Colour dilemma - Night blue / Tornado Red

[Pixelmix]

Got a night blue on order (think it looks very classy - there is a shadow blue Mk6 GTI lives nearby which always looks smart) but still not 100% sure.

There are few night blues around - the only ones I have seem look very "flat" with no real shine to the colour. Is it just because they are needing a good wash? Does the colour really shine more after a quick wash?

Photos like AP69s look fantastic, but lots of other photos look flat. Does the night blue only really work if you are prepared to put lots of time into the detailing (which, if I'm being honest, I won't)?

Considering swapping to tornado red. Any thoughts from owners?

[mk7gti]

Colour is the hardest decision when buying a car I find and very subjective. After 10 posts on this thread you will be more confused than when your started . Follow your gut it knows the answer :-)

PS if your not a car washer go grey or silver...

[Silvadadi]

Have you seen a NB gti/gtd in the flesh? 

we'd originally ordered NB having never seen one but then saw a NB GTI next to a carbon grey one and immediately changed to the grey.  Without wishing to offend NB/black owners I don't think a dark colour does the car justice especially 5dr.  if I'm brutally honest only lighter colours do but I don't want a white, silver or limestone grey car.  This is my opinion.

My advice is to find a NB car with the wheels you are going for as even these make big difference in the way it looks.....It looks better with santiagos

[remlapeel]

I have the night blue on standard wheel's. It looks great if it's clean and polished, otherwise it looks crap!  I don't get the time to clean mine often either and would not chose it again because of that.

[C2K]

I have a Night Blue 5 door with Santiagos and think it's a great colour, the sparkle is superb.

I wanted something that wasn't the predictable grey/white/black/red. Night blue wasn't a standout colour for me, it was the best of a poor bunch. Since it's turned up i'm very happy with it.

End of the day, nobody can tell you what you like - you need to do your own research.

[monsta]

The demo car they had at the dealers when I went to look at the Mk7 initially was night blue so that's what  I ordered.  It was a sunny day and it looked stunning.

My mk5 which this car replaced was Tornado red and it was time for a change so red didn't even factor into my decision process. 

I ended up with Carbon Grey after doing more research on the internet and I have to say I'm glad I did. I think Carbon Grey or White are the best choices for this generation GTI. 

However out of blue or red, I think I would say blue.  Mostly because its metallic and looks better in the sunshine.

[scotland67]

Regarding blue as a colour I had a mk5 GTI in blue graphite and no matter how much I polished and washed it in most lights it looked flat and dull. That colour is no longer available. My mk6 GTi was tornado red and my new Mk7 is pure white and both of those look great in any lights. Just my opinion of course

[ffrank]

Night blue lover here, so prepare for my bias..

I love the dynamics of this colour, yes it can look 'dull' - but I actually like that look as contrast to the sparkling shine the sun brings out.

It looks quite matt, and closer to a black in dull light, but then when the sun pops out - wow, it is beautiful.

I also think Red look superb on the MK7, so I think it has to come down to what you see yourself living with for x years - at least that's what made me eventually chose NB, I thought it would be a colour that provides more contrast and interest for me.

As for cleaning/detailing, I'm not into my detailing, but it was easy to apply some easy to use products to keep it looking good. So even if you don't want to spend a lot of time, a spray on/wipe off sealent/quick detailer (such as Sonax Brilliant Shine) would keep the car looking amazing.

Here is the car when I picked it up, the dealer had power washed with water only, there is nothing on the paint:


After my detailing:


Annnnd an album:
http://imgur.com/a/rpUT6

[mjh_056]

Most subjective topic on here so it really is each to their own

How long your preferred colour looks good between having to put some effort in to bring back to showroom shine is a factor though.

My Pure White has no different driving conditions and cleaning than my previous 2 x Black cars of Metallic and Plain and the white is proving far more effective in retaining its looks for longer.

It is not that it is any less dirty, it just masks it a whole lot better and its only when you wash off the first section you realise how filthy it actually is.

Both the blacks, a colour I love when gleaming, pretty much immendiately used to highlight the dirt and was a nightmare for bird mess in attracting and being readily seen.

So for me white has been another choice got right as it accentuates the lines so well and looks great when shining and holds onto that for much longer.

You do pay a price though and once a year it will need a session of tar removal but products are so good they literally just dissolve and wipe off.

Think with all colours you protect well as just cleans so much easier. Collonite is my choice.

With regards other colours.

CSG would be my #2 choice as just have always really liked the GTI greys through  and looks amazing in sunlight but from owners on here you have to be prepared to keep it clean and like most metallics you do lose that wow factor on cloudy days.

The Midnight Blue is a colour that actually like also but only on the GTD as think the silver trims suit it better than the red.

Tornado Red is my least favourite colour as think you lose some of the contrast and effect of red stripe and is a colour that if not polished and pinging can look really flat.

Think the GTI and GTD both look great in black but even though my favourite colour overall when shining bright I would never ever have a black car again.

Likely keeping this GTD for many years and replacing the now 2nd car with it and as not want 2 white cars imagine that a CSG GTI will be my next choice.

None of this helps you at all, all you get is owners highly subjective thought processes where no one is actually right or wrong 

[marnie]

This is my favourite colour. They all look flat if you let them.