Opinons on what body color affects price the most?

[Texel]

Paint color is a bit of a fashion thing and a few decades ago, what was the height of fashion is now more a case of ...WTF were they thinking?

Anyway, while the body color may add some value, or subtract some I suppose as well, it may also make a car easier to sell, or sit as the case may be.

My father-in-law (ex-car paint trade) likes 911 in that bright yellow, then red and back. I quite like white, but he didn't have much good to say about that choice!

Any opinions on what is the most desireable color, and what is the least? from a buying/selling point of view (and not that there is anything wrong with the less popular colour of course)

Thanks

[pavulon]

I think subtle and unusual make for best long term enjoyment. Bright/shouty colors hold my attention for about 1 month then get old. The same can be said of things other than cars.

[techweenie]

As you say, fashion changes.

In my opinion, purple is the most difficult color to sell, followed by Sepia. At the moment, red is out of favor in the US, and seems never to have been as popular in Europe.

Colors are thought to be "period correct" or not. For SWB cars, there seem to be no standard colors that are unpopular. Into the '70s, Royal Purple and Sepia are unloved, as is Strawberry. The bright greens (Conda, Viper), oranges and Signal Yellow were once painted over in CA to be red or black or gray. Now, they all are getting restored to original.

Metallic Gold is also an often-changed color from the period.

As to dollar impact of a color, first there's the negative impact of a detectable color change, which is several thousand dollars. I've seen some unfavored colors have as much as (my estimate) -$5K impact on price.

Top long hood colors right now, IMO, are Tangerine, Viper, Signal Orange, Signal Yellow, Gray Beige, Light Ivory, Oxford/Dalmatian Blue, Pastel Blue, Gulf Blue, Aubergine, Ivory, Silver Metallic, Gemini Blue Metallic, Blue Metallic and white. That's in order of preference of people I know who are shopping. Some of these colors, like Gray Beige are so rare that people don't even think to ask.

[nixtfy]

I agree period correct colors are best.
Ideally for me subtle colors that are different from the normal without being to bright keep my attention. Chiffon White, Platinum, Meteor Gray. Red seems to have many detractors; Black ,White and silver seem to be neutral.

[Ricardo morales]

Numbers of each rare color are part of the formula

And with Porsche not sharing stats makes it more of a lore topic

[jr993]

Most marketable colors have to be white and silver judging from what Porsche is producing. Try selling a Riviera Blue or Yellow car, there are buyers out there, just harder to find.

[pirahna]

Originally Posted by jr993

Try selling a Riviera Blue or Yellow car, there are buyers out there, just harder to find.

Every Riviera Blue car I ever saw for sale sold for a premium over other colors.

[renntrade]

Originally Posted by jr993

Most marketable colors have to be white and silver judging from what Porsche is producing. Try selling a Riviera Blue or Yellow car, there are buyers out there, just harder to find.

Yeah, Riviera Blue sucks...not.

And Light Yellow #117 isn't that shabby either!

[renntrade]

I think the further and further you catch the Porsche sickness, the more perspicacious your color palette becomes. If Sepia is in your top 5, you've been around awhile...and I would enjoy a Pcar chat with you :-)

[racer]

Not sure how much color affects value vs how it affects how EASY it is to sell a car. Certain colors are much sought after, but perhaps only by a disciminating few buyers.

Seems spur of the moment sales would lean towards the reds/yellow but someone is less likely to buy (although liked above) sepia or some greens. White/silver are pretty basic colors that don't always stir the emotion, but that might be what makes them easier sellers to a wider audience.

[jr993]

LOL, I knew I shouldn't have said that about the Riviera blue! Why don't I just start a thread about the best brand of oil to use? Color is subjective. On a race car day-glo colors serve a purpose. It would seem that if the yellows and day-glos were the big sellers they would just make more of them in some crazy scheme to make money. There is a buyer out there for every car. Look a the photo at the beginning of this post. Someone bought or will buy that car, so to each their own, right?

[techweenie]

In the US, the dealers pre-order the majority of cars, so they decide what colors are available. The majority of buyers buy from stock rather than wait. Special order cars take 3 months or more to get, and Paint to Sample or custom colors take even longer and carry a price premium that may not add to resale value. That's the main reason there are so many 'conservative' colors on 911s.

[techweenie]

I'll add that sometimes people come to me to find them a car... they always have a color set they will look at and a color set they will not consider. If I find a car that matches the "wish list" except for the color, I will suggest it. But most prospective buyers will not pull the trigger, even with as much as a -20% price advantage. At least, that's been my experience.

[Ricardo morales]

Circa 2006 paint to sample $4300

Riviera/Mexico blue sales staff warned the gent it would take a color based hit on trade in

In July 2010 reality dropped in on him

Same dealer on trade in day dinged him 5 k for the paint to sample Rivera / Mexico blue

Sales manager " I can't sell this car " and we warned you

Effectively killing the sale , he took his wounded 997s back home

And bought his new Audi else ware

The 3 pastel colors that debuted for the 74 yr are still ordered with the buyer be ware caviat

In place

[techweenie]

Special colors need to be advertised nationwide or internationally. There are people who will pay a premium for Riviera/Mexico. Odds are better if millions of people see the car for sale rather than hundreds.

[Ricardo morales]

yes it is the finest "porsche" paint to color sample
but they will still create 1 offs of any paint formula sent to them

cheers

[kilodawg]

Tell the 993 community that Riviera/Mexico Blue is a hard sell. See how long it takes for them to stop laughing....Riviera Blue adds a premium to a 993!!!!

Some colors are preferred by people depending when they entered into the world of Porsche (as was previously alluded too). A 997 in Riviera Blue might be a hard sell to somebody considering his first Porsche and debating between a BMW or a Corvette. However, it would likely be a draw to somebody who has owned Porsches for a long time and is finally moving into a newer car...So yes a Riviera Blue 997 to the average Joe who walks into a dealership could be an issue but if you can tap into the broader market via the internet I don't think it would be. As usual techweenie is spot on.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by techweenie

I'll add that sometimes people come to me to find them a car... they always have a color set they will look at and a color set they will not consider. If I find a car that matches the "wish list" except for the color, I will suggest it. But most prospective buyers will not pull the trigger, even with as much as a -20% price advantage. At least, that's been my experience.

Fools. I've been around specialty cars long enough to know Rule #1 - Condition trumps color, every time. Chiffon (or any white shade) was rather low on my list, but my car was so far and away better than any of the other nearby Carreras or SCs within my budget that I couldn't turn it down.

That said, I personally refuse to even look at black cars.

[djcdmv]

Originally Posted by Arne2

That said, I personally refuse to even look at black cars.

No offense taken...

[WANNA930]

Being someone who loves odd color combos I would easily pay a premium for them. Let's face it 911's all look alike. If you are a 1 time new Porsche buyer you are going red,black or silver.

That said if you have had a few cars and want something different color is the way to go. If 20 red cars are in a row the olive one will gather the looks. I also think the serious buyers go for the colors. They just never last long and if you want a sand beige you better be an insider as they never hit the general public.

That said anybody have a weird color combo up to 1988 give me a PM. In SOCAL and NY.