Fire Opal Red - The New 'In' Colour for me!

[David Nock]

Went nosing in the dealers yesterday, and saw, for the 3rd time recently, a Fire Opal Red CLK. What a gorgeous colour.

This one was a 'cab' trimmed in Black, the previous one was another 'cab', trimmed in Sand and Coffee 2 tone Leather with Black Cappings, which looked a million dollars. The first was a Coupe trimmed just in Black which didn't look much.

I know solid colours are not supposed to be resellable as easily as metallics, but if the car looks the business, does it matter?

PS, all had AMG Sport Packs - another 'must have'.

 

[jubhi]

Any pics of the cars?

 

[verytalldave]

Trouble with any red is that it is liable to fade in sunlight. Whilst it looks stunning when new and highly polished, after 5 or so years, it does look jaded and less intense.
Its not a colour to use anywhere sunny like the southern USA or near the tropics.
I have only ever owned one red car and I wouldnt have another. Look around a large car park and try to find a nice looking red car over 5 years old. You will have your work cut out.

 

[Jensen]

I agree I would only consider silver possibly black.
Saw a Lexus IS220 in red it looked horrible and cheap, saw the same car in silver looked quality.
Admitedely I don't know the exact tint you are ferring to but Mercs in Red just don't go IMO.

 

[Rory]

but Mercs in Red just don't go IMO.

I'm feeling sad now.

 

[Rory]

but Mercs in Red just don't go IMO.

I'm feeling sad now.

Mine was about the only car at MB Direct that wasn't silver so I bought it, as it seemed lonely.

 

[cj...]

we have a few fire opal cars in the showroom what i ordered just for a change and we have sold them all straight away.
The c coupe's in fire opal look cracking as does the 204 sport with panoramic roof as the red contrasts with the black appointments on the car.
problem is dealers only order "safe bet" colours which they think will sell and as a result nobody see's any other colour to make a comparison.

 

[100%Bitch]

I agree I would only consider silver possibly black.
Saw a Lexus IS220 in red it looked horrible and cheap, saw the same car in silver looked quality.
Admitedely I don't know the exact tint you are ferring to but Mercs in Red just don't go IMO.

I had a Magma Red 208 CLK and IMO t ilooked absolutely fantastic. And the great thing was - everybody knew it was me as it suited my character soooo well. So, IMO you're totally and utterly wrong.

But so saying, if everybody liked the same thing wouldn't it be a boring place.

 

[David Nock]

Any pics of the cars?

Nooo... but I'll take my camera out over the next few weeks.

 

[MotardMan]

we have a few fire opal cars in the showroom what i ordered just for a change and we have sold them all straight away.
The c coupe's in fire opal look cracking as does the 204 sport with panoramic roof as the red contrasts with the black appointments on the car.
problem is dealers only order "safe bet" colours which they think will sell and as a result nobody see's any other colour to make a comparison.

And there was me thinking that buyers would enter the showroom, pick the exterior colour, interior colours, options and so on, and only then was the order made. How odd.

My Dad got conned by his local BMW dealer into buying a 328 coupe just as the 330 was launched. It was a cancelled customer order, he got a deal on it. He then got collared by the same dealer to trade the 328 for a 330 Ci. Again, cancelled customer order... Got a deal on it. Then got collared a third time to buy an M5 that was cancelled customer order. All of the cars have had weird options, or major "must have" items missing.

My old man is an idiot for being taken in by that kind of pitch, I despiar at the cost to him in terms of depreciation.

However, what rteally saddens me is that he got cajoled into owning cars that he had not spec'd up, and were not really the thing he thought he wanted. If ever I have the cash, an E55 estate is going on my drive, with my choice of colours and options. I'll not let the dealer tell me, or guide me.

 

[David Nock]

I've been very lucky over the years, new company cars every 4 years or so, but now we're retired and on our own.
My next one will most likely be my very last new one so I'm deffo going to have control of the ordering of this one, not the dealer.
Sunroof and parktronic's are 2 other must have's, go down to the local playing field with a flask and sandwich, have a snooze in the sun; drive half a mile home again Ahhh......

 

[MotardMan]

Idyllic. I say order the lot on the new one. Why not? I cannot think of a good reason. ;o)

Best of luck in the retirement, you know you can get a built in cooler for the boot on the E Class, it'd chill the picnic wine a treat you know...........

Jim

 

[verytalldave]

I've been very lucky over the years, new company cars every 4 years or so, but now we're retired and on our own.
My next one will most likely be my very last new one so I'm deffo going to have control of the ordering of this one, not the dealer.
Sunroof and parktronic's are 2 other must have's, go down to the local playing field with a flask and sandwich, have a snooze in the sun; drive half a mile home again Ahhh......

Its not often you hear of people specing a sunroof. I have one on my C Class and I wouldnt want to do without. Even on a winters day inched open it gives a nice change of air. Also gives a spacious feel to the cabin. Well worth the extra.

 

[st13phil]

Its not often you hear of people specing a sunroof. I have one on my C Class and I wouldnt want to do without. Even on a winters day inched open it gives a nice change of air. Also gives a spacious feel to the cabin. Well worth the extra.

Sunroofs used to be a sort of must have luxury option until cars started to be offered with auto climate control. From that point on I suspect that many people looked at the options list and ticked the climate control rather than the sunroof on the basis that they weren't prepared to pay for both. Now that climate control is becoming more of a standard feature, I guess it's possible that people may start looking at sunroofs as an option again?

I do agree with your comments about the positive benefits of a sunroof, but for me it wasn't worth the option cost.

 

[verytalldave]

I think specifying a sunroof on a C Class is about £1000 or so. I think its one of the few things that does actually increase the value as opposed to just its desirability. Xexon headlamps and COMAND also add value, but less so (in my opinion). A sunroof is right behind leather and auto in my book.
But its all a personal thing really.

 

[Rory]

I miss having a sunroof - my C Class is the first car I've had for years without one, although our Jazz has one as standard (but it's now optional).
They can be iffy on older cars though - they can leak, the mechanism can fail and the drain tubes can block, or even detach.

I do like the panoramic? roof that I've seen especially on W204 estates though.

 

[100%Bitch]

And there was me thinking that buyers would enter the showroom, pick the exterior colour, interior colours, options and so on, and only then was the order made. How odd.

My Dad got conned by his local BMW dealer into buying a 328 coupe just as the 330 was launched. It was a cancelled customer order, he got a deal on it. He then got collared by the same dealer to trade the 328 for a 330 Ci. Again, cancelled customer order... Got a deal on it. Then got collared a third time to buy an M5 that was cancelled customer order. All of the cars have had weird options, or major "must have" items missing.

My old man is an idiot for being taken in by that kind of pitch, I despiar at the cost to him in terms of depreciation.

However, what rteally saddens me is that he got cajoled into owning cars that he had not spec'd up, and were not really the thing he thought he wanted. If ever I have the cash, an E55 estate is going on my drive, with my choice of colours and options. I'll not let the dealer tell me, or guide me.

What's his name and address - I sell investments.

 

[st13phil]

I think specifying a sunroof on a C Class is about £1000 or so.

You're about right on that. On the W204 saloon the sunroof is £910, and the Panoramic roof is an eye-watering £1280.

 

[MotardMan]

What's his name and address - I sell investments.

LOL.

You are a very naughty bitch. Consider yourself spanked.

 

[Apial]

Trouble with any red is that it is liable to fade in sunlight. Whilst it looks stunning when new and highly polished, after 5 or so years, it does look jaded and less intense.

Almandine red, still intense and unfaded after 16 1/2 years. When will it look jaded and less intense then?

Or don't they build them like they used to?