WE used to have a really good car painter. Over the many years we knew him, there has never been any regret when picking up our car. Over the many years of knowing this meticulous man, he has never raised his asking price and we are talking over a 18 year period. Sadly, some 15 years ago he passed from old age and overwork and there was no one to continue his good work. Since then we have tried a number of different painters and we have yet to find one that provides consistent good work and a sensible price.
Yes, there are some great new shops opening up, modern, technology filled and with well trained painters - however their prices are so high, we have decided over the past 7 years to revive the looks of our cars with vinyl body wrap. Yes, this might not be the same as paint, but we do not need to wait for weeks, it is cheaper and if properly done, costs about half the price, which is between RM2,200 for a Perodua Myvi, to about RM3,800 for a Toyota Alphard. Also, we do not need to buy new window rubbers as our cars are more than 20 years old and it's best to keep the window and door rubbers intact if there are no leaking issues.
Still, there are many others who want a nice new coat of paint and here is why this article is being published.
Since the dawn of the automobile era, cars have always been painted in a full spectrum of colours. The world’s first motor vehicle, the 1886 Benz Patent-Motorwagen was green, with its fully exposed engine finished in bright red. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find cars of different size, functionality and of course, “personality”. We’re talking about the colours of these cars. If it’s on a colour chart, you can bet that it’ll be on a car.
However, despite automotive brands releasing different colour sets for new cars, did you know that the colours black, grey and white are still the most popular choices for new car owners in Southeast Asia. This is backed by a colour survey done by one of the leading decorative paints and coatings companies. The survey results show, interestingly, that 22 per cent of respondents choose black as their favourite colour, with 21 per cent and 19 per cent of respondents choosing white and grey respectively. To understand the rationale behind these choices, let us dive deeper into the colours and what they represent.
The colour black often represents power, ambition and wealth. This is evident as some luxurious automotive brands use the colour black in their branding.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, we have the colour white. It goes without saying that cars tend to look good in white. It is a colour that is often associated with purity and cleanliness. On a more practical level, if you can recall from the science lessons during your primary school days, white surfaces are great heat and light reflectors. This means white cars don’t absorb as much heat from sunlight and by extension, the inside of your car won’t be so hot after spending some time out in the open during a sunny day. And as the colour is widely preferred by many, cars in white often have a high resale value. All you need is for the car to be in an optimum condition and have a low mileage reading on the odometer.
Last but not least, comes the colour grey. Often seen as diplomatic, grey strikes a balance between black and white. Car owners driving grey cars tend to be modest and humble individuals who are often happy to blend into the crowd. The colour is simple and easy to maintain as grey does dull over time. Most importantly though, car scratches are not as noticeable when compared to other coloured cars as the lighter tone allows scratches to blend into the paint.
In short, if you’re looking to give your black, white or grey car a makeover, you’ll want to look for a brand that offers an entire array of refinishing options.
Repainting your Myvi would cost from RM3,500 and an Alphard about RM6,000. These are prices for high quality finish that will mirror the factory finish to about 80 per cent only. – The Vibes, October 20, 2020
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