View Poll Results: Will a Boureaux red E55 be worth less at trade in than the same car in Platinum blue?
Yes
16
53.33%
No
14
46.67%
Voters: 30. You may not vote on this poll
Does color really matter on trade in?
Thread Starter
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
I drive a E55T, SLK55 and 65 Mustang Conv.
Does color really matter on trade in?
Hi all,
I would like your opinions on this. I know that any color other than black or silver automatically have less trade in value but do you think that a car that is Bordeaux red would have an even lower trade in over a car that is Platinum blue? Pkease let me know your thoughts on this. I am trying to set up a poll but I am not sure if it will work.
Kim
I would like your opinions on this. I know that any color other than black or silver automatically have less trade in value but do you think that a car that is Bordeaux red would have an even lower trade in over a car that is Platinum blue? Pkease let me know your thoughts on this. I am trying to set up a poll but I am not sure if it will work.
Kim
Last edited by Lady Wolf; Feb 12, 2005 at 07:19 PM. Reason: I can't type
Banned
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From: Mason Neck, VA
to be totally man-headed on this one. i think of burgundy as a girl color and blue a guy. when i originally put in an order for a cls55 i jokingly suggested red. he said youll have to pay for it upfront then. so you are correct, black and silver no problem. any other color is just personal.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
I drive a E55T, SLK55 and 65 Mustang Conv.
I guess you can figure out which of us wants which color, huh? 
The car is SUPPOSED to be mine but that has still yet to be proven 
Kim
The car is SUPPOSED to be mine but that has still yet to be proven Kim
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From: South Orange County, CA
4 wheels
I think you might be able to get a little bit more for the Bordeaux Red simply because it is not such a common color, and IMO looks drop dead gorgeous. My E350 will be Bordeaux Red with the Stone Interior.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: Melbourne - Australia
2004 E55 AMG
Originally Posted by Lady Wolf
Hi all,
I would like your opinions on this. I know that any color other than black or silver automatically have less trade in value but do you think that a car that is Bordeaux red would have an even lower trade in over a car that is Platinum blue? Pkease let me know your thoughts on this. I am trying to set up a poll but I am not sure if it will work.
Kim
I would like your opinions on this. I know that any color other than black or silver automatically have less trade in value but do you think that a car that is Bordeaux red would have an even lower trade in over a car that is Platinum blue? Pkease let me know your thoughts on this. I am trying to set up a poll but I am not sure if it will work.
Kim
Its a similar question to a reselling a yellow ferrari compared to a red ferrari.
Good luck
Last edited by chem0; Feb 12, 2005 at 11:22 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Vancouver, British Columbia
04 E55
i honestly think that they would want any color that would be an easy seller, I don't think they take trade-ins so it can sit around looking pretty and waiting for the particular person that may be interested in that color.. It's just the way the market is i guess..
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From: NW Ohio
2008 335 vert, 2004 MDX
You never know. With the internet these days, you could be the ONLY ONE selling a red E55 in a couple of years, and to a national audience. If somebody wants red, they'll have to talk to you. If nobody wants red, call me. I always like a good deal!
Seriously, if you're going to look at it every day and think "I should have got red," you better get red. Forget resale. You need to be happy with your car.
Seriously, if you're going to look at it every day and think "I should have got red," you better get red. Forget resale. You need to be happy with your car.
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From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
Silver, white and black (except in ferrari and other's like corvette etc) have better trade in value than other colors, but from here each respective color may have more or less value than the others ie; a nice metallic midnight blue will not do as well as black but much better than light green etc.
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From: Monroe, Louisiana
SL 65 AMG and E63s AMG
A few years I traded a metallic green 400E and took a beating due to the color. My dealer (local, in a very small market) told me that color determines who will consider buying the car second hand. 
Black, if taken care of, is one of the more desirable cars because men and women will buy it. Also certain ethnic groups (I mean no disrespect but facts are facts) prefer black Benzs over all other colors. My dealer really wished I had had a black one because he had 2 buyers looking specifically for that color. Silver and white are also popular.
Red is usually known as "resale red" but people that buy high end luxury cars tend to be conservative therefore there is a limited resale market.
My experience is based on what my dealer told me, I'm not sure that the info is accurate. Maybe someone who knows about automobile marketing can comment. Sometimes I think the dealer just makes up that s**t just as excuse to give you a low ball number.
Black, if taken care of, is one of the more desirable cars because men and women will buy it. Also certain ethnic groups (I mean no disrespect but facts are facts) prefer black Benzs over all other colors. My dealer really wished I had had a black one because he had 2 buyers looking specifically for that color. Silver and white are also popular.
Red is usually known as "resale red" but people that buy high end luxury cars tend to be conservative therefore there is a limited resale market.
My experience is based on what my dealer told me, I'm not sure that the info is accurate. Maybe someone who knows about automobile marketing can comment. Sometimes I think the dealer just makes up that s**t just as excuse to give you a low ball number.
