After thinking about one of the few diappointing things about CTS-V... the fact that it's only available in silver or black, I started thinking about the number of color offerings on most of GM's cars today...

It's frustrating to me that every color that is normally available on a CTS is not available on a CTS-V... same with Z06 compared to an LS1 Corvette.

Then, take it a step deeper... why not offer 4 more colors on some of these cars? Is 12 colors really that much more expensive to do then, say, 7 or 8?
In 1984, the C4 Corvette offered around 12-14 colors (didnt look it up)... today, Corvette offers only EIGHT total colors... One is restricted to the 50th, so only SEVEN on the LS1 cars... and only FIVE on the Z06!!!

Why?!? It can't be that costly to do...

 

This is a little bit out of my field, but I'll take a stab at it...

The real issue for cost is the complexity that is added at the plant. Different colors are run in batches and the paint line has to be cleared completely for each batch, which basically means that it is down for that amount of time - which causes scheduling issues and lost efficiency.

 

Ya, I can understand that...

What got me to thinking it wouldn't be such a big deal, though, was when I toured the Bowling Green Assembly about a month ago...

Corvette was run in a rainbow of colors down the line... so there wasn't a run of 40 white cars, then 40 red cars, etc... all colors were sprinkled in here and there.

The bumper covers and body panels looked to be stored on racks, and pulled as the were needed according to the job run. So, I imagine they paint out a bunch of parts for stock, and pull them as needed.

Now, I was told that the VAST majority of Corvette build out are made as "SOLD" orders... so that may have an effect on the process versus, say Cavalier, which is most likely a huge "STOCK" order build out, and they may run a ton of the same car down the line...

But, if they stock the panels pre-painted, would it be that big of a deal...

Also, how long is the paint booth's down time when doing a color-change?

 

What's truly sad is that my wife's 1968 Mustangs were available in something like 22 different exterior colors and 10 interior colors.

For example, you could get a aqua car with an aqua interior, or a darker teal car with a darker teal interior. And the interior color wasn't just carpet, seats, and doorpanels--it was steering wheel, painted dash, dash pad, etc.

Today: "Choose from four fabulous exterior colors! Interior? Oh, we have grey and tan."

BOOORRRING.

 

Ya, don't even get me started in interior color choices...

I know it is a different world now than in 1968, but why is it so impossible to do similar things today?

 

Honestly, it probably makes more business sense to offer limited interior and exterior colors. People buy the cars they do because they like the car,for many people I think color is really a secondary consideration. 20 different exterior colors and 10 different interior colors and patterns mucks up the manufacturing process and in the end you're probably not going to sell the extra units it would take to recoup the money lost in the inefficiency of the process. I am positive this study has been done numerous times over the years by auto manufacturers.

 

Yup, colors should be readily available, both to order as well as on the lot. It results in a wider base of appeal to impulse buyers as well as casual shoppers.

Get this, the Focus has 12 colors and 6 interior combos to pick from...
linky (pages 12 and 13).
Mustang has 11 colors and 8 interior options to pick from...
linky (pages 9 and 10).

All I can add to what pacerX had to say is that the scheduled time to assemble includes paint and trim, and there is an averaged set-up time included in the car's build time too. They will back-order a particular color until they have enough orders to justify the change over based on the per-unit spec. This pertains mostly to off-line body panels and components (like doors and hoods) that meet up with the body itself much later.

There is much work going on to try to minimize any in-process change overs on the actual body lines. I know of a project my company is involved with that actually has multiple spray nozzles on the end effector of a robotic sprayer, and each tip has it's own supply line to a reservoir of different color paints. A solenoid valve remotely selects the tip (and therefore paint color) that get sprayed almost instantly. In a statically charged deposition process, there is very little "overspray" so reclamation and waste becomes unimportant. This system has virtually NO changeover time, and can paint one car one color, and the next car another - no problem, no slowdowns.

So the color offerings are more likely tied to basic costs associated with purchasing in quantities. Common colors used a ton get better pricing. Offer less colors and you are supposed to sell MORE of the remaining colors, thereby getting better leverage to buy with quantity pricing.

Last thought - if Ford can offer 12 colors on a car that they make 300k units/year, why can't GM offer more than 2 on a car they plan to make 30k units of? TIME?!?!

 

Well, I can honestly see why interior choices have become more limited... stocking supplier made parts in more colors can mean a lot more money... seats, carpet, door panels, vent outlets, seat belts, etc etc etc...

But, the exterior color thing , at least from what I can see, is a lot simpler solution... you just add a few paint colors to your inventory.

You may have a bit more downtime, and there would be some costs involved with stocking additional paint, and pre-painted parts for the line, but I don't see a whole lot more than that... maybe some cost for supplying additional color chips in your brochure...

 

Could it have anything to do with the way the cars are made compaired to the 60's. I dont know, but mabey the paint was apllied differant then so they had the oppertunity to use more colors.

Or mabey the gerneal public just doesnt car any more. Show my 10 peolpe who want a mint green car with mint green interior. My bither making something people dont want, even when they will still buy you car anyways.

 

I'm sorry, but when the world's most popular automotive "color" is silver, you know that radical colors are not going to be in high demand.

I honestly question if the public cares about color on their cars much anymore because of that fact. Silver? No offense to silver owners out there but why even paint the car? I think a nice shade of primer would look just as slick.

 

Another issue is all the different materials body panels are made in nowadays. Anyone remember the Camaro MY2000ish Hugger Orange?

It took GM several years and afew bucks to get the color finish in different sheet molded pastic compounds in the fascias, fenders and doors to match the metal quarter panels. And in the end...the color looked so faded, it looked nothing like orange.

 

Well, I suppose you guys do make a point about the demand for more colors.

Would more choices bring in more business? Hmmm... Maybe... maybe not.

I know that color is a very serious consideration when I buy a car... I also think that the same color may look great one one car (Sunset Orange Metallic on a Camaro SS) and rotten on another (Suburst Copper, or whatever Cadillac calls SOM, on a Cadillac CTS).

I'd love to know how much it costs to add a color to a line though... it's got to be relatively low...

 

Look at the "new" impala's. The wife wants a 2000 black or red one. Ya good luck, All they have are silver.

 

I also bet you liked the camaro/firebird too, but that doesnt mean they are going to keep around. (untill 2007 at least)

 

How is it PROGRESS, how it is BETTER, that we have less color choices today? If our superior technologies and supposedly superior processes can't offer better selection at lower cost than something produced 35 years ago, then are they truly superior?