What would you be willing to pay for a paint color?

[cyure]

All this talk of different colors got me thinking. How much would we all be willing to pay for a color?

As you all know, or are about to know I really, really, really want PBY. I’m really hoping it’s in the $1,000 to $1,500 range but I have seen how much some of those Rivian colors can cost so I realistically would be willing to go up to $2,000 to $2,500 if it was exactly the color I wanted.

So what do you all think?

 

[R1TVT]

Porsche is interesting! CHA CHING!!!! https://media.porsche.com/paint-to-sample/en

Porsche Color Cost Tiers (Approximate)

• Standard Colors ($0): White, Black, Guards Red, Racing Yellow.
• Metallic Colors (~$840): Jet Black Metallic, Carrara White Metallic, Gentian Blue Metallic, Agate Grey Metallic.
• Special Colors (~$2,580 - $3,270): Ruby Star Neo, Carmine Red, Shark Blue, Python Green, Chalk, Ice Grey Metallic.
• Paint to Sample (PTS) (~$11,430 - $12,830+): Custom, pre-approved, or custom-matched colors (over 160+ options).
• Paint to Sample Plus (~$25,660+): Specialized, custom-matched paint with long feasibility studies.

I wish one of your choices was ZERO DOLLARS for a special limited run "launch" color... B/C that is what I would probably get. LOL

 

[cyure]

Porsche is interesting! CHA CHING!!!! https://media.porsche.com/paint-to-sample/en

Porsche Color Cost Tiers (Approximate)

• Standard Colors ($0): White, Black, Guards Red, Racing Yellow.
• Metallic Colors (~$840): Jet Black Metallic, Carrara White Metallic, Gentian Blue Metallic, Agate Grey Metallic.
• Special Colors (~$2,580 - $3,270): Ruby Star Neo, Carmine Red, Shark Blue, Python Green, Chalk, Ice Grey Metallic.
• Paint to Sample (PTS) (~$11,430 - $12,830+): Custom, pre-approved, or custom-matched colors (over 160+ options).
• Paint to Sample Plus (~$25,660+): Specialized, custom-matched paint with long feasibility studies.

I wish one of your choices was ZERO DOLLARS for a special limited run "launch" color... B/C that is what I would probably get. LOL

Oh shoot I totally should have done 0 dollars.

@Jamie@ScoutMotors can you add to this poll? I don’t think I can edit it

We need 0, free, nada, nothing as an option.

Thanks!

 

[Logan]

Fundamentally, I really struggle with car companies charging more for different paint colors.

Its probably a "me" problem because a new vehicle to me is a yuuuuuuge expense, and I'm already scraping the edge of my budget (or past it), and then being "nickel and dimed" for a different color, just doesn't feel great.

However, for this last vehicle (the second time I'd ever purchased something new), my wife and I did end up paying for a "fancy" paint color (white...). It was a $500 upcharge.

Caveat here, is that because there were non-negotiable dealer addons on many vehicles (dumb floor mats, other things like that) on all of models on the lot with the free paint color that we liked. So the "actual" difference was < $200. And for that, it was a bit less painful.

I can't imagine (at the moment) a world where I'd ever willingly pay over $1000 for a fancy color. For that to happen, the stock colors would have to be truly horrific.

Personally, anything over a few thousand dollars, I start thinking "isn't a wrap approaching that cost"? or "how much does a custom paint job cost again"?

 

[J Alynn]

I’m in the realm of 4-6 standard colors. A couple colors at $599-$799 say-for metallics or low luster metallic. For the three step that some of the prototypes are I’d say $1499. That’s in keeping with many brands. Anything over $2k I won’t pay for. BUT…. If they offered a choose from any VWAG paint color and know there might only be a few I’d consider up to $4,500 but this also comes down to how much the other options are going to cost. I’ll add one of my selfish disclaimers. I’d also say offer a couple amazing matte finishes but charge $6K and cover costs and make money-I’m sure there are some that will pay that.

Since SM encouraged everyone to sign up as first year members because it would be worth our while and assuming a take/order conversion rate of 70% of reservations why not offer a first year, first 365 (one year) reservation holders have the option of going with a VWAG full color option for….. $3,650 (one year) so that the first year members get a very unique perk. And since the one old Scout ad had the shot of 30-ish scouts and some tagline about everyone being different they could do a group advertisement with those new Scouts. Then when everyone else loses their minds wanting it Scout can charge $5,200-$5,600 (probably going rate to wrap a scout) and make a good profit. You order hot pink they wait until there are a few hot pink and batch run them.

 

[J Alynn]

Oh shoot I totally should have done 0 dollars.

@Jamie@ScoutMotors can you add to this poll? I don’t think I can edit it

We need 0, free, nada, nothing as an option.

Thanks!

I think it’s OK without it. There will always be a few base colors for zero upgrade

 

[J Alynn]

Fundamentally, I really struggle with car companies charging more for different paint colors.

Its probably a "me" problem because a new vehicle to me is a yuuuuuuge expense, and I'm already scraping the edge of my budget (or past it), and then being "nickel and dimed" for a different color, just doesn't feel great.

