What happened to color?

[redrider]

Geko or Mojito is a likeable color but I am not sure I could live with it long term. My default color is red with black, yellow or gold accent colors. Those Saia owned trucks always catch my eye. Which brings up camo. I wonder how many vehicle crashes occur because of the vehicle blending into the background? State Troopers are very stealthy with that silver grey color.

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[mazeppa]

^ As @redrider referred most colors I will tire of in time. Now I prefer white, yes it's boring and absent of all colors, but it is the easiest to maintain and shows less imperfections.

 

[foo.c]

For one thing manufacturers are charging extra for color, but I don't think that fully explains it.

I have to admit until recently I prefer subdued colors, but my last 2 vehcile purchases have been bright yellow and red. I never lose them in a parking lot, that's for sure.

 

[Dryfly24]

I will say that when Jeep does offer an “other than” color, they do it right. Just look at Firecracker Red, Pumpkin, and Nacho, those colors are fantastic. Better than any other manufacturer’s IMHO.

In the tactical color category they nailed it with Gobi, Gator, and Sarge Green. And even the drab Gray we are all complaining about is absolutely awesome in Jeep’s Sting Gray.

Whomever is in charge of the colors for Jeep has a damn good eye for the particular shades they go with. Where they screw up is when they don't offer them at all.

 

[whiteglad]

My wife and I buy because of the deal, equipment and the color just has to be "acceptable." I did not get a red JT partly because the dealer wouldn't deal, but a dealer with a white one gave a good deal on one with the desired equipment. Same for my wife's gray Caravan. We have also had silver, blue, green, etc.

 

[Jaxmax]

To the OP thanks for the picture, I was shown a very similar one, from our fleet manager those are not just F-150. H&K Group trucks are custom color dark green metallic, almost black, we have eighty two trucks and chassis sitting at two locations. So at least my company is doing it’s part to stem the white tide!
As for Jeep any color other then white is an extra cost of $245,I guess white paint is cheaper huh?…..Jack

 

[Dryfly24]

To the OP thanks for the picture, I was shown a very similar one, from our fleet manager those are not just F-150. H&K Group trucks are custom color dark green metallic, almost black, we have eighty two trucks and chassis sitting at two locations. So at least my company is doing it’s part to stem the white tide!
As for Jeep any color other then white is an extra cost of $245,I guess white paint is cheaper huh?…..Jack

When you think about what most people are paying for these trucks, $245 bucks definitely isn’t worth living with a blah color…

 

[Hootbro]

When you think about what most people are paying for these trucks, $245 bucks definable isn’t worth living with a blah color…

At the end of the day, most people are not going to buy the vehicle if the color is off putting to them. What you, me or the rest think really does not matter.

 

[eaglerugby04]

I will say that when Jeep does offer an “other than” color, they do it right. Just look at Firecracker Red, Pumpkin, and Nacho, those colors are fantastic. Better than any other manufacturer’s IMHO.

In the tactical color category they nailed it with Gobi, Gator, and Sarge Green. And even the drab Gray we are all complaining about is absolutely awesome in Jeep’s Sting Gray.

Whomever is in charge of the colors for Jeep has a damn good eye for the particular shades they go with. Where they screw up is when they don't offer them at all.

I will give them that, Sting Grey looks pretty and does sometimes get wrapped into the fact that there are like 3 other greys.

 

[Oilburner]

Safe colors (to sell) are basically lack of color -

 

[dstephns]

Here in Phoenix Arizona, one buys white out of self-defense from the heat and sun. LOL!
Dave

 

[HorneyBadger]

Well, in Japan most average vehicles are white because of safety! you will find cars of color owned by the well off! Mercedes and BMW's.

 

[Jerhemi]

Meh, I had a white F150 with the XTR package and I think it was the best looking colour for it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

During economic downturns vehicle manufacturers have historical stayed away from bold colors. This is because the average buyer, especially when times are financially tough, does not want “fun” colors.

They don’t want to stand out. They are concerned with one of two things:

1. blending in, and therefore not showing off wealth
2. Resale value

Both of those two desires are more prevalent when consumer confidence is low, and both mean people want neutral colors - thus Jeep’s “50 shades of gray” lineup.

This has been a trend well outside of any "downturn" and it's WORLD WIDE.
I was in Korea walking my grandson back to their apartment from his school. Suddenly he blurts out "look, a BLUE car!".

It's what people buy - like the putty pale boring colors on almost all houses these days. Heaven help you if you want COLOR on your house, the HA will rip you a new one and your neighbors will hate you.
Cars follow.
Not the economy. You can track this color - or lack of - trend to years when things were going well.
I liken it more to a "follow Europe" or "follow Asia" thing.

(IF you are going for safety - here's a quote -
We've referenced the safest color car on the road. That color is white. White cars are 12 percent less likely to be involved in an accident than black cars at any time of the day under any conditions.)

I have a number of pictures showing Korean streets, and their economy has been good. It's just how things are these days. White is the overwhelming majority, silver, gray, and black. I've got pictures where there's not a single black car in the scene - they are all white, silver or gray.
You don't see red, blue and yellow are rare.

Well, in Japan most average vehicles are white because of safety! you will find cars of color owned by the well off! Mercedes and BMW's.

Yup - see my quote above. White is common in Asian countries, and it's safe.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Geko or Mojito is a likeable color but I am not sure I could live with it long term. My default color is red with black, yellow or gold accent colors. Those Saia owned trucks always catch my eye. Which brings up camo. I wonder how many vehicle crashes occur because of the vehicle blending into the background? State Troopers are very stealthy with that silver grey color.

Very easy to find the info - it's studied a whole lot by government, universities and insurance industry. White is the safest, gray/silver blend in to a lot of stuff. You can find the lists of the most visible colors and those that are the worst - black being the very worst, white being the best.

As far as what sells best - that's been a regional thing for decades. What sells best in western California is different than what may sell best in NE or IL. What sells in NY will be different than what sells best in TN (maybe, just tossing out states)
But it's a fact that what one dealer stocks because it sells well here will NOT be what sells well in some other places. Colors that sell has always varied by region or country.
And what sells well in the US doesn't generally follow what's safest. People will buy what they buy - and color is personal.

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