 26 #4

I have a red one and agree with you. Nt spooky3 Feb 26 #35

From what I've been told, this has always been the norm in Memphis region SheltieLover Feb 26 #5

+1. It's about color coordination - sky is gray, road is gray, car is gray dalton99a Feb 26 #29

It's so humid here, the sky is always gray SheltieLover Feb 26 #42

Mazda has the colors! Mopar151 Feb 26 #52

Cool about Mazda! SheltieLover Feb 26 #55

I think two main reasons Jerry2144 Feb 26 #6

I have a white car. It's cooler in the sun and is fairly visible. Ritabert Feb 26 #8

Mine is also white. Funny story.....coming out of the store, I swear there were 6 white SUV's all parked a kennedy Feb 26 #10

They do all look alike. We have a carrier on top which helps. Ritabert Feb 26 #12

I have a white SUV. Intractable Feb 26 #53

True. Ritabert Feb 26 #57

The color of my car is... lame54 Feb 26 #9

Nice color choice Lifeafter70 Feb 26 #16

I had one painted Inferno Red Pearl. rsdsharp Feb 26 #21

Wine underpants Feb 26 #32

Colored Greg_In_SF Feb 26 #11

I have two white cars. MineralMan Feb 26 #13

If you're leasing a car, you get the cheap color. haele Feb 26 #31

I'm guessing resale value and fleet purchases primarily. Torchlight Feb 26 #14

I'll paint it any color as long as it's black - Henry Ford Brother Buzz Feb 26 #15

There was more to it than that jmowreader Feb 26 #40

I've been looking at buying a new car LogDog75 Feb 26 #17

Do with it what you will, but here's what Copilot said when I asked why car colors are so boring: Xavier Breath Feb 26 #18

"Lighter colors are generally easier to keep clean, as they do not show dirt and grime " EX500rider Feb 26 #26

Flat gray is popular KT2000 Feb 26 #19

I wanted a red car DBoon Feb 26 #20

My car is burgandy senseandsensibility Feb 26 #22

My car is red, and I will want that color for my future cars for the simple reason that other drivers SEE a red car. Sogo Feb 26 #23

I have always had red cars oberle Feb 26 #61

People buy brightly colored cars when they are optimistic about the future... hunter Feb 26 #24

No, that's hemlines. Hemlines go up or down with the stock market. JustABozoOnThisBus Feb 26 #45

Least common denominators Jose Garcia Feb 26 #25

It evolves Cirsium Feb 26 #27

One color, one cost. bucolic_frolic Feb 26 #28

A few reasons jmowreader Feb 26 #30

Color is often more expensive, paint harder to match. flvegan Feb 26 #36

Smoked paprika Lifeafter70 Feb 26 #37

Seemed Cool at the Time? OC375 Feb 26 #38

It really ForgedCrank Feb 26 #39

More about the grayscaling of car colors LearnedHand Feb 26 #46

Thanks for the links! raccoon Feb 27 #62

I have an Urban Gray Pearl Honda CRV. I really like doc03 Feb 26 #47

Subaru Outback in Azurite Blue Pearl is what i have EX500rider Feb 26 #49

Very pretty nt spooky3 Feb 26 #50

"any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants, so long as it is black." Norrrm Feb 26 #54

It's Not Cheaper ProfessorGAC Feb 26 #56

I'll be in the market fora new car in the next year or so. If I keep it as long... 3catwoman3 Feb 26 #58

I have a 15 Forester. VGNonly Feb 27 #63

I've had one Forester before my Hyundai, in the dark green color, which I really liked... 3catwoman3 Feb 27 #64

Never thought it was a good idea canetoad Feb 26 #60