To think that black is the only colour for a car?

[BrillianaHarvey]

Apart from cute little Fiats or whatever, which can carry pink, lime green etc quite happily...
But a grown up car: can it be a colour that's not black? Or maybe, at a pinch, very dark metallic grey?
And if it's black outside, does it have to be black inside as well?
Obviously I use the term 'has to' loosely and not in a sense that everyone will be willing to recognise. But basically, if you were buying a car, and had some input as to colour, would you go for anything that wasn't black?

[katemess12]

Also, red is the least safe colour, so the whole "black cars are the most dangerous" thing is a load of crap. Science, y'all.

[londonrach]

Kate, as well as looking like a funeral car seems black is the least safe car. See below links. As i said before i would never buy a black car even if dirt cheap, just looks like a funeral car and makes me nervous.

www.theaa.com/newsroom/news-2011/safest-car-colour.html

www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/blog/car-crash-by-colour/

[katemess12]

Scientifically, it's not. Red is the last colour on the light spectrum (blue is the first), so you see blue first and red last, meaning that, technically, blue is the safest colour for a car, and red the least safe.

[fldsmdfr]

you see blue first and red last eh? That doesn't sound particularly scientific. Even if the light does hit your eyes at different times surely it would be a difference of Pico seconds or something and very unlikely to affect when you see the car.

I had a purple car, I didn't realise how uncommon that was when I bought it. I got lots of comments on it. The details called it mauve (!) but it was definitely a dark aubergine colour.

[katemess12]

If you feel that that's true, then you've also got apply that to black/grey/other "dangerous" coloured cars.

And yes, it's scientific, it's one of the most basic things in physics.

[fldsmdfr]

Blue light has a short wavelength and red light has a long wavelength. I don't think you can extrapolate that to seeing blue cars significantly earlier than red cars.

[SabineUndine]

Yellow was the classic Ferrari colour. I wouldn't say no.

[fldsmdfr]

I think you're much less likely to see a sludge grey car in your peripheral vision on a sludge grey rainy day against a sludge grey road and sludge grey buildings.

[KoalaDownUnder]

Yellow is the foulest.

Black is only nice if you have a luxury car. On cheap cars, it looks awful. No in-between.

Also, black attracts the heat. I'd never want a black car in Australia!

[katemess12]

Considering AAA uses it to measure a car's colour safety, I'd say it's applicable.

But, due to weather etc. they say that bright yellow - in the middle of the spectrum - is the safest for all-round visibility. I agree that slate grey would likely be the least safe, as it blends in with the road, poor weather etc.

[fldsmdfr]

Different colours are more/less visible in different conditions. That's got nothing to do with seeing them earlier.

[fldsmdfr]

Sorry, that post is nonsensical! Got mixed up with something I typed then lost then mixed up!

[fldsmdfr]

What I mean is, you don't see blue first because it's the first colour on the spectrum and see red last because it's the last.

[NiceCuppaTeaAndASitDown]

My light metallic blueish grey car was fabulous as it never looked like it needed a wash.
The black car I have now is awful, probably worst for showing dirt than DH's bright yellow sports car.

[lostscot]

Black is the last colour I'd have, I don't want to be like the rest of the car park looking for my black or silver car. When we got mine we drove 200 miles so I could get the colour I wanted which is a freelander in Bali blue or what the kids call Cadburys purple :-)

[SquirrelPaws]

I don't mind what colour, as long as it's dignified. I bought the current car (cream) rather than a slightly cheaper model, because the alternative was ketchup red. One day I would like a navy blue one, but as I'm not safe with car park pillars, I couldn't be trusted with it at the moment.

[FoxesOnSocks]

Saw a bright orange car in Aldi car park the other day. I was quite taken with it; probably wouldn't though. I've also had the pleasure of seeing a mirror car (possibly not mirror but it was silver and extremely reflective).

All our cars (3) have been silver: not through choice, they were used, it just seems every car ever we looked at was silver.

[ConvincingLiar]

Even if you wash them regularly black cars are no good after a year or so, you end up with swirls in the paintwork.

[RiverTam]

Black is an awful colour for a car, it gets so hot!! (We have no air con.)

And if you do have a black, dark grey or silver car can you please put your lights on in grey or drizzly days, you're bloody invisible in a rear view mirror otherwise .

[ShelaghTurner]

Hate brightly coloured cars. Although like gabsdot above my most beloved car was my gold 2001 Focus. I still mourn his passing.

Silver cars are yawningly dull. Look like they just came off the production line and missed the painty bit. But on the other hand there's a mint green Range Rover down the road from me and I long to accidentally respray it on my way past!

I love my black estate. When finances allow I'm getting the windows done. The darker the better!

[wanderings]

I've always wanted green!

I'm not sure about red making other people think "danger": I'm always being tailgated in my red car.

[BestIsWest]

Red for me. Can always find it in a car park.Not metallic either. We also have a silver one which becomes invisible in among the other 250 silver cars in Tesco car park.

[BathshebaDarkstone]

I want a purple Range Rover.

[BestIsWest]

My red car is 14 years old and has not faded to pink at all. It's been well looked after.

[Ikeameatballs]

Dp and me both have blue cars, both fabulous shades -though- -mine- -is- -best-.

My previous cars have been:
White
Pale metallic green
Grey
Greenish grey
Silver
White

Current car is definitely the nicest I've had.