Only option is black

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Tue 27 Feb 2018 12:53
Only option is black - Trilogy.

Now financially in a better position than the last few years and having been spoilt by the hire car on holiday I thought I'd change my MK1 Focus estate. I settled on about a 2008-2010 Mazda 6 estate..................until I discovered the only interior colour choice was black. The gloom only lifted by some silver inserts in the dashboard which disappear with from 2010 with piano black trim instead.

Why only black? Clearing out some old brochures I notice Ford etc offered a multitude of interior colours for door trim and upholstery. Some other manufacturers today off grey as an option or perhaps light brown but not Mazda. Don't think many offer much choice. Why?

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 13:18
Only option is black - alan1302

Don't think many offer much choice. Why?

Keeps costs down to only have one colour.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 13:33
Only option is black - badbusdriver

Don't think many offer much choice. Why?

Keeps costs down to only have one colour.

Especially given mazda is a relatively small player.

Also, mazda considers its cars as being 'drivers cars', a bit more involving and sporty than normal, if not necessarily any quicker. Cars such as this tend to have plain dark coloured interiors for less distraction so the driver is concentrating fully on what is beyond the windscreen.

While i probably wouldn't choose a black interior if there was a choice, only having the option of a black interior wouldn't bother me enough one way or t'other to put me off a car. I just don't consider it that much of a priority.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 13:32
Only option is black - Engineer Andy

Probably a cost saving exercise - when Mazda split with Ford, they didn't have as much financial clout and may have reduced their opinions list to save money at the factory as it would need less tools and equipment, as well as paints, etc. The latest generation of models in their range has even less options. I presume they just don't have enough sales to justify the expense. Even with seat fabrics - to get any option at all, you have to spec the range topping Sport models and have only leather, with a colour difference on the larger cars in leather only.

Some smaller makes seem to be following them in this regard to stay profitable, but most, especially the Germans, still offer a myriad of options. Given the current state of the motor industry, I'm not sure how long that will last, as I think cost cutting is not far away.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 13:34
Only option is black - daveyjp

The B class we still have on loan has a black interior becuase its the AMG model - it wouldn't be my choice.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 13:42
Only option is black - Trilogy.

Toyota are just as guilty, they're not a small maufacturer.

Don't see colour of upholstery a distraction while driving. You're sitting on it!!!!!!!!

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 17:47
Only option is black - Engineer Andy

Toyota are just as guilty, they're not a small maufacturer.

Don't see colour of upholstery a distraction while driving. You're sitting on it!!!!!!!!

Remind me that when you next buy a great car that also has pink or pea green seats... ;-)

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 17:53
Only option is black - skidpan

. I settled on about a 2008-2010 Mazda 6 estate..................until I discovered the only interior colour choice was black.

The most important things about buying a 10 year old car of any brand is condition and history. Does it matter if the seats are black providing its been properly cared for, has no obvious faults, has a good service and MOT history and is been sold by a genuine trader or a genuine provate seller.

Seems crazy to discount an entire range of cars simply because you don;t like the trim.

No different when you buy new, very few have much if any choice. Sometimes the only way to get different trim is to upspec to a more expensive version.

To be honest it does not bother me, cannot see what i am sitting on.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 18:18
Only option is black - KB.

To be honest it does not bother me, cannot see what i am sitting on.

Surely not being entirely serious? Personnaly I just happen to like black interiors (provided it's not TOO gloomy - i.e. at least the headlining isn't jet black as well) ... but you're surrounded by it... not just the bit you're stting on - you can't get away from it, it's everywhere.

But, each to his own I guess ... some like cream coloured leather or bright red piping and stitching round the seats and highlights round the instruments or shiny metal aluminium pedals with holes drilled in them, along with a roll cage if we're going to extremes :-)

As it happens it is that red trim that could well stop me buying the Turbo S 1.4 Vitara .... why can't they put that enginein more sober versions?

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 22:17
Only option is black - Miniman777

Seems crazy to discount an entire range of cars simply because you don;t like the trim.

Well, I've eliminated a Golf GTI (and other VWs) which have that awful tartan upholstry, and also any car with beige clorth or with cream leather. The latter can yellow and leech the dye from denims into the seats, as I saw in a Mini once.

Black may be boring but it is very durable. And scuffs can be treated with black shoe polish or cream!

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 23:28
Only option is black - Trilogy.

