Does the Color of an HD Pickup Make a Difference?

I think that silver is a nice looking color. It used to be notorious for not lasting very long and I have always avoided it for that reason but I don't think that applies anymore. Paint has really improved in the last 30 years.

I hope that you enjoy your truck! Post some pictures when you get home!

Thank you all for your input on my question. I have chosen Silver.

I tried to find a Greenstone Metallic in person, but both were delivered to customers before I reached a salesperson.

As for the economics side, I have no reason to worry. I would just end up with a very nice 4x4 truck to drive to Iowa, haul hay wagons, tow my trailer when I do not need my Express, and get through Michigan winters.

On an older vehicle, I look for the best combo of value and options. Color isn't a driving factor. On a new or newer (like you are suggesting), EVERYTHING matters, because of the higher price point. While I might consider brown or red in an otherwise cherry 10 year old truck, it would be an absolute no-go on a 1 year old truck.

My advice for you is to order white or silver, as they sure seem to appeal to a larger group of people.

And to comment on the economics side (the question you didn't ask), I'd be worried about resale, even buying at true employee purchase price (which I can do as well).

mleekamp wrote:
If it's not red, it's just transportation. (old saying)

Seriously though, buy the truck in the color you WANT. I don't worry nor think about "I hop the next guy likes this color". Sure, a few years down the road, you will find odd color combos or a color choice that is not to your taste (if buying used) but who cares, really? We have bought cars in tan/gold that I would not have bought new...and got a great deal because it was not silver/red/blue/whatever. Point is, if buying new, get what YOU LIKE.

This is my thought as well. It is kinda like that saying about not driving a vehicle to keep the miles low for resale value. Which is the equivalent to not sleeping with your girlfriend to keep her fresh for the next guy. Buy the color you want, whatever color it is somebody will want it on resale. Condition of it is a far greater factor in resale value than the color. My last couple have been the Dark Blue. Dirt is an issue, scratches show more, but it looks so dam good, I keep buying em.

Grit dog wrote:

Durb wrote:
I was the second person to look the truck I bought used. Seller told me the first guy would have bought it if it was white instead of silver. Dumb reason, he missed out on a really nice truck.

And the first guy had to go look at it to know the difference between white and silver?
LOL
Any of you ever try to "help" the process when you're selling something significant, like a vehicle?
Sounds like what that guy was doing...

You know, if it's popular, and you get a bunch of calls, schedule everyone to come look at it at the same time?
Or text your buddies and have them call you, "very interested", while a potential buyer is looking at it.
He!!, I figured I had a guy who was pretty convinced before he even showed up. But he was already waffling to me about whether the "wife" would be good with it, etc. Dunno if he was playing me or not, but I had one of my buddies show up a little after the real customer, get all excited about the car. Told the "second guy", hey, so n so was here first. Can you give him some space? I'll call you if he doesn't buy it. "Second guy was like "Call me, got cash at home...etc etc"
Car was sold to first guy 5 min after guy #2 "left."

Don't think there was any salesmanship shenanigans here. Seller was dying from cancer. 2004.5 Ram Laramie Dually with 62k miles. Beautiful condition. First looker went as far as seeing how much it would cost to paint it white, too much.

Well, with the experience I had when I was shopping for my current truck, I would say that yes color does matter. I was determined that I was going to buy a white truck until I happened to see the truck that I bought. The Maximum Steel color looked absolutely stunning on the Ram dually when I saw it, and well the rest is history! :C

Durb wrote:
I was the second person to look the truck I bought used. Seller told me the first guy would have bought it if it was white instead of silver. Dumb reason, he missed out on a really nice truck.

And the first guy had to go look at it to know the difference between white and silver?
LOL
Any of you ever try to "help" the process when you're selling something significant, like a vehicle?
Sounds like what that guy was doing...

You know, if it's popular, and you get a bunch of calls, schedule everyone to come look at it at the same time?
Or text your buddies and have them call you, "very interested", while a potential buyer is looking at it.
He!!, I figured I had a guy who was pretty convinced before he even showed up. But he was already waffling to me about whether the "wife" would be good with it, etc. Dunno if he was playing me or not, but I had one of my buddies show up a little after the real customer, get all excited about the car. Told the "second guy", hey, so n so was here first. Can you give him some space? I'll call you if he doesn't buy it. "Second guy was like "Call me, got cash at home...etc etc"
Car was sold to first guy 5 min after guy #2 "left."

Now we're into subjectivity again.
Likely most people who are going to pay top dollar for a basically new (1 year old), loaded diesel pickup are probably going to have a stronger preference to get one how they "want" it, including color.

On the other end of the spectrum, guy gots $1500 and needs wheels to get to work. 1 car is shiny (insert his favorite color), looks great and the transmission slips and it looks like a skeeter fogger out the tailpipe and every time the brakes get touched, the car darts towards the ditch......and it smells like baby poo and wet Marlboro butts inside.
The other car is pink n green, actually more of a teal, you know like 80's Maimi Vice boats and has 141 scratches and dents in it, but it is clean inside, purrs like a kitten, drives 75mph down the highway with no shakes and doesn't mark its territory every time it is standing still for more than 30 seconds.

How much does color matter in that scenario?

Since we're talking about the former, clearly, and not the latter, get the popular color!

I was the second person to look the truck I bought used. Seller told me the first guy would have bought it if it was white instead of silver. Dumb reason, he missed out on a really nice truck.

Simply do a Google search, and you can see that color DOES affect resale value. Even Forbes had a big article on it not too long ago.

Singular opinions are great -- "I like white" . . . "I like silver" . . . "I had no problem reselling my brown truck"

yeah, yeah, yeah.

1. Do your research

2. Listen to someone who's been in the business for decades and has probably bought & sold tens of thousands of cars over the years.

3. Ask yourself "if there was such a thing as a 'used car factory', what color would I be most interested in if there were actually a choice?"