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An elderly couple I know through work have just bought a Mokka to replace an ageing VECTRA. They chose a white one because they felt it wouldn't show the dirt. I was rather surprised.
Just wondering whether others think this was a barmy choice? And what colours are really best for not showing dirt?
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Light metallic grey.
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Well it's not white is it. The fascination with big wheeled, white German cars with 47 foglights baffles me.
I've had three black cars, black is lovely but it shows the dust and mud very badly.
I think a dark green or a grey would be okay.
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Not light metallic grey, trust me i have one, its actually supposed to be silver, its a Mazda.
Both xtrails i've had in silver where excellent and is IMO the best colour not to show dirt.
White does look dirty very quickly, my neighbour has one.
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Our old Saab in a dark gunmetal grey metallic (can't remember the precise name of the colour offhand) doesn't show the dirt. It hasn't been washed for a year or so and still looks the right colour :-S
Edited by Mike H on 11/11/2014 at 21:14
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I agree with grey. However, how good is that for visibility. I read AA statistics that black cars are involved in most accidents and yellow the least. This did take into account the relative number of each. It did not give details for other colours.
I'd be interested to know which colour would be the best compromise between safety and not showing dirt.
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. I read AA statistics that black cars are involved in most accidents and yellow the least.
That may be true, but how often do you see a yellow car? Hardly ever. 99% of cars are not yellow. So what does that prove?
Most cars now are a dark colour of some sort, be it grey, black, blue. I don't need AA statistics to tell me they'll likely be involved in most crashes.
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Flat red was OK, but our current silver metallic is by far the best.
Mine hadn't been washed since August, but even following a full valet after a service you could only tell it had been washed because the wheels had no brake dust in them.
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I had an olive Triumph which was great until the roads were salted and the sun came out, then it had great big off-white patches all over it.
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Brown? I had a metallic light brown Civic once it was an awful colour and looked nothing like it did in the brochure but it didn't show the dirt. I genuinely didn't clean it for over a year and it didn't look any more rubbish than when it was delivered.
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Yes, I've got one of those. Wash when you can't see out ...
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And what colours are really best for not showing dirt?
Clearly, dirt colour. A few 2014 models are seen in a kind of sandy brown which might do. But it will depend whether the dirt is wet or dry. White certainly isn't a clever idea, unless it makes the owner wash the car more often so the dirt doesn't show.
It was always one of the safest colours for visibility though. I had a 1980 Maxi in buttercup yellow, not long after the first studies to compare visibility. That colour didn't prove too popular.
Edited by Andrew-T on 11/11/2014 at 23:14
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Recently had a white Focus Zetec S. Looked great with body kit, but needed a weekly wash to keep looking nice. So I'd say no to white.
In over 30 years of driving, I've only had 2 biffs by people pulling out into me. And both those cars were red. I've owned almost every colour you can get and can confirm that silver or grey is the best for hiding dirt, so less cleaning.
Edited by Ben 10 on 11/11/2014 at 23:19
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Jamie it does help to read a post, and without statistics it is an opinion ( even if correct it should have evidence. Being qualified in statistics, I did put,'This did take into account the relative number of each.'
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If they can't give figures for other colours then why should we believe they've taken into account the relative numbers of ones they can be bothered to count?
The key statistic is this; 100% of accidents are caused by human error. If everybody - motorists, pedestrians, cyclists etc - abided by the highway code 100% of the time, nobody would ever crash. Ever.
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Don't really understand this thread, what's the problem with running your car to the local IMO carwash or even to the hand wash sites that are popping up all over the place. I think that anyone who doesn't wash their car, especially in winter with all the salt on the roads, shows a general disregard for their car and probably has the same attitude to its general maintenance like tyres, oil and water. You spend a lot of money on your car then wreck it through a lack of care and attention and wonder why it eventually breaks down, really is beyond me. Look after your cars people it pays in the long run.
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The point is to find a colour that requires less washing to still look good?
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Agree 100% Jamie.
However, I believe it is worthwhile to seek to find any element involved in safety which can be improved. If you can reduce the risk surely it is worthwhile.
Hands up about the statistics. I would have been much happier with more detail. Will be more careful in future !
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You spend a lot of money on your car then wreck it through a lack of care and attention and wonder why it eventually breaks down, really is beyond me. Look after your cars people it pays in the long run.
In general I am in tune with this sentiment, but I have to say my present car doesn't bear out the suggestion. I've kept it outdoors (off road) for 6 years. Mostly the occasions when it gets cleaned are after some rain, sometimes a proper going over with a bucket and cloth. But nothing has happened yet to prove that it would have been any better in the garage - which it is only just possible to get it inside, and a smaller car is already there anyway.
It gets oil and filter changes rather more often than 'recommended', which IMHO is more important, especially when considering any resale value. It will still come up nicely when valeted.
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"<i>It gets oil and filter changes rather more often than 'recommended', which IMHO is more important, especially when considering any resale value. "</i>
No no NO.. You are wrong Oil needs only to be changed every 10 years.. according a a local self styled engineer.
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No no NO.. You are wrong Oil needs only to be changed every 10 years.. according a a local self styled engineer.
