Premium Colors
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 2,329
From: Simi Valley, CA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Premium Colors
Does anyone know what puts a color into the premium (extra cost) category? And what separates one from another? (+500 vs +995) For instance, rapid blue isn't a metallic or a tint coat, but it is +500. Amplify orange +995 - just because it is tint coat? It can't be popularity - others are more popular. Have always wondered.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 253
Likes: 115
From: Atlanta, GA
Buy what you want and dont worry about that.
I bought a 2021 2LT Red Mist and LOVE IT every single day I drive it....as do everyone who i interact with...get what you want. I could not be any happier for spending $1k on my C8.
I bought a 2021 2LT Red Mist and LOVE IT every single day I drive it....as do everyone who i interact with...get what you want. I could not be any happier for spending $1k on my C8.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 13,180
Likes: 10,528
Traditionally, metallics cost more, tintcoats cost more, and a metallic with tintcoat more still. But that seems to no longer be completely true. IIRC, when I got my C7,a metallic was $500 extra, a tintcoat was $500 extra, and a metallic tint coat was $995. I would assume it has to do with the cost of the paint, the complexity of painting, or both, but why RB costs extra I'm not sure anyone outside of GM can explain.
Red Mist, for example is a metallic tint coat, but also has a copper base coat, which may be more expensive than the typical silver for metallic paints. Probably both more expensive to buy the materials, and more time consuming to apply.
Red Mist, for example is a metallic tint coat, but also has a copper base coat, which may be more expensive than the typical silver for metallic paints. Probably both more expensive to buy the materials, and more time consuming to apply.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 2,329
From: Simi Valley, CA
2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I do plan to order what I want (currently # 460 on MM waiting list). Problem is, I'm torn between Amplify Orange and Rapid Blue. My current car ('19 Mustang) is Fury Orange metallic tintcoat. It was a premium color, +$995 and I love the paintjob. I just couldn't figure what makes Rapid Blue a premium color, yet priced less than Amplify orange. Thanks for the responses.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 295
Likes: 211
From: Cape Coral, Freedom USA
I do plan to order what I want (currently # 460 on MM waiting list). Problem is, I'm torn between Amplify Orange and Rapid Blue. My current car ('19 Mustang) is Fury Orange metallic tintcoat. It was a premium color, +$995 and I love the paintjob. I just couldn't figure what makes Rapid Blue a premium color, yet priced less than Amplify orange. Thanks for the responses.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 12,759
Likes: 10,657
From: Prosper TX/Austin TX
2020 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
At least Chevy gives buyers the option of a few non-premium, extra charge colors. On Jeep, every color except white is a “premium color” with an extra charge. My feeling is this, if those are the colors you’re offering then you’ve already factored all costs into the equation & the consumer shouldn’t have to pay extra. The robot is dedicated to paint red mist is already configured to paint red mist. It’s like having to pay a “convenience fee” for purchasing something online when online is the only option. 
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 1,307
From: Midwest
Does anyone know what puts a color into the premium (extra cost) category? And what separates one from another? (+500 vs +995) For instance, rapid blue isn't a metallic or a tint coat, but it is +500. Amplify orange +995 - just because it is tint coat? It can't be popularity - others are more popular. Have always wondered.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,020
Likes: 12,402
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Yes, extra cost but not necessarily extra coats. Interesting issue with my C6. Bought an early 2008 and had seen the 2007 orange and was going to get that. But GM announced orange would no longer be tintcoat as they were adding a blue with tintcoat and had to remove one as only could have so many. So I bought yellow that retained tintcoat.
Thought the tintcoat was an extra step and with the old paint System and BG only had so many “extra” paint robots. A moderator who had just been through the factory set that straight. He said nope, it was a tinted clear coat. But that meant they had to purge the lines from clear to tinted clear, and purge the lines when it went back to straight clear. In addition to paint cost the new paint line has other issues but whatever, they charge more because it costs more, including perhaps for some extra time.
Yes, extra cost but not necessarily extra coats. Interesting issue with my C6. Bought an early 2008 and had seen the 2007 orange and was going to get that. But GM announced orange would no longer be tintcoat as they were adding a blue with tintcoat and had to remove one as only could have so many. So I bought yellow that retained tintcoat.
Thought the tintcoat was an extra step and with the old paint System and BG only had so many “extra” paint robots. A moderator who had just been through the factory set that straight. He said nope, it was a tinted clear coat. But that meant they had to purge the lines from clear to tinted clear, and purge the lines when it went back to straight clear. In addition to paint cost the new paint line has other issues but whatever, they charge more because it costs more, including perhaps for some extra time.
Last edited by JerryU; Sep 15, 2021 at 04:44 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 1,423
Likes: 639
From: Columbia SC
^^^
Yes, extra cost but not necessarily extra coats. Interesting issue with my C6. Bought an early 2008 and had seen the 2007 orange and was going to get that. But GM announced orange would no longer be tintcoat as they were adding a blue with tintcoat and had to remove one as only could have so many. So I bought yellow that retained tintcoat.
Thought the tintcoat was an extra step and with the old paint System and BG only had so many “extra” paint robots. A moderator who had just been through the factory set that straight. He said nope, it was a tinted clear coat. But that meant they had to purge the lines from clear to tinted clear, and purge the lines when it went back to straight clear. In addition to paint cost the new paint line has other issues but whatever, they charge more because it costs more, including perhaps for some extra time.
Yes, extra cost but not necessarily extra coats. Interesting issue with my C6. Bought an early 2008 and had seen the 2007 orange and was going to get that. But GM announced orange would no longer be tintcoat as they were adding a blue with tintcoat and had to remove one as only could have so many. So I bought yellow that retained tintcoat.
Thought the tintcoat was an extra step and with the old paint System and BG only had so many “extra” paint robots. A moderator who had just been through the factory set that straight. He said nope, it was a tinted clear coat. But that meant they had to purge the lines from clear to tinted clear, and purge the lines when it went back to straight clear. In addition to paint cost the new paint line has other issues but whatever, they charge more because it costs more, including perhaps for some extra time.
Modern paint systems have many paint colors piped directly to the gun. Including solvent flush line.. So when they change colors it's just purging the gun... only takes a few seconds. A tint coat clear can be one of these colors. The extra cost is only the price of the tinted clear vs clear .. clear coat. Most of the added price goes to GM's profit margin.
I would bet Torch Red paint cost more than any of the clear tint coats... because Red is an expensive color.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 248
Likes: 118
From: Virginia
I think this is the video I watched which has a ton of good info:
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/bowin...at-paint-shop/
https://www.corvettemuseum.org/bowin...at-paint-shop/