I'll eliminate whole ranges because I don't like the badge.

Durability is about the only thing black upholstery has going for it. Must be awful to sit on black leather on a hot day. Give me light cloth any day.

Edited by Trilogy. on 27/02/2018 at 23:30

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 17:54
Only option is black - badbusdriver

Toyota are just as guilty, they're not a small maufacturer.

Don't see colour of upholstery a distraction while driving. You're sitting on it!!!!!!!!

What, you sit on both front seats at the same time?, and cover the door trims too?

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 18:24
Only option is black - Trilogy.

VW offer a grey cloth option on a Golf and all Caddy vans used to have grey upholstery as standard. They're not expensive.

Irrelevant whether it's new or several years old if I''m going to live with a car for a number of years I'd like more choice than black.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 20:24
Only option is black - 72 dudes

Personal choice, although the UK market tends to favour black interiors. I have no empirical evidence for this, but when (upmarket) new cars are reviewed in LHD form, the press cars invariably seem to have pale interiors, grey or 'cream'.

When I was lucky enough to have new company cars and could spec them how I wanted, I always went for lighter interiors
1989 Cavalier 1.6L - went for dark blue to get the beige interior. 1991 Rover 820 SLi, happened to come with beige interior and wood inlays. 1994 Peugeot 405 GLX - no choice of interior colour

1997 Passat 1.8T SE, specified silver grey interior with wood inlays

2000 Audi A6 1.8T, specified melange (beige) interior with wood inlays.

2003 Volvo S60 D5 SE, specified Ash interior with wood inlays (see a pattern anyone?)

2005 Rover 75 2.0 CDTi Contemporary SE, only available with black leather.

Then my career path faltered and I started to buy my own cars

2001 Citroen C5 2.2 HDi SX, happened to come with beige interior

2007 Volvo S40 2.0D SE Lux, happened to come with black leather (bit it did have wood inlays!)

My current Mercs, a 2007 A180CDi Elegance and a 2006 SLK 350 both come with Alpaca grey interiors, a very nice stone colour.

Anybody still awake?

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 20:38
Only option is black - Trilogy.

I'm still awake. You're a wise man.

When I bought my Merc estate black upholstery was the exception - thank goodness, making it relatively easy to find my car with the lovely orion cloth interior. So much better than coal mine black. w124.co.uk/carsforsale.php?page=detail&id=2007...0

When I nearly bought a Passat I'd only look at car with grey upholstery..............until the last one which had black. The exterior was a lovely metallic blue but the interior was relentless black. Thankfully the venor hadn't told the truth about the service history. That made it even easier to walk away from.

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Tue 27 Feb 2018 21:58
Only option is black - Ethan Edwards

Our Suz Ignis has the usual black upholstery but that's about all that's usual. The dash is two coloured and the door handle grips and gear surrounds are bright orange. The same as the body. Suzuki is a small niche car maker but is trying to make the gloom disappear. Ok not the highest quality materials but I really like the Ignis interior.

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Wed 28 Feb 2018 06:06
Only option is black - catsdad
I like the light finishes when cars are new but as others have said they don't always age well. The common style I really couldn't live with is the two tone grey and black in many Focusses of the last few years. Against that give me black every time.
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Wed 28 Feb 2018 07:33
Only option is black - Trilogy.
I like the light finishes when cars are new but as others have said they don't always age well. The common style I really couldn't live with is the two tone grey and black in many Focusses of the last few years. Against that give me black every time.

My Merc with light grey cloth has done 190,000 miles. That has aged beautifully. Upholstery cleanliness is just like new.

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Wed 28 Feb 2018 10:58
Only option is black - catsdad
Trilogy, if its the one in your link, or one like it, it is indeed like new. An honourable exception to the rule I'd suggest.

Beautiful car all round.
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Wed 28 Feb 2018 11:03
Only option is black - 72 dudes

Your E280 estate is lovely Trilogy.

Lighter interiors require a bit more TLC I suppose in the long term.

Against that, Mrs 72 dudes Q3 has a black interior and it shows every bit of dust and hair, not to mention grit on the black mats.

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Wed 28 Feb 2018 11:46
Only option is black - Trilogy.

Catsdad and 72dudes, mine is an E300D, with an interior just like the car in the link. Previous owners were just a father and daughter. The father had dogs. They were probably kept in the loadspace, which had a full size liner helping the car stay in the condition it's in.

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