Sorry, madf, I was forgetting ...
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I'd rather my car be safe than sparkling all year round.
I spend what is required when it is required to keep it running well and roadworthy - last year it was about £800 on servicing and replacement parts.
I can't go to prison for having a dirty car, I can if I kill someone due to worn out tyres or brakes.
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I can't go to prison for having a dirty car, ...
Not sure about prison, but 25 years ago in Russia you could get pulled.
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The key statistic is this; 100% of accidents are caused by human error. If everybody - motorists, pedestrians, cyclists etc - abided by the highway code 100% of the time, nobody would ever crash. Ever.
Except when mechanical failure occurs, or tyre blow-outs, or wild animals running across the road, or pot holes full of water ..................
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If they can't give figures for other colours then why should we believe they've taken into account the relative numbers of ones they can be bothered to count?
The key statistic is this; 100% of accidents are caused by human error. If everybody - motorists, pedestrians, cyclists etc - abided by the highway code 100% of the time, nobody would ever crash. Ever.
So you say you don't belive the AAs stats but expect us to belive yours? LOL ;-)
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I can't go to prison for having a dirty car, ...
Not sure about prison, but 25 years ago in Russia you could get pulled.
I was pulled by Mr Plod about 25 years ago in the UK basically because the car was dirty. The site I was working at and the surrounding roads were awash with liquid mud, surprised they got away with it, today they woudn't. Every vehicle leaving site took on the appearance of the surrounding land. Once I told him where I was working he seemed quite happy.
Guess he was wondering how the car had got into that state.
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I can't go to prison for having a dirty car, ...
Not sure about prison, but 25 years ago in Russia you could get pulled.
I was pulled by Mr Plod about 25 years ago in the UK basically because the car was dirty. The site I was working at and the surrounding roads were awash with liquid mud, surprised they got away with it, today they woudn't. Every vehicle leaving site took on the appearance of the surrounding land. Once I told him where I was working he seemed quite happy.
Guess he was wondering how the car had got into that state.
I can see people getting pulled over if their number plate is so dirty that it is unreadable.
The old couple referred to in the original post rarely wash their cars. However, the flat white Mokka has already been washed within two months of ownership
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I think it depends on the type of dirt.
If it's mud and dirt from the road, of which there's plenty here in Dorset, white will show it worse than anything. But in towns and cities you can get a good layer of grime on a white car and it won't show nearly as much as it will on black or another dark colour.
Generally I agree that silver is the best all-round colour for not showing dirt, if that's your priority in choosing a colour.
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These folk live in rural East Anglia. Interestingly the wife chose a silver car a few years back because she thougt it was a colour that was easily seen. They seem to have made their decision the wrong way round. The silver car doesn't really show the dirt much apart from brake dust on the alloys. Never been polished in five years, even though the supplying dealer has suggested it. Both cars are serviced on the dot at supplying dealer.
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Speaking from experience, gunmetal grey (had on mx-5) did not show muck. Current off white pearly colour of my Honda shows up all dirt and it's been too rainy up here to get out and wash it. I am now a little embarrassed by the small fingerprints in the dust around the boot opening....
Burgundy doesn't show much dirt either.
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My old MB is ruby red metallic, thats probably as bad as black for showing every single spec of dirt.
The Outback is silver and it has to be seriously mucky to look anything other than clean, but cor blimey the OE Subaru wheels are fiddly to clean properly.
My old mate said years ago that if the windows are spotlessly clean inside and out and the wheels clean the whole car looks clean, i think he was right.
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My old mate said years ago that if the windows are spotlessly clean inside and out and the wheels clean the whole car looks clean, i think he was right.
I second that. Just giving the windows a quick AutoGlym makes a lot of diference.
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The best colour I have ever had for disguising dirt was the old Ford 'champagne gold'. I had an Escort 1.6 Ghia and used to clean the windows (inside and out) every week and the bodywork about 3 times a year. Had it for 23 years. Wonderful car.
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23 years is quite some going!
Was that just you, or in your family?
Did you have any other car to use?
(Has the site had a thread about the longest period anyone's owned any one car?)
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I think we have in the past, HandCart, but new people come in all the time: so do start another one if you'd like to.
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My dear old dad had it for 12 years from new and then, when he packed up driving because of advancing years, he gave it to me and I ran it for 11 more years. It passed its last 3 MOT's first time but suddenly things started to go wrong to such an extent that it was uneconomical to put them right. It was a sad day when it went to the breaker's yard.
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Ford Champagne Gold sounds very like my suggestion. BL's Oyster Metallic basically a browny light gold.
Princess2 2.0 HL Auto with the great O series engine. Reliable big barge and I bought it cheap at auction at 18months old and ran it for years.
The body never showed the dirt....mind you the roof did as it was Chocolate Brown Vinyl. Quick wash then out with the Armourall for the roof. Soaked up loads of Armourall but you ended up with a roof that would bead all the water. I miss that car. I thought it had tinted windows ...turned out the previous owner smoked lots of cigars (his lungs yikes!) ....lots of valeting sorted that.
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My Mazda is a dark green colour and seldom shows up dirt, even after not going through a car wash for several months
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