Why is white such a winner with car buyers?
“It accounts for more sales than the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth most popular car colours combined,” says George Mienie, our CEO. “It’s obviously better than a darker car colour in the heat, it retains its resale value, and it’s also easy to repair,” he explains.
According to recent car searches performed on AutoTrader (you have the option of using our filtering tool to sort cars by your preferred colour), silver is the second most popular colour, followed by grey, blue, and red.
This is not just a South African trend — in Asia, the rest of Africa, the United Kingdom, and South America, white is also a highly sought-after colour.
So, what are the pros and cons of white car ownership?
Pros
1. It suits most body styles and shapes
White never goes out of style, and since most people prefer white, used car buyers will usually choose white over another colour, which means you'll easily sell your car later on, and it will also retain its value well.
2. It's cooler in summer
For those who have no choice but to park their car in the hot sun, it goes without saying that the interior will be cooler than its darkly-coloured counterparts because white doesn't absorb energy the way that darker colours do.
3. Usually, a solid white paint job doesn't cost extra
Most manufacturers offer solid white or black for free, especially when you're shopping in the premium segment of the market. Once you specify pearl or iridescent white, you may have to start paying for it, though.
Another pro regarding maintenance is that you can quickly get a perfect colour match if you opted for a solid white car, and shallow scratches and blemishes won't be as visible on white as it is on black, for example.
Cons
1. It's more difficult to find in a crowded parking lot
If you're a little scatterbrained, and the model you drive happens to be a bestseller like a Polo or Polo Vivo, you'll have to make a mental note of exactly where you parked. Thank goodness that Google Maps is able to lend a helping hand these days. Unsure as to how to utilize this function on your phone? Google Support offers easy instructions, but if you do use Google Maps for navigation purposes, often it will update where you parked your car automatically. Picking up kids from school? They may find the car hard to spot. You can also drop a Whatsapp location pin if they have their phones on them.
On the plus side, if you plan to engage in anything that isn't above board, like visiting your 'skelmpie' in secret or driving a getaway car, it won't draw too much attention. "No officer, I can't remember what car it was, but it was white". (Just kidding, we don't condone any illegal or immoral activities here at AutoTrader.)
2. White cars need to be washed more often
That pure white canvas shows dirt and grime more easily than most other colours, so be sure to invest in good car shampoo or treat your car to a professional wash or a polish when the need arises. The pro is that white cars are generally easy to clean, as you can spot the areas which you've missed more easily.
Verdict
The pros far outweigh the cons, so if you're keen on a white car, there are many good reasons to buy one.
