What's The Best Color?

[wistarf]

I'm at the - "OK I'm gonna buy one, now what color should I get?" - stage, and I'd like to know what color YOU chose and why? And how happy are you with it?

Here are some thoughts so far:

Black & tan is a classic combination but good luck keeping it clean. And the matador red or desert sage with tan interior will make you feel rich - in an exotic car kind of way. I think that an extraordinary car deserves an extraordinary color, but I don't want to become a slave to my "cashmere" carpet!

Granted, the grey leather looks kind of ordinary, but at least that interior will look pretty clean most of the time because the floor and sills are black. And I don't think I want the all black interior because it makes the interior look cramped in my opinion. Anybody else think so?

Am I the only one agonizing over the damn colors? I just know that long after the excitement of a new car wears off, I still have to clean it. And then some day I'll also have to sell it.

By the way, what do you guys think of desert sage metallic? Cool? Ugly? Exotic? Has anybody dared to buy it, and if so, how do you and others like it?

[ecr527]

I just got a IS 350 in Breakwater Blue. It's like a light blue metallic with the tan (cashmere) interior. I could see the tan interior being very hard to maintain, but I'd rather spend a lot of time cleaning and be happy with the color combo than getting something that's easy to maintain but not really happy with. I think the main problem is the color of the floor mats. I asked the salesperson at the dealer if I could switch out the mats for black ones. He said I couldn't, but I may go online and buy custom cut black mats for it. It won't really look out of place, since the top portion of the dash and door panels are black as well.

Hope that helps.

[craig john]

Matador Red over black for me. I *really* like this combo. The red is a deep, rich red with a very small metallic flake. It's not a dark burgundy red and it's not a bright, hot red. It's kind of a deep candy-apple/cherry/crimson red, depending on the light you are viewing it in. I'm not sure how many coats of clear are on top of the paint, but it seems the paint is an inch thick.

I was originally thinking the cashmere interior, but I saw the GS with this combo and it didn't work for me. From outside the car, the cashmere draws the eye away from the exterior. On the inside it added an extra color to an already full palate. You've got the browns of the wood trim, the black of the dash and center console surround, the "aluminum-look" surround of the nav display and chrome on the door handles. Throw tan leather seating and some trim bits into this mix and I just felt it got too busy.

The black leather interior draws less attention to itself and allows the beautiful red paint to stand out. At night, the black totally disappears and lets the cabin lights be the eye draw.

Whatever color combo you get, it'll be a great car.

Craig

Edited January 5, 2006 by craig john

[mhiggi02]

I've got Smokey Granite Mica (SGM) over Cashmere. It looks great but if I could have chosen completely it would have been SGM over black, no question.

P.S. I think the desert sage is putred and would place bets that it will be discontinued after the 2006 model year.

[Aija]

Can never go wrong with black

Other than maintaining it

[bartkat]

I agree with the Matador Red on black. It really shows off in sunlight. Yet it isn't a cop magnet like some of the Fire Engine Reds you see around.

[IS300MOMMA]

for those of you who would really like the tan interior, you can get clear floor mats, so you can still see the color, and protect the interior at the same time. My friend got them for her Maxima and you don't even notice them.

[wistarf]

I just got a IS 350 in Breakwater Blue. It's like a light blue metallic with the tan (cashmere) interior. I could see the tan interior being very hard to maintain, but I'd rather spend a lot of time cleaning and be happy with the color combo than getting something that's easy to maintain but not really happy with. I think the main problem is the color of the floor mats. I asked the salesperson at the dealer if I could switch out the mats for black ones. He said I couldn't, but I may go online and buy custom cut black mats for it. It won't really look out of place, since the top portion of the dash and door panels are black as well.

Hope that helps.

I'm seriously thinking about the breakwater blue because it looked great in a couple of photos I saw and it is not an ordinary color - like the matador red - which I think is fitting for this unique car. But I haven't seen one in breakwater blue yet, even after several visits to the dealer. How do you like it? Have any pictures?

By the way, I was also contemplating whether I could get black floormats for the champagne interior. You're probably not the first to ask.

Edited January 6, 2006 by wistarf

[wistarf]

I agree with the Matador Red on black. It really shows off in sunlight. Yet it isn't a cop magnet like some of the Fire Engine Reds you see around.

Red on black is another classic combination, and I love the matador red.

But cars get pretty hot here in sunny san diego, and I worry about the heat buildup in a darker car. The other day I sat for a while in two IS350's at the dealer, one dark blue , the other one silver, and the dark blue car felt noticeably hotter inside, even with the cashmere interior.

More than half the cars driving around here are silver or white (because of the sunny weather I guess). But I'm hoping to avoid those colors in the interest of having something a little more original. That's why the breakwater blue and the desert sage seem interesting...

[bartkat]

I wanted to look at Breakwater but could not find a car in that color. Not a GS or whatever other Lexus comes that color. I think it would be great based on pics I've seen.

[wistarf]

Matador Red over black for me. I *really* like this combo. The red is a deep, rich red with a very small metallic flake. It's not a dark burgundy red and it's not a bright, hot red. It's kind of a deep candy-apple/cherry/crimson red, depending on the light you are viewing it in. I'm not sure how many coats of clear are on top of the paint, but it seems the paint is an inch thick.

I was originally thinking the cashmere interior, but I saw the GS with this combo and it didn't work for me. From outside the car, the cashmere draws the eye away from the exterior. On the inside it added an extra color to an already full palate. You've got the browns of the wood trim, the black of the dash and center console surround, the "aluminum-look" surround of the nav display and chrome on the door handles. Throw tan leather seating and some trim bits into this mix and I just felt it got too busy.