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Wisconsin
2004 E55 tectite grey/charcoal
I think color is a very personal thing. If you plan on keeping the car for a long time you should get whatever makes you happy. Will you be the only driver or will your husband be driving too. My wife once had a rare turquoise color Z3. She loved it because everywhere she drove it women would make nice comments about her car, but I couldn't drive it because I looked ridiculous in it.
Thread Starter
Super Member
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
I drive a E55T, SLK55 and 65 Mustang Conv.
It is to be my car but lets face it, if there is 469hp in the garage what are the chances of my husband NOT driving it? It will be the family car as the 3 of us don't fit into his SLK55. should also point out the although the color is called red it is actually burgandy.
Kim
Kim
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From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
I work in the industry in California and deal with wholesalers and used car directors everyday. The off colors or specialty colors (that are not in the black or silver range) generally take a hit. This is especially the case on highline units like MBZ's, Porsches, BMW's...etc. Whether blue or burgandy will take the bigger hit is tough call. Both colors are generally less desireable in the resale market at least here in California. IMO I think the burgandy would take the harder hit but by how much.... I dont know.
Used cars cost more to floor and generally need to be moved in small time frame. Dealers don't like to take in the off colors and watch that car sit and suck up interest on a used car plan. While we all like the blue and the burgandy colors, how many of us buy them used? I personally love the rare colors but have taken hits due to color. Case in point was my 2002 BMW M5 LeMans Blue which I loved and everybody on the M5 forum sites love too but not one dealer liked it. Luckily I was able to leverage my relationship to get a high number on it- but if it was silver or black the discussion would have been much easier. My issue is that I never keep a car for more than 2 years so I kind of have to look at color in regards to resale. If you are buying or keeping your car for the full lease term than it really doesnt matter as long as the color is exactly what you want.
Used cars cost more to floor and generally need to be moved in small time frame. Dealers don't like to take in the off colors and watch that car sit and suck up interest on a used car plan. While we all like the blue and the burgandy colors, how many of us buy them used? I personally love the rare colors but have taken hits due to color. Case in point was my 2002 BMW M5 LeMans Blue which I loved and everybody on the M5 forum sites love too but not one dealer liked it. Luckily I was able to leverage my relationship to get a high number on it- but if it was silver or black the discussion would have been much easier. My issue is that I never keep a car for more than 2 years so I kind of have to look at color in regards to resale. If you are buying or keeping your car for the full lease term than it really doesnt matter as long as the color is exactly what you want.
Last edited by Vic55; Feb 13, 2005 at 08:58 PM.
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From: Dallas, TX
W212 E63, Audi R8 4.2, Panamera S, Range Rover Sport GT
I also work with a lot of auto dealers, and what vic says is pretty true....general advice is that if you want an off colored car, lease it or else take a hit. Black, silver, greys, and white are usually the safest colors. I do a lot of buying, selling, and brokering of my own, so color defintely plays a part in my purchases.
Of course, if the bordeaux is really the color you want, then the extra hit is just an additional opportunity cost of getting what you really like.
Of course, if the bordeaux is really the color you want, then the extra hit is just an additional opportunity cost of getting what you really like.
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From: Dallas, TX
W212 E63, Audi R8 4.2, Panamera S, Range Rover Sport GT
one thing i forgot to add...i strongly believe the platinum blue will be worth more than the bordeaux.....the platinum is actually fairly popular and a decent seller, not like a midnight, orion, or capri
my guess is a 3-4K differential between the 2 colors
my guess is a 3-4K differential between the 2 colors
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From: Georgia
E 63S Wagon Renntech, E55 Renntech, SL65, SL 55 030, ML, bunch of old ones--they come, they go...
Also an industry guy...
and Vic is generally on target. A black car will always bring more money. Most Benz customers are conservative, and most reds or their derivatives are nowhere on resale. (The old signal/magma red or the new mars red are best examples) Just as an aside, platinum blue cars don't seem to be doing anything at the Benz auctions. Blues and Benzes have always been tough. If someone wants a dark color, they want 040. I do have to agree, if you're paying for it, and going to keep it a while, then you might as well get what you want, and try to forget about what's coming at the end...
Thread Starter
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
I drive a E55T, SLK55 and 65 Mustang Conv.
Wel, one thing I can tell you absolutely will NOT happen is us getting either a black or silver Benz. It's either the blue or the burgandy but I am just not certain which yet. I have until a week from today to decide.
Kim
Kim
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From: Tampa, Florida
06 SL65 / 97 993tt /11 Suburban/ 2012 GTR (AMG è la mia Famiglia la Bestia è la mia protezione)
Originally Posted by Lady Wolf
Wel, one thing I can tell you absolutely will NOT happen is us getting either a black or silver Benz. It's either the blue or the burgandy but I am just not certain which yet. I have until a week from today to decide.
Kim
Kim
Good Luck.
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From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
Originally Posted by Lady Wolf
Wel, one thing I can tell you absolutely will NOT happen is us getting either a black or silver Benz. It's either the blue or the burgandy but I am just not certain which yet. I have until a week from today to decide.
Kim
Kim
