The article goes into reasons that this is more than just a matter of consumer tastes, like how 70% of new house construction are within an HOA, and the way people who might otherwise choose a unique car or house color can be convinced otherwise based on perception of hurting resale value.
the way people who might otherwise choose a unique car
IMO the problem with cars is that people don’t “choose” the color at all. They buy what’s available on the lot, and what’s available on the lot is almost entirely shitty neutrals because that’s what dealers/manufacturers think sells because that’s all that people could choose from because that’s what was on the lot…
I don’t normally buy new cars, but in 2019 I was going to bite the bullet and get myself a “BIFL” Toyota Tacoma. I knew exactly what I wanted: a manual transmission TRD Off-Road in Voodoo Blue – that color specifically. But guess what: I do not have a Tacoma because Toyota could not and would not sell me that car. There wasn’t a single one in that color available anywhere in the entire Southeastern US, and they would not take an order to build one for me. If I wanted to settle for some random boring color they had plenty, but not Voodoo Blue.
I ended up deciding that if I couldn’t get exactly what I wanted it defeated the point of buying new at all, and got an old 2nd-gen 4Runner instead.
Anyway, point is that Toyota tanked the sale entirely by refusing to provide a bright colorwithcorrecttrimlevelandtransmission, and because I’m that stubborn. Most people are not like me and will settle instead, and that’s how all the cars end up being boring, shitty colors!
There wasn’t a single one in that color available anywhere in the entire Southeastern US, and they would not take an order to build one for me.
Toyota doesn’t actually do orders for the US market. They do allocations, and the factory just builds what corporate dictates based on market trends. You can fill out an “order form”, but the chance you actually get the vehicle you want is extremely slim.
The article goes into reasons that this is more than just a matter of consumer tastes, like how 70% of new house construction are within an HOA, and the way people who might otherwise choose a unique car or house color can be convinced otherwise based on perception of hurting resale value.
IMO the problem with cars is that people don’t “choose” the color at all. They buy what’s available on the lot, and what’s available on the lot is almost entirely shitty neutrals because that’s what dealers/manufacturers think sells because that’s all that people could choose from because that’s what was on the lot…
I don’t normally buy new cars, but in 2019 I was going to bite the bullet and get myself a “BIFL” Toyota Tacoma. I knew exactly what I wanted: a manual transmission TRD Off-Road in Voodoo Blue – that color specifically. But guess what: I do not have a Tacoma because Toyota could not and would not sell me that car. There wasn’t a single one in that color available anywhere in the entire Southeastern US, and they would not take an order to build one for me. If I wanted to settle for some random boring color they had plenty, but not Voodoo Blue.
I ended up deciding that if I couldn’t get exactly what I wanted it defeated the point of buying new at all, and got an old 2nd-gen 4Runner instead.
Anyway, point is that Toyota tanked the sale entirely by refusing to provide a bright colorwith correct trim level and transmission, and because I’m that stubborn. Most people are not like me and will settle instead, and that’s how all the cars end up being boring, shitty colors!
Example of the truck Toyota wouldn't sell me
Toyota doesn’t actually do orders for the US market. They do allocations, and the factory just builds what corporate dictates based on market trends. You can fill out an “order form”, but the chance you actually get the vehicle you want is extremely slim.
Right: so they don’t make colorful vehicles, refuse to take orders for them, and then pretend colorful vehicles don’t sell.
Because ultimately (and unfortunately), manual transmissions are a dying breed, and most people buy the automatic versions.
This isn’t just specific to Toyota. The vast majority of new cars sold these days are automatics.