Mixed reception for white cars

White paint sets the right tone – but only on a minority of used cars

White has become an increasingly fashionable colour choice for consumer products in the 21st century, and growing numbers of vehicle manufacturers are following the trend by launching their all-new models with a white paint option. However, our analysis of prestige marques indicates that white cars are still getting a very mixed reception from used car buyers.

Our findings indicate that white examples of selected high performance models and vehicles with ‘sports’ styling kits are now achieving trade-in values comparable to those of identical cars finished in a popular metallic colour. However, in most instances a white paint finish remains a serious turn-off for used car buyers, resulting in a significant residual value penalty – as much as £5,000 off the trade-in price.

Current price variations for white cars can be best demonstrated by looking at individual model ranges. For example, an Audi A4 S-Line model in white currently performs well on the used market, and yet a white version of a standard A4 can be worth up to £1,000 less than an otherwise identical car in a desirable metallic colour.

There are a limited number of models where white is currently good news for residual values, including performance variants and those equipped with ‘sports’ styling kits: Audi S3, RS4 and R8, BMW 1 Series M Sport and M3, and Porsche 911 GT3, GT3 RS and Cayman. By contrast, there remains a heavy residual value penalty for white versions of prestige-brand luxury saloons and SUVs (around £3,000 less than the same car in a popular metallic colour). Many supercars and luxury grand-tourers will be penalised by as much as £5,000.

The recent favourable reception for selected white vehicles on the used market has, in part, resulted from more vehicle manufacturers using white cars on their press launches, generating widespread national media exposure.

White car values have also been supported by low levels of supply. Several carmakers have only very recently added white to their new car paint options lists, so the general availability of used white cars inevitably remains very low. We have also found that some manufacturers are sensibly placing a five per cent limit on the number of new cars produced in white to protect second-hand values.

Our assessment is that, if supply increases significantly, or if white falls out of favour with fashion-conscious buyers, values could fall sharply, even on those sports derivatives where they currently perform well.