Can Car Colors Reflect One's Personality On the Road?

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, it is me again with another new topic for you to try out and see if you like it.

Some say that the kind of colors you choose for a car can reflect your personality. Although I don't have access to any real reports talking about car color and the meanings thereof, can car colors reflect one's personality?

For one, I'm more of a red person, but my favorite color is blue. And not many cars look good in blue to me, except if they were perhaps dark blue. But I would have to custom paint to make it work. I would probably say that if I had a red car, it would show my charisma, perchance. If a modified compact was emblazoned with highlighter-bright colors, obviously, that person is into making a statement regardless of graphics or bodykits. Some think gray is a beautiful color, especially for Mercedes-Benz machines (which I am starting to get into nowadays). Sony recording artist Kazzer of "Sports Car Revolution," loves black. His personal ride is a black, 1950-something Thunderbird. And as his anti-"rice rocket" style suggests, he built it from the ground up. He even went on to talking about how good a Ferrari 348 (I forget the name of it, but it's been suggested before) was compared to Ferraris of today. And as you know, most Ferraris are colored best in Ferrari Red.

But is there a personality thing to car color choice? Reply now.

 

[vat_man]

Yes and no - we tend to go for fairly conservative colours. The big blue super Sube is a fairly dark, formal blue, but I'd be quite happy in silver in all my cars (assuming it's a decent metallic silver rather than that horrible pearl silver Subaru did up until the 2001 update).

There's not really a lot of scope with stock cars for colour customisation, so it's probably bit restrcitve to be a true guide.

 

[Goomba]

Originally posted by vat_man
Yes and no - we tend to go for fairly conservative colours. The big blue super Sube is a fairly dark, formal blue, but I'd be quite happy in silver in all my cars (assuming it's a decent metallic silver rather than that horrible pearl silver Subaru did up until the 2001 update).

There's not really a lot of scope with stock cars for colour customisation, so it's probably bit restrcitve to be a true guide.

That was a perfectly fine Silver.

 

[vat_man]

Originally posted by Goomba
That was a perfectly fine Silver.

Oh - it was awful! I hate pearl finishes, and it didn't suit the Liberty/Legacy. The post 2001 silver was a much sharper colour.

Poke your damn tongue out at me - damn kids. Get off my lawn!

 

[boombexus]

Here are some things I found on personality and car color. I drive a black car, what about you?


Color Yourself a Winner Personality Test

Personality psychologists have always been interested in color perceptions and how color relates to personality.

Rank each of these colors with a 1 being your favorite and a 7 being your least favorite:

Red ___ Orange ___ Yellow ___ Green ____ Blue ____Purple ___Black ____

What it means? Your first and second choices are supposed to be most representative of your strengths and are things you should take to your advantage at the races. The following will tell you what each color is supposed to mean regarding your personality. The sixth and seventh choices are meant to represent your weaknesses and are things you may want to work on improving. Of course no color selection is entirely good or entirely bad, the choices are simply meant to give you some insight into your personality.

Red—Red is a color of high energy. You are patient and persistent and can usually get things done. Sometimes you may have to learn how to control this high energy level.

Orange—Orange is a color of tradition and authority. You are often a leader and people look up to you. Sometimes it is OK to be a follower and sometimes you need to listen to other people for advice.

Yellow—Yellow is an optimistic upbeat color. You are sensitive and have high standards and many close friends. Sometimes you can be a bit naïve and sometimes you can be a bit unrealistic.

Green—Green is the color of health and mind. You are intellectual, wise, inventive, and creative. Sometimes you can “outthink” yourself and may need to go back to the basics. Other people may not always understand your ideas. A green person needs to take time for their physical and mental health.

Blue—Blue is a very masculine color and therefore has such attributes as courage, restlessness, competition, power, and has a high need to win. This is a very common color for athletes to choose. Sometimes a blue person can be a bit impulsive and does not always make for the best loser.

