Red or White Mk6 GTI? Does Red still Fade?

[noone]

I've got the Polo GTI in red, 3 1/2 years old.

I de-badged the rear GTI logo recently, it is not possible to see where the logo was (from paint fade or any other blemish to the finish). My car unfortunately spends its days in open air.

There is no difference between metal and plastic that has been painted as someone pointed out. Only if you tried to colour code some extra trim and didn't prep it properly would this be an issue (or it was done my a mate).

[265coupe]

I'm new to VW but can speak with authority on red 2005 Honda Accord Euros.

At 3 years from new mine had developed a pink hue on all surfaces facing the sky. It was particularly noticable under fluros at a servo. No care instrustions were ever provided by Honda and they refused to honour warranty on the damage. Yet another chink in the Honda quality myth. Anyway that was then.

Go with what excites you. It sounds from previous posters that VW use a quality paint system that stands up well to UV exposure. And red sure looks good.

[AdamD]

I'm new to VW but can speak with authority on red 2005 Honda Accord Euros.

At 3 years from new mine had developed a pink hue on all surfaces facing the sky. It was particularly noticable under fluros at a servo. No care instrustions were ever provided by Honda and they refused to honour warranty on the damage. Yet another chink in the Honda quality myth. Anyway that was then.

Interesting. I also have a 2005 Honda Accord Euro in red, and the paint finish remains immaculate. My car has been garaged and well looked after, but then I'd be taking care of my car irrespective of the colour. Before the Euro I had a '97 Civic, also in Milano Red, and the paint on that was still great when I sold it after eight years of ownership.

So, needless to say, I've gone with Tornado Red for my GTI.

[gregozedobe]

I think that if your car lives outside (ie in the sun) during the day it might be worth investigating a paint sealant and/or wax that has some UV protection, regardless of colour.

[Corey_R]

I think that if your car lives outside (ie in the sun) during the day it might be worth investigating a paint sealant and/or wax that has some UV protection, regardless of colour.

Agreed - this is key to the protection of any colour. Even more so than the colour, the clear coat. If you don't wax and protect the paint, then the clear coat will fail, and after that the 'colour' paint will be ruined very quickly (and then rust etc as said above)

[trueman]

Pfft to white and silver
Seriously... why would you want to look like veryone else who's just picking a 'safe' colour for resale - or many 'corporate fleet' cars who don't get a choice?!

Be an individual! Pick a colour which represents your personality! I'm you're all more interesting than white!

Other then red there are no colours. Very lame selection. If they had included atleast a blue it dilutes the colours on road.

[Corey_R]

Yeah - It's truely lame of VW Australia to only have a single colour available for the GTI. I hope that all the dealers give this feedback to someone who will take notice. Given all the colours available to Germany, I really don't see how it would be difficult to through the Australian 'made to order' cars through the paint baths when they're filled with one of the many colours available. Even the UK gets more colours than here. And unlike all the discussions about 'options' which aren't available here, I really can't think of any valid reason why VW couldn't do this as I can't think of any reason that it'd cost more for VW Australia.

At least the regular MK6 Golf has 2 colours available, the 'Shark Blue Metallic' (although pretty light) and the 'Amaryllis Red Metallic' (burnt red colour) - though 2 colours is still lame.

Come on VW Australia! Do you really want to grow some market share? Give us some colours with PERSONALITY!

[GTI2708]

I think that the car will look great either way you go.

Here's some pics of mine from the recent Vic Dubfest.









Oh and btw, the car was completey covered in dust thanks to people doing burnouts right past it while it was parked.

[gregozedobe]

Given all the colours available to Germany, I really don't see how it would be difficult to through the Australian 'made to order' cars through the paint baths when they're filled with one of the many colours available. Even the UK gets more colours than here. And unlike all the discussions about 'options' which aren't available here, I really can't think of any valid reason why VW couldn't do this as I can't think of any reason that it'd cost more for VW Australia.

I agree - it's not like VWA have a set of pre-painted panels sitting here in Oz waiting for us to buy. Even VW Transporter commercial vans have more colours available in Oz than Golfs !

The only reasons I can think of for restricting colours are:

- VW may not have tested some colours for longevity in a climate like ours.

- Wanting to restrict options so that they have most bases covered with stock vehicles (rather have people complaining they don't haven the colour they want in stock and available).


I guess if they though it was hurting profits they would do something about it. But lets face it, how many people would refuse to buy the car they wanted only because it wasn't available in the colour they preferred ?

[Corey_R]

I guess if they though it was hurting profits they would do something about it. But lets face it, how many people would refuse to buy the car they wanted only because it wasn't available in the colour they preferred ?

I guess this is true. Even I gave in and bought a red car, even though my favourite is blue. And now I have a black car, again, cause there is no blue. I should write a letter to the new boss at VW Australia

[Converted]

Going thru older posts and came across this, maybe a bit dated but I'll share my 2cents worth.

Was considering white, red or black, eventually went for white because...
1. After hours of staring at the computer screen and GTi models in the showroom, personally think, white looked da best.
2. Had 2 red hondas previously, a milano red and a burgundy red, both faded, turning pinkish. Maybe its the paint quality of the Hondas.
3. The GTi red looks darn good in the brochure but not as striking (the red shade/tone) in the flesh (or just me?). The brochure red looked around 10-15% deeper.
4. Black, too difficult to mantain and gets very HOT in summer.

Maybe VW should introduce a 'bone' colour like the minis?

At the end of the day, its what you like best!

[MariusGT]

as mentioned (and i agree) the likely reason for limited choice is climate/conditions (colours fading is not a good look).

the choice presented?

i would choose White all day over red. but that's my preference.

my united grey (mk6 GTI closest equiv is the carbon steel?) is the best colour car i have ever owned. even when it is crazy dirty it still looks pretty clean. it doesn't heat up toooooo much in summer. and in winter tends to warm up a little in the sun. nice balance.

[rs73]

I went with black simply because over the past 10 years I had a silver lancer, a light baby blue galant hatch that looks very much like silver, a silver cressida, wife had a silver corolla, and a silver V35 Skyline...

a bit sick of silver... when I was shopping I can't wait for 6 months as as I needed straightaway and thus can't get any white since they're all sold out, so only red but it was too bright for my liking and the wife's liking, so black it is for me.

last I looked I haven't had any black car since 15 years ago, so probably about time to re-embrace the black colour

yeah and except of those - no other colour for GTI, there's no blue, no yellow, no green, no gold, no orange etc...
a bit limited hey