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Why doesnt the PIP come in black?

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by Spooled, Oct 13, 2014.

  1. Spooled

    Spooled Member

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    Seriously?
    anyone know?
    too cool?
     
  2. Grren4ever

    Grren4ever Active Member

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    I"ve always wondered why certain goods did not come in more practical colors but it most likely depends on studies that Toyota have done on the age groups that would buy the PIP and their likely choice of color. That's just my two cents.
     
  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they didn't like henry ford.
     
    -Rozi- likes this.
  4. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    If they truly are making the Prius to be the most environmentally friendly vehicle...in theory...they should only sell black ones in the northern states and white ones in the south (due to the sun obv).
     
  5. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I thought Paradox the moderator only buys black Prii?
    But maybe they look too much like Darth Vader...Star Wars characters are out ever since the Nissan Leaf looks too much like Jar Jar Binks
     
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  6. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Ever since Steve jobs said (paraphrased), "Never give the customer what they want" (as told through Guy Kawasaki) a new paradigm has developed, where companies feel entitled to believe that they know what's best for their customers, and plow ahead with whatever they want to do, regardless of negative feedback. Windows 8 is an example of this.

    But that's a half-truth. What Steve jobs actually said was, "Never give the customer what they want, as long as you are giving them something they will like better." Where most failures occur is with the second part.
     
    #6 GregP507, Oct 14, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2014
  7. blkpriusgirl

    blkpriusgirl Junior Member

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    Left my blk prius for my pip blizzard pearl. I was disappointed the blk wasn't available in blk.
     
  8. Pasaman

    Pasaman Active Member

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    Black doesn't convey Green


    or something
     
  9. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    OK just the PiP we're saying no black, but I guess the other models have it...
     
  10. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    Supply-and-demand; black cars are cool, but not so much to those who drive hybrids. They are also harder to keep cool inside, impacting the fuel economy, and the safety visibility factor isn't to be discounted either. I think most Prius drivers are fairly mature-minded, and a black paint-job doesn't fit so well with that demographic.
     
  11. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Black is absolutely, positively, without-a-doubt THE BEST looking colour on almost ANY car...period.

    Until you've had the car for about a week.
    Then?
    Unless you dedicate your life and your wallet to keeping anything from touching the car or even looking at it too hard the car will quickly deteriorate to looking like a bag of a$$.
    There are statistical outliers, but usually people limit themselves to one or two black cars very early in their lives, and then common sense usually overcomes one's desire to "be cool"....speaking of which, unless you live north of the Arctic Circle black car interiors are decidedly NOT.

    Since pips are predominately a left-coast thing marketed to HOV dodgers and the eco-chic, the folks in Aichi, JA probably decided that since lighter coloured cars are more energy efficient in a desert climate, and since older and wiser buyers are the targeted audience for pips then the lighter colours are thusly offered.

    That's my theory and I'm sticking to it.
    Since Toyota is selling every single pip that they make, I'd say the theory-to-practice is valid. :D
     
    #11 ETC(SS), Oct 14, 2014
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2014
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    my wife just got her first black car 16 months ago. so far so good, we'll see what she gets next time, although, that's a good piece down the road.
     
  13. GregP507

    GregP507 Senior Member

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    I had a black T-Bird. Nightmare to keep clean.
     
  14. CraigCSJ

    CraigCSJ Active Member

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    While I don't know, I suspect it has something to do with battery degradation resulting from high temperatures.
     
  15. Phausto

    Phausto Junior Member

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    My friend has a ’49 Buick in about 10 coats of black lacquer, the paint looks like it’s 6 inches deep. But a single fingerprint and the magic is undone. It is probably the most cloth-caressed car on the planet.

    @ETC(SS) — black interiors are great, assuming you live in a mild climate. (Think of all the English roadsters.) No stains but one does spend a lot of time with the vacuum.
     
  16. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Black is the best colour you can get (y)


    Unless your a/c is broken on a hot day :unsure:
     
  17. Bill the Engineer

    Bill the Engineer Senior Member

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    Personally, I don't think the Gen-III and the PIP have enough BRIGHTER colors available. I'd like bright yellow, orange or green!
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no question, colors are way too limited.
     
  19. wantaprius

    wantaprius Junior Member

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    I had a dark grey 09 and now I have the winter grey PiP and it is a much darker grey. I think it is much nicer than black because it is close but doesn't show dirt much. I really like it a lot! I haven't seen many around here and I had to order mine from Seattle because I wanted the grey.
     
  20. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Well, PiP front bumper, door handles and part of the hatch door are in chrome color.

    Perhaps, they would stand out too much with black? Perhaps, they'll contrast and look so awesome.