Purple—Purple is a spiritual color. Purple people are warm natured and are filled with a joy of life. They typically enjoy life and want to share their love of life with others. Sometimes purple people can become a bit materialistic and always want more and more.

Black—Black is the color of toughness. Perhaps that is why black is such a popular color for athletic teams and cars. Black is associated with being tough and powerful. Sometimes people who chose black can be a bit moody and their aggression can get in the way of making good calm decisions.

Car color. What it says about you.


Ancient Egyptians believed in chromatherapy, the ability to heal with colors: Red stimulates mental energy, yellow stimulates the nerves, blue heals organic disorders such as colds and hay fever, etc.



Modern car manufacturers believe in a version of the same thing: the ability to sell with colors. Psychiatrists analyzed car-color choices for a survey reported on K-LOVE radio, and here’s what your car color says about you:
Black: First choice of ambitious drivers who want to project an image of success.

Red: You’re outgoing and impulsive with a youthful attitude, but easily bored.

Silver: You have great style and are often successful, but you tend to be pompous.

White: The first choice of doctors and drivers who are reliable and methodical.

Gray: Expresses understated good taste and indicates a safe, cautious driver.

Blue: A team player who’s sociable and friendly, yet lacks imagination.

So, if that’s how the colors break down, just which colors will you see most frequently on the road? According to a 1999 report from Dupont Herberts Automotive Systems, the top sellers in the following categories were:

SUVs, trucks and vans
1. White
2. Black
3. Dark/medium green
4. Dark/medium blue
5. Silver




Full/intermediate-size cars
1. White
2. Silver
3. Light brown
4. Medium/dark green
5. Black

Sport or compact cars
1. Silver
2. Black
3. White
4. Medium/dark green
5. Medium/dark blue

“But wait,” you cry, “where’s red on those lists?”

You thrill-seekers know there’s no other color choice for impact and excitement, and rest assured, red did show up in the Top 10 in those categories. Why not the Top Five? It takes a certain type of personality (as opposed to gender or age) to commit to red, and not every driver is bold enough to go with it.

Car-color trends follow the fashion and decorating world. Hunter green was a popular upholstery and wall accent a few years back, and, big surprise, out came a number of cars — particularly rugged, woodsy wheels like SUVs — in hunter green. I, personally, think it’s anal to match your automobile to your wainscoting, but hey, Martha Stewart’s a bazillionaire, so who am I to judge?

 

[vat_man]

There's actually a pretty good reason not to buy a red car in Australia - the sun rips the hell out of the paint.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Yay. I am reliable and methodical 👍

Something to consider is that this really only applies when purchasing a new car where you can specify the color. I bought second hand so didnt really have a say in the matter.

 

[Goomba]

Originally posted by vat_man
Oh - it was awful! I hate pearl finishes, and it didn't suit the Liberty/Legacy. The post 2001 silver was a much sharper colour.

Poke your damn tongue out at me - damn kids. Get off my lawn!

The new Crystal Gray looks good pretty good, but not a whole lot from the Platinum Silver.

!!!!! I'll bring my dog along to defecate on it, and then you know what? I'm going to leave it there! So hah!

Damn Boom... A bit over the top, eh? But yes, that's why I got the WRX in black, to be aggressive. Normally I'm just some skinny white guy, but in my WRX, I feel like a skinny white guy in a big angry machine ready to scare those tinny little econo-racers!

 

[Ethix101]

My favorite colors on cars are black, blue, silver, and occasionally that orange-metallic color that all the car companies are using now. I guess this means that I'm schizophrenic.



I think that they should save the color yellow for bad drivers (and their car or cars). If you get more than a set number of points on your license for bad driving, they should spray paint your car yellow. (or you could have your car custom painted with your own money) This way, while driving down the road everybody would know how horrible a driver you are and could attempt to stay away from you. If you decide that you don't want to paint your car yellow or if you get any more points added to your license afterwards, you lose it (your license).



