There have been numerous posts talking about which color sells fastest etc etc etc. Can any dealer tell us which is the most popular color overall and then list the balance in order of popularity? My gut feeling is that the silver or shoreline mist sell the fastest. I also think Honda has made more silver than the other colors, but I am not certain.

I actually got to look at the lists of elements that two dealerships were to recieve in two different months. There was a preponderance of blue, silver and black. This makes sense, since the DX only comes in those colors. There was a green on only one of the four lists, a SOP on two and a SLM on two. And heaven help you if you were looking for a manual - especially in SLM. We turned down multiple silvers, blacks and one SOP that were manuals 'cause we were looking for a SLM.

I haven't thoroughly tracked this yet, but I can tell you from my experience so far on colors. This is from both the E's we have sold on our lot and the experiences I have had trying to trade for E's from other dealers.

SS EX 4x4 (holds record for longest #days an Element has sat in our inventory) = 41 days, an eternity for an E

SOP = hottest thing going right now. Everyone loves the SOP and even the people wanting silver, black, blue, etc can fall in love with SOP.

EBP = my personal favorite and we haven't had one sit longer than 1 week in any model of EBP. Hard to tell if it sells as fast as SOP, because they all sell so fast.

GG = same as EBP and SOP. My third favorite color and certainly a fast mover. GG lovers won't buy anything but GG in my experiences.

NBP = only ordered a few of these, they sold right away (which E's don't though). Haven't had an enormous request for them yet and won't order many until we do.

SM = Only had a few of these as well. Doesn't do much for me and we don't have an overwhelming request for this color.

So basically, 90% of what I order until proven otherwise will be either SOP, EBP or GG. All EX models unless I have to take an occasional DX. I'll also order as many 5spd 4WD EX's as they are currently the most requested E we have. Finally, I don't mess with too many 5spd 2WD EX's. Automatics sell better, are easier to trade and move much quicker in general. Not that having a 5spd 2WD EX sit for 2 weeks is going to put us out of business, but you get the drift. Hope all this helps.

No wonder I had such a hard time finding a SLM 2WD 5SPD EX in Houston - no one is ordering them! Mine had to be traded for from north of Dallas.

Oh and I just noticed where you're from - that just migth have something to do with the popularity of SOP at your dealership :wink:

That all fits. I had a hell of a time tracking down a GG 2WD EX Manual. Finally found a dealer who had one on order and it arrived 5 weeks later. There were a couple SLM's, but I was set on the grey interior rather than the black (that killed SOP for me, too.)

[quote:fe18f8bf2a="M Ornett"]No wonder I had such a hard time finding a SLM 2WD 5SPD EX in Houston - no one is ordering them! Mine had to be traded for from north of Dallas.

Oh and I just noticed where you're from - that just migth have something to do with the popularity of SOP at your dealership :wink:[/quote:fe18f8bf2a]

Yes, this is a direct result. It is easy enough to trade for exactly what you want if you have something more desirable to trade then what you are trading for. This doesn't always make sense and is why some dealers are reluctant to do so. If you know without a doubt that the Element you have on your lot will sell within X number of days, and you have to trade it away to get another one, some dealers don't feel like messing with it. We always try to put our customer first and also believe in the "bird in the hand is worth more than 2 in the bush". It doesn't always work out perfectly, but usually it is something we can do.

Isn't it great that we humans have different tastes, otherwise the Element might only come in one color and that would be monotonous. I happen to really like all the colors but especially the SOP and the SLM. I finally ordered the SLM because I think it is the classiest of the colors. I wonder if us older folks might go more for the calmer, classier colors while younger folks might go more for the sporty colors such as SOP and GG. It was a difficult choice, but the more I looked, the more the SLM stood out.

One thing that I do not like is the blue accent color on the interior of the SSM. It just does not belong there and makes that an unacceptable choice(IMHO). That interior should be the gray and black. 8)

.... I wonder if us older folks might go more for the calmer, classier colors while younger folks might go more for the sporty colors such as SOP and GG.... 8)

Funny, I think of GG as a calm, sedate middle-aged sort of color.

A number of neighbors came by to admire the car yesterday... everyone commented on the green color. It just sort of fades into the lawns, trees and bushes ;-)

Lets face it. All the colors are cool just by virtue of being on such a cool vehicle. After that, sporty or classy or sedate or whatever is in the eye of the beholder.

First... I agree that GG is NOT a young-sporty color. I'm 53 and chose it because it seemed the least "wild" of the bunch- quite soothing and it's received rave reviews from nearly all who've looked at my Element.

One of the reasons, in my opinion, is that the "value" of the GG is closest to the body side panels- resulting in a more monochromatic look- not so wild. The silver, for instance is SO much brighter and more reflective than the plastic panels that it looks like a checkerboard. At the other extreme blue and black are so DARK in value that they too look like a checkerboard against the grey plastic panels. Personally- I like ALL the colors, but the GG struck me as the most conservative and the most soothing- hence I own a 5spd 2wd GG EX- exactly what I was hoping to find and there it sat on the showroom floor!

As for what sells and what doesn't- this reminded me of a story from nearly 30 years ago. I was a Ford salesman in my mid-20's and later the used car manager of a Ford dealership. But as I was learning the business I was trained by an "Old-Timer" who was probalby 65-ish at that time- having been in the car business since before WWII. I often complained about some of the UGLY combinations and colors that came off the truck. My "Old Timer" boss said, "Look around that lot. Do you see ANY new, leftover '57's out there?" (This was in about '75 or so)

Of course I replied, "No." He said, "That's because there's an ass for every seat- and YOUR JOB is to just match 'em up!"

I thought of Old Charlie's observation several years later when someone had ordered *THE UGLIEST MUSTANG FORD EVER BUILT* in a pumpkin orange with a gigantic, 4" black and white houndstooth interior. It had sat on our lot for a year and a young woman was looking over the Mustangs on October 31st. Jokingly I said, "And THIS ONE is our Halloween Special!"

She looked at that hideous Mustang and said, "Well that *IS* cute, isn't it? I think I'd like to drive it!" And darned if she didn't buy it on the spot. So Charlie was right; there are no leftover '57's out there- there really is an ass for every seat. Mine happens to fit a GG EX 2WD 5spd!

The more I drive my Element, the more I'm convinced there's NO SUCH THING as a bad one!

Steve :lol:

Steve,

That is hilarious. My boss told me the same thing when I started in this business and I often say the same to my salespeople. When Honda came out with the Inca Pearl Civic's I almost choked. It's really a love-it or hate-it color. Fortunately for us, a few out there loved it enough to sell the few we ordered (thinking this would be a hot new color). Honda quickly pulled this color.

You mean my GG EX 4wd isnt sporty?......Just kidding........I do admit i originlly settled on GG because it was the first colour i could get my hands on it.Even the morning i picked it up i was still alittle unsure about the colour....After 4 months of see E's in all colours coming and going from our lot i know i made the right choice......Now i have to curb my accessorie purchases.....Next item to be installed is the rear air deflector this weekend after i get it back from the paint shop.