LOL we've always known this On this subject, some here have mentioned wishing they would have gone for one of the lighter colors (or even black) instead of winter gray or blue ribbon metallic because those colors are dark enough to be almost as hard to keep clean as black.
I'm giving a plug to Blizzard Pearl. I have the color on my 2011 Prius 3 w/sunroof and it couldn't be classier. I park next to a Mercedes C class and the driver of that car thinks my Prius paint is classier than his. I do too. It's not just anotrher boring white car.
Ask me in a year or so, Winter Grey was my first choice after having a black car in my old Baja. The red and blue were the only other colors I liked. Finding a red with a dark grey interior is hard in this region. And blues are just hard to find.
3 months ago I would tell the same after 3 yrs with black car and 1 yr with silver. Now after one winter day (with something snow like on the roads) I'm sure that black car is much easier to keep clean than 040 Snow White Prius. From practical point of view silver one is the easiest to keep clean. On white you see every peace of mud and dust when you open doors and so on - something that disappears on darker colors. But still I think that Snow White (040), Blizzard Pearl and Misty Gray (8V1) looks best on Prius Don't think too long and take the one you like the most
Darker colors show more dirt and paint imperfections (swirls, scratches, etc.) than lighter colors. And metallic colors tend to hide them better than non-metallic colors of a similar darkness. My last few cars have been silver or light gray. Low maintenance. Downside is not much gratification after detailing. Depends on one's priorities.
I had a tan truck before. that was the easiest color to maintain. I can go months without washing and it still looked good. at night under Orange street lights, it looks white.
^Yup, sandy beach (or whatever they called it, the color is now phased out for the Prius line) is immensely easy to keep looking half-decent. Personal experience is the best teacher.
No regrets. I went to a dealer 100 miles away to get my Winter Gray since the local dealer kept trying to get me in what he had on the lot. It is dark and does show dirt more than my wife's silver gray but it certainly does look very nice after a good wash and particularly after a good wax job.
I got a 2010 in Blizzard Pearl. Frankly, I wish I had gotten the Sandy Beach; it hides the adobe dust better.
I bought the dark gray with the dark gray interior. I choose those colors because my previous car was tan with tan interior and I wanted a change. I wish I stayed with the light colors. The gray is depressing and usually looks dirty. Plus, I think the dark gray interior looks cheap. Especially since it is all the same solid gray color and scuffs easily. Tom G.
My 2012 Prius 3 is Seaglass Pearl. I have had a lot of nice compliments on the color in the short time I have owned it. Pleasing to the eyes, doesn't show up dust or dirt very well and easy to keep clean!
From bitter experience I second that quote. The dark Blue is tough to keep clean, always looks good-for one day!
I was going to say my first choice of Barcelona Red with dark grey, just because these are pretty darn rare for a Five with ATP and I am getting tired of waiting. Thanks for those words of wisdom --- they'll keep me from pulling the trigger on a BP. At least for a little while longer.
Lighter colors are cooler to the touch in the sun, absorb less. Dark colors, black, etc are pretty hot to touch. I don't know if it translates into a little more heat in the cabin, but I wouldn't want a black car in Phoenix, that's for sure. (I wouldn't want to live in Phoenix anyway, sorry 4 years ago I used to poo pooh Silver. First prius was dark blue. it was alright, but too rich for my tastes. Now I really like Silver. Nice light color with class.
Having lived in Arizona for quite some time, all of my vehicles used to be white because I was of the opinion that, here in the desert, there really were only two colors: white and stupid. I have since matured and become more open-minded to other colors in addition to white and stupid.
