The myth has been busted. Red cars don’t go faster. At least not out of the showroom.
New data from Brisbane-based insurer Budget Direct found only 10 percent of car buyers opted for a red finish.
The Budget Direct Car Insurance Survey found Australians’ preferred colour choice was black and white, with both those colours accounting for nearly half (46 percent) of survey respondents’ cars.
The survey found white came out on top with 30 percent, followed by black at 16 percent, edging out silver (15 percent ), blue (13 percent) and grey (12 percent).
Red was sixth position, with other colours making up the remaining four percent.
“Little wonder Aussies love to play ‘Spotto’ when they catch sight of an elusive yellow vehicle,” the insurer said in a statement.
It found, despite white dominating current ownership, it was a much closer race for the favourite car colour, with black and white splitting the honours with 21 percent.
“Car colour is about so much more than aesthetics. White is considered the safest of all popular colours. Although yellow and orange are thought to stand out even more, which explains why they’re often used for taxis.
“Then there are the cars that look cleaner. Dark colours look fantastic when they’re freshly washed, but it won’t be long before you see dirt, dust and marks again. Silver and grey are the easiest to keep looking clean.”
The survey also looked of car care, with 48 to 57-year-olds the most likely to wash their car every week (18 percent).
“Overall, 12 percent of survey respondents washed their car every week, while 44 percent washed every month.
“Four out of every 100 respondents said they only cleaned the outside of their car once a year.”