However, for this last vehicle (the second time I'd ever purchased something new), my wife and I did end up paying for a "fancy" paint color (white...). It was a $500 upcharge.

Caveat here, is that because there were non-negotiable dealer addons on many vehicles (dumb floor mats, other things like that) on all of models on the lot with the free paint color that we liked. So the "actual" difference was < $200. And for that, it was a bit less painful.

I can't imagine (at the moment) a world where I'd ever willingly pay over $1000 for a fancy color. For that to happen, the stock colors would have to be truly horrific.

Personally, anything over a few thousand dollars, I start thinking "isn't a wrap approaching that cost"? or "how much does a custom paint job cost again"?

And I’ve always been told white takes extra coats to be opaque. And fussing you have the fine luster metallic finish which also does add cost. But we all know the metallic paint doesn’t cost $500 more. What would you guess-for the actual amount of paint (which isn’t really that much it’s probably $70-80 more per car but I could be way off. Guess you probably need an additional clear coat too to smooth out the finish so maybe it’s $150-180?

 

[OleScout]

Ford's Build Price Tool for Bronco

Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat $995
Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat $495
Eruption Green Metallic $395
No additional charges for white, gray or black

 

[SrfnFly227]

I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the thought of paying for a color I like. As mentioned above, it just feels like getting nickel and dimed on such a large purchase.

That said, the variability in the two current prototypes has got to take extra time and effort. The way that both vehicles manage to look completely different depending on light and angle. I can understand charging a bit for that and may be willing to spend for it.

 

[J Alynn]

Ford's Build Price Tool for Bronco

Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat $995
Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat $495
Eruption Green Metallic $395
No additional charges for white, gray or black

Typically the gloss colors are standard, whites add $ and so do metallics$$-$$$. Which makes sense

 

[shutthefrontdoor]

MFG's gouge on paint pricing. I typically always choose the free colors. The small, incremental costs for pigments, additives, metal flakes etc. for vehicles produced at volume is probably only $1-200 more, all in.

 

[J Alynn]

I have a really hard time wrapping my head around the thought of paying for a color I like. As mentioned above, it just feels like getting nickel and dimed on such a large purchase.

That said, the variability in the two current prototypes has got to take extra time and effort. The way that both vehicles manage to look completely different depending on light and angle. I can understand charging a bit for that and may be willing to spend for it.

You figure they are multi step paint processes so they cost more to do and take more time so I agree with you, but in order to keep base price under a set number ($60K in SM case) they offer a few colors as standard because paint is paint and if personal vanity requires more “glitz” then you pay more for it. Base costs keep going up so they have to manage that first and foremost. Sucks but it’s a reality

 

[Chavannigans]

I can’t vote.

There is no $0 option.

 

[J Alynn]

MFG's gouge on paint pricing. I typically always choose the free colors. The small, incremental costs for pigments, additives, metal flakes etc. for vehicles produced at volume is probably only $1-200 more, all in.

Agree. It’s vanity elements. I’m in building. I can’t tell you how many people build a new house and their master bath has a toilet compartment and they spend money upgrading the toilet that nobody sees.

 

[ScoutbyScoutwest]

I think I could be happy with the standard/no additional cost colors, whatever they may be. After seeing all the Gemini renders and heritage Scout pictures posted on this forum I've determined that as soon as Rallye or other stripe graphics are added to the side, I find there are so many colors I would now consider that I would have ruled out without the graphics. I never thought I would like plain white, but the Spirit of '76 look changed my mind. Didn't think I would want gray, but add white Rallye stripes, and I'm all in. I think I would rather take the money that could be spent on a costly paint color and add stripes to a basic color instead. I'm sure either Scout's graphics offerings or the ones I can get applied from a local shop would come in at under $500.

 

[jasdeep27b]

I will say that I looked into Rivian and it was weird to me that the black body paint is the most expensive at 3k which is absurd for what I would consider a standard color. It probably explains why I’ve never seen a black rivian. The other thing I find frustrating is when certain colors are locked to certain trim levels. For the average person who gets hooked by the look of a car, the look is pretty dependent on the color as well. There was a Volvo we were considering but decided that having to pay $20k to get to the trim and THEN pay another few grand for the color just was not worth it.

 

[6-ScoutFamily]

“You can have any color you want, so long as it is Black.” — (Henry Ford?)

 

[Chuckles]

I was willing to pay $2,500 for a custom paint color on my 2019 VW Golf R. Unfortunately, VW canceled the program after having my order for months. The Spektrum program had some great colors.

https://media.vw.com/releases/1065

 

[maynard]

“You can have any color you want, so long as it is Black.” — (Henry Ford?)

Definitely Henry Ford - to his son Edsel…

 

[J Alynn]

I was willing to pay $2,500 for a custom paint color on my 2019 VW Golf R. Unfortunately, VW canceled the program after having my order for months. The Spektrum program had some great colors.

https://media.vw.com/releases/1065

That was a great program