-Mark

 

[1X83Z]

Originally posted by vat_man
There's actually a pretty good reason not to buy a red car in Australia - the sun rips the hell out of the paint.

Except for reasons like the one above, I didn't know anybody except 20-year-old women cared what colour their cars are. If it really makes such a difference to all you people, maybe you need to buy cars more often!

 

[XzifT]

I went from Blue to Black. Suits me well, I guess. But my judgement is just fine, thanks.

 

[Sage]

I dunno, doesn't seem worth a whole lot of analysis to me... certain cars look better in certain colors than others, that's all.

I read an article some time ago on choosing car colors, and it seems that a good number of fast drivers choose silver or some other fairly neutral color to avoid picking up tickets. Personally, I really like the color of our Outback – It's a dark reddish color. Even the parking guy at the Thai market likes it.

 

[Joey D]

Well I didnt buy my truck really based on colour. I bought it due to colour choices, Black or Yellow...what would you drive? So thats why I got a black truck, and while yes the colour black does sorta fit my personality...I will never own a black car ever again.

Black cars are the hardest thing in the world to keep clean.

 

[Ethix101]

Originally posted by BlazinXtreme

Black cars are the hardest thing in the world to keep clean.

Ain't that the truth. I'm so tired of all the water spots and dirt and pollen and everything else that shows up on the black paint.
The only way I'd ever own another black car is if it's the only option and it's an amazing deal.



-Mark

 

[sliderulz]

I like a colour that is usually associated with the car. I wouldn't buy a WRX in any other colour than blue, nor would I buy a Ferrari if it weren't red or yellow.

My 76 Galant is a strange faded green that suits the cars lines because it is a very 70's colour.

 

[Goomba]

Originally posted by sliderulz
I like a colour that is usually associated with the car. I wouldn't buy a WRX in any other colour than blue, nor would I buy a Ferrari if it weren't red or yellow.

You leave my WRX alone!

I figure I'll save the World Rally Blue for the STi. Everytime I hear STi, it's that color car that pops into mind. The black was meant to make me think my car is scary. And yes, I agree with Mark and Blazin'. Black, blows. Hard. I need to wash her at least once every week to make her presentable.

 

[240Z]

Ferraris in red are overrated. The metallic blue color shows off the lines much more.

 

[Sleek Stratos]

I remember when we had a dark blue Subaru GL-10, it looked great just after a wash but just like a black car (maybe even worse) it only lasted for about a day. Then again it hardly ever got waxed. I loved the digital speedometer and tachometer it had though.

I've always fancied dark colors, a dark red, or a dark green particularly, always grab my attention.
I'm just glad brown isn't showing up (that much) anymore. No car deserves that.

 

[///M-Spec]

Originally posted by Goomba
You leave my WRX alone!

I figure I'll save the World Rally Blue for the STi. Everytime I hear STi, it's that color car that pops into mind. The black was meant to make me think my car is scary. And yes, I agree with Mark and Blazin'. Black, blows. Hard. I need to wash her at least once every week to make her presentable.

Ah, but when black is clean and has a good coat of caranuba wax on it, nothing can compare. I love seeing black cars with a mirror smooth polish... the M3 took hours to get and keep that way. But it was worth it.


M

 

[miata13B]

Originally posted by ///M-Spec
Ah, but when black is clean and has a good coat of caranuba wax on it, nothing can compare. I love seeing black cars with a mirror smooth polish... the M3 took hours to get and keep that way. But it was worth it.


M

I feel your black woos too there. Five hours every Sunday on the RSX just to get it decently looking. I am never happy with the cleaning job I do on it because there is always some spot or imperfection I find. . . It is so frustrating. . .

 

[Omnis]

it depends on the car for me...but i dunno. dont really care. black and white fit everywhere though....so whatever.

i like gold paint after about 10 years. when the gold fades it gets this really nice pewterish color. lol.

 

[AP1]

Black. It's...evil. We have a black Porsche, and people either get out of our way or we run them off the road.