The black leather interior draws less attention to itself and allows the beautiful red paint to stand out. At night, the black totally disappears and lets the cabin lights be the eye draw.

Whatever color combo you get, it'll be a great car.

Craig

Interesting observation about the cashmere interior looking too "busy". In fact, although I really like the color itself, I don't think it harmonizes quite as well with the other elements of the interior - particularly the silver/aluminum colored touches - as the grey or black interior does. Somehow the aluminum trim looks a bit out of place next to the tan leather.

In fact, I'd be happy if car makers did away with the cheap plasticky looking brushed-aluminum (cheap plastic actually) trim in car interiors forever more, but sadly it seems to be an essential "styling" element these days.

[ecr527]

I'm seriously thinking about the breakwater blue because it looked great in a couple of photos I saw and it is not an ordinary color - like the matador red - which I think is fitting for this unique car. But I haven't seen one in breakwater blue yet, even after several visits to the dealer. How do you like it? Have any pictures?

By the way, I was also contemplating whether I could get black floormats for the champagne interior. You're probably not the first to ask.

My old car was black on black so I wanted to have something a little for a change. I guess getting the black floor mats would really depend on the dealer. If that was the deal breaker, I'm sure they would be able to do something to secure the sale. I picked mine up the week after Christmas, and the dealer I went to was so busy, so they probably didn't really care if they made my sale or not.

[dkaplan435]

My first choices were black or matador red. What was available was the Tungsten silver (I did not want to wait for a special order,) so I took that, with the grey interior (which is what I wanted).

The car looks great, and I have no complaints.

[KBTech]

Take a look at an IS in Glacier Frost Mica in person. Personaly I think that is the best color on the new IS, but you have to see it in person to really know what it looks like.

[mtnduc]

I choose the Matador Red w/Cashmere, I like the contrast. I didn't like the alum trim so I went for the wood which looks great next to the tan. As for floormats, I'll wait and see when I get the car, I'll either get Black or Tan rubber from Weathertech. These held up great on my last 2 cars and don't look out of place. I'm also sure I'll be tinting the windows.

[Vynson]

Lexus provides what appears to be a subdued pallet, but when you see these colors on the car, you realize that, while subtle, they are far more attractive than the impression you get from print ads or the internet site.

I test drove a Desert Sage IS. You have to see this color in person to appreciate its beauty. I loved the color, but it is rare and the arrival time much longer than other colors. I liked the Desert Sage over Cashmere, but it was my second choice.

My first choice was the Smokey Granite Mica over black. Which I took delivery on Thursday morning and was stunned at how beautiful the car is. Wow! The black interior has just enough metallic and wood trim to offset the darkness. I absolutely love it. And the SGM is like gun metal. Great color. Dark, but with more depth than flat black.

[Ashley350]

I just bought a 350 in white with black inerior. I love it!!! The white is awesome and the black looks great! If you're worried about it getting dirty, I wouldnt recommend the tan. I also wouldnt recommend paying sticker price for the car, I know alot of dealers are saying that they don't take any off the price of the car because they are selling so well, but you can talk them down... I did...

[rockdoc]

I just bought a 350 in white with black inerior. I love it!!! The white is awesome and the black looks great! If you're worried about it getting dirty, I wouldnt recommend the tan. I also wouldnt recommend paying sticker price for the car, I know alot of dealers are saying that they don't take any off the price of the car because they are selling so well, but you can talk them down... I did...

I've had black and black in the GS and also black and tan and loved them both. The black is a drag in New England during the winter and it's a magnet for police. This time I chose the tungsten with black and it's gorgeous. It looks clean longer in the winter and is really sharp at night. I've had many compliments already.

[LexLast]

Many Lexus dealers in CA told me for IS250, Lexus does not make Mystic Gold, Glacier Frost Mica and

BreakWater Blue. The color available for IS250 is Crystal White, Smoky Granite Mica, Tungsten Pearl, Desert Sage, Blue Onyx, Black and Matador Red Mica.

I guess I will end up with Desert Sege/Cashmere Interior. I have seen it in person. It is a great color too.

[bun]

the car i have on hold at the dealership is tungsten with black interior. i haven't seen it yet, but those are the exact colors of my current car and i love the way it looks. it is also low maintenance because dust is hard to see on silver and black leather seats don't show dirt at all. and i'm not one to wash my car every 2 weeks. :(

[Vynson]

Many Lexus dealers in CA told me for IS250, Lexus does not make Mystic Gold, Glacier Frost Mica and

BreakWater Blue. The color available for IS250 is Crystal White, Smoky Granite Mica, Tungsten Pearl, Desert Sage, Blue Onyx, Black and Matador Red Mica.

I guess I will end up with Desert Sege/Cashmere Interior. I have seen it in person. It is a great color too.

I was offered the IS250 in several of those colors. The trick is getting the color you want with the Nav and Luxury packages, where it becomes rare. I opted to not rush it and after a few weeks got exactly the car I wanted with the colors I wanted... SGM over Black and with Nav and Lux.

I love my car. I'm very happy. And another issue a lot of people had with the bluetooth was quite simple to figure out. I love Lexus. Can't wait to see what's next.

[jimburnz]

Blue Opel

[Tango]

Smokey Granite Mica with Black Leather, no doubt about it. Incidentally in the UK it's the same colour codes but with different names, so my 250 is in 'Cadoxton Slate with Black Leather'.

I think the US name for it is far more descriptive of the metallic finish.

[Raucous Dog]

Smoky Graphite Mica over Black.

[Tango]

Smoky Graphite Mica over Black.

Graphite???? :whistles: