White cars are in the fashion fast-lane among second-hand buyers, according to a major used car retailer which has just completed an analysis of shifting colour preferences.

But although sales of white cars increased seven-fold in the six months to spring 2011, says ACF Car Finance Limited, the new chic shade still has a lot of catching up to do.

Less than one percent of sales in the period were white, compared with the evergreen favourite shades of silver (25 percent of sales), blue (25 percent) and black (21 percent).

However, the top trio of colours did fade slightly in popularity in ACF Car Finance’s most recent survey, and recorded an average of 10 percent fewer sales.

Colours gaining ground, in addition to white, include beige, gold and orange.

In the view of Leyton Cooper, Divisional Group Buying Manager, used car sales provide a more accurate measure of changing tastes than colour preferences reported by motor manufactures.

“A new car showroom which places its orders long in advance is often not in a position to suddenly bring in additional quantities of a colour which is coming into vogue,” he said.

“But used car retailers can respond more quickly if, like ACF Car Finance, they are buying from multiple sources around the country on a daily basis,” added Leyton.

He thinks that the new trend towards white could be a follow-through from the “Apple Effect” following the introduction of pristine white iPods and iPads by the computer company.

Although colour trends come and go, Leyton says, white may yet prove to have staying power.

“White doesn’t show chips and scratches as readily, and can be more forgiving than darker shades if you haven’t been able to get out with a bucket and sponge for a while,” he says.

“White cars can also be more economical to run because they reflect the sun’s heat, rather than absorbing it as a darker colour does, meaning the air conditioning can be used less during the summer months,” Leyton points out.

Via EPR Network
More Automotive press releases