What does your car “colour” say about your personality? Car colour can act as a psychological shortcut that expresses how we want everyone to think about us. Of course, your gender and age influence colour choices, along with what colours are available from the dealer. But, that’s not all there is to choosing a colour.
In T&T, colour preferences have changed throughout time with more vehicle types (European, Japanese, USA etc.) being sold here these days. You can take these observations with a grain of seasoning, but below is what the experts say your car’s colour says about YOU!
Black
Black is the power colour. Black declares itself as important, classic and in control. Black has become the number one colour for luxury in T&T, as most popular colour for new BMW and Mercedes vehicles sold. Black is the sophisticate’s colour. Just think of the little black dress or a black-tie dinner, it shows class and self-importance. Black is also one of the main colour choices of CEOs manoeuvring stately through the streets.
Silver
The metallic glow of silver shines bright with innovation. Think top of the line stainless steel appliances and silver technology. It’s the colour of security and style. A silver car colour indicates that you’re a high-class Trini with an eye on the upscale. Your status is higher in the world, and you’re not afraid to show it. Silver is also known to be a fall back colour because it doesn’t get as dirty as a white car or as hot as a black car. It seems most Trinis would agree with this, as it’s the 2nd most popular car colour.
White
If you’re driving a white vehicle, you like to present a fresh, techy, young, modern face to the outside world. Many fashionable brands – such as Apple, for example — are drawn to white for the same reason. White suggests that you have taste and elegance (cue the posh “Dinner in Blanc” held every year in Pot of Spain). White is also associated with honesty and clarity.
Or, it could be that living in hot T&T climate and white doesn’t absorb heat like black, and you want a car that won’t bake you like $5 dollar sausage roll. However, white is still one of the hardest colours to keep clean. Perfect for high-maintenance people, perhaps?
Grey
Grey car drivers know there is a difference between silver and grey. Reason is, the grey car driver doesn’t want to stand out at all, as the grey colour is more nondescript. Grey doesn’t need (or want) to be as flashy as silver, projecting more dignity, tradition and maturity and caring far less about status. The other good news for grey car drivers; it looks good on most types of vehicles and sizes.
Red
A “Go-getter” type may pick a red car, as Red projects action, power and masculinity. A red car for a man may declare great status in his world. If it’s a sporty red car, it’s a way of “showing the dominance on the road. However, for women, red often just represents confidence and fun. But however you spin it, the red car screams, “Look at me!” in every way. That driver might think he or she has something impressive to show you — the Uriah Butler highway equivalent of a nude exhibitionist, perhaps?
Blue
Blue is a practical, happy colour for many. The cars almost act like flashes of blue sky on grey roads. In fact, blue projects stability, truthfulness and serenity. The typical SUV driving mom may choose blue, which projects a nice, stable family appearance. Blue cars haven’t always been popular over the last few years, it has become particularly popular with female buyers.
Brown/Beige
Brown exudes a quiet peace. You’re practical, reliable, down-to-earth and pragmatic. Someone driving a brown or beige car also may speak volumes about your penny-pinching ways…. Maybe because you might get a brown or beige car from the dealer at a discounted price, or it also can show preference for someone who doesn’t really want to buy anything new. A brown-car buyer wants value and a long life in his or her purchases and doesn’t care about trends or fads.
Yellow/Gold
If you’re driving a yellow car, you may be the human embodiment of that Bob Marley “don’t worry, be happy” song. Yellow exudes joy and a positive attitude and mostly young people (or people having a mid-life identify crisis) are drawn to yellow. People in their 20s like brighter colours and welcome trends and colour. They like small, bolder shapes and vivid hues. “Bright colour doesn’t feel like a risk to them.” However, it feels risky to many other people. Yellow or gold cars made up only 1% to 2% of car colours in T&T.
Green
You are trustworthy, traditional and balanced, but can also be lively and occasionally hysterical….and really close to nature. Green cars has a reputation over the years – such as maybe you like to hug trees or fuel up your sedan with biofuel. There was a backlash against green and it went against fashion trends, with now fewer green cars in showrooms and on the road in T&T. Because of the anti-green sentiment, if you still drive a green car, you may be OK with being a fashion laggard and in no rush to catch up to current flashy trends. Hey, at least you can now recycle all your glass and paper at Massy Stores and drive in an original car colour doing so!
Orange
Bright orange declares that you’re quite comfortable with value and saving money. If you’re driving an orange car, you like minding your money. You might skip doing things for yourself (no spa treatments or expensive hair appointments) just so you can focus on value-rich investments. Drive an orange sports car? You pinched pennies to buy that head turner and you’re also not afraid of going against the tide. Orange is one of the least favourite colours of new car buyers in the T&T so driving this will stand out for sure!
Pink
You are the most likely to receive a speeding ticket. Around 30 percent of pink car owners received a speeding or parking ticket in the last five years, and the colour was the third most likely to be involved in a minor accident. However, people were most likely to describe pink car owners as funny, and generally considered to be the happiest drivers.
Now that we’ve done the research, we want to hear from you. What factors influence the choice you make in car colours?
