You’ve picked the Bugatti Chiron over the Lamborghini Aventador (excellent choice). You’ve figured out that you want to buy instead of lease your Chiron (another good choice). You’ve visited a Bugatti dealer near you, test driven, negotiated price, maybe even thrown in a trade-in vehicle to offset your down payment (we approve of all this). Then the car salesperson asks the one, simple question you hadn’t planned for: “What color Chironwould you like?”
Your research did not prepare you for this moment. Your brain takes a nosedive as you begin calculating all the variables at play, all the options on Bugatti's list of standard and custom car colors. Exposed black carbon fiber or light blue and white with gray accents? Champagne over black or exposed red carbon fiber with white? Maybe a simple blue and silver Chiron would bring out your eyes? The pressure gets to you, and you pass out on the showroom floor.
Okay. That’s an exaggeration. But although picking a car color may not be the most difficult decision you’ll make during the buying process, it’s still an important choice that shouldn’t be done willy-nilly. Your car paint color and finish will have lasting implications, many of which you wouldn’t even consider off the bat. Some paint options add more to the purchase price. Some finishes are more difficult to maintain. An unpopular color could affect the vehicle’s resale value. It all adds up, and your wallet will certainly notice.
Don’t fret. Whether you're buying an exotic car like a Chiron or financing a domestic sedan with a 5-digit price tag, follow our tips to figure out what car color you should get if you want your dollar to go the distance.
10 Tips for Choosing a Car Color
10. View Car Colors in Natural Light
Never look at just a brochure or website when you’re picking a color for your vehicle. Ask your salesperson to show you the colors outside, in the sunlight, away from the showroom floor.Some automotive paint colors simply look better, shine brighter and shimmer more in natural light. In fact, with vehicle paint colors like “metamerism” -- a type of car finish that changes appearance depending on viewing angle and lighting -- seeing your options on the car lot might sway you toward an unexpected choice.
9. Expensive Paint Color/Finish Costs More to Maintain
When you speak with your salesperson about vehicle car color prices, it’s important to know that the more expensive options typically mean more expensive maintenance costs. Should you get into any shenanigans that result in paint damage, those auto body repairs costs could be in the thousands. This is especially true if you own a premium hypercar, like a Chiron.If you’re worried about the extra expense of maintaining and repairing your vehicle's exterior with OEM touch-up paint, you should consider sticking to the basic automotive paint and finishes, not the unique matte finishes or cool car colors.
The best car colors to choose for affordability would be something like black, gray or white. Iridescent car paint, pearlescent finishes, and metallic car paint colors have more material costs associated with repairs. Surprisingly, red car paint can also be costlier to patch up, as more pigmentation is needed to create that specific color of vehicle touch-up paint.
8. Silver Hides Imperfections Best
Tiny scratches, grime, mud and dings are magnified on darker paint, like dark blue cars and black vehicles. The best low-maintenance paint color for a car is usually some sort of pewter, silver or gray.7. The Best Resale Car Color Is...
Anything that’s neutral. According to auto-paint giants PPG, the car colors with the best resale opportunity in America are also the most popular. This includes your standard pearl white car paint, black, gray, and silver. Red and blue paint colors for cars bring up the rear, followed by the more unique car colors, like green and yellow (or Chiron's Champagne).
So, what car color is best for resale value? Trendy, cool car colors may actually take the cake here. Car colors like yellow, blue or green aren’t as popular, which means they’re also scarcer in the used marketplace, so they could depreciate less after 5 years. This article breaks down vehicle depreciation by paint color, showing that orange, green, beige and yellow cars hold their value more than black, white and silver vehicles.
Of course, if you're buying a Bugatti, car color probably won't reflect on its resale price.
6. Car Color Resale Value by Segment
Oddly enough, car color resale values vary by vehicle segment, too. For instance, a white mid-size sedan may see higher pre-owned values than a white pickup, which is a less popular truck color. (On the other hand, gray trucks usually sell better than gray sedans.)5. Car Color Resale Value by Traditional Gender
Things get even trickier when you add gender to the equation. Resale values for vehicles that are traditionally marketed to a certain gender can also be affected by car color.A study on Miami residents found that men prefer white cars, while women opt for gray and silver vehicles. Men also tend to buy more expensive vehicles; for instance, the average price for white used cars for sale in Miami is 42% higher than gray or silver pre-owned vehicles. While not entirely scientific, the study suggests that white vehicles, particularly those marketed to the male demo, are the best bet for resellers.
4. Pick Your Vehicle Color by Region
Geography also plays a role in what car color to get. If you’re shopping for a foreign car in Miami, for instance, you’ll want to avoid colors that trap in heat, like black or dark blue. Like black shirts, darker cars will more quickly absorb the sun’s heat than lighter vehicles, and no one really wants to open the door and be greeted by a 180-degree cabin.
3. Steer Clear of Speeding Tickets
The myth is that red cars get pulled over more often than any other car color. Is it true?Not exactly. In a recent study, it was found that white cars get more speeding tickets, followed by red, gray and silver vehicles. If you’re prone to lead-foot-idosis, consider a less conspicuous car color, like black or blue.
Then again, anyone buying a Bugatti is already on the 5-0's radar, regardless of paint color.
2. Visibility & Safety
Your risk of getting into a car crash may also increase if you choose a particular vehicle paint color. The Monash University Accident Research Centre investigated the link between car colors and accidents and discovered that white cars are 12% less likely to be involved in a crash. The most accident-prone car color, on the other hand, is black; black (and other darker colors) cars have a higher crash risk due to decreased visibility, especially at night.1. Go with Your Gut
All these stats can’t compete with your heart. In the end, this is your new car, so pick the color you want, regardless of what the numbers say is best. You don’t need to take a “What Color Car Should I Get” quiz to tell you not to buy a red Bugatti Veyron because you just don't like red cars. Opt for a yellow, silver or blue Bugatti instead – it's your life!Build Your Perfect Exotic Car at Braman Bugatti
Red, blue, black or yellow -- if you’re looking for a specific exotic car and car color in South Florida, we’ve got a vehicle for you. Visit our Miami Bugatti dealership at 2060 Biscayne Blvd or request a quote online to get started and let your colors fly. We serve shoppers throughout the region, including Aventura, Key Biscayne, Kendall, Coral Gables, and beyond.