Why does every car brand have their own weird shade of red?

- 100% agree on reds being the toughest to keep looking sharp.
-

“Earth tones do seem to have better staying power. I think it’s partly because the pigments are more stable and partly because fading is just less obvious with those colors.”

That’s spot on. Browns and grays just hide the wear so much better.
- Seen a lot of “barn red” roofs fade to a weird salmon color after a few years, especially on south-facing slopes. UV just eats them up.
- Some brands push “UV-resistant” coatings, but in my experience, it only buys you a little time—not a real fix.
- If someone’s set on red, I usually warn them it’ll need more frequent touch-ups or they’ll have to live with the fade. Most folks end up happier with muted shades in the long run.

I get where you’re coming from—reds are notorious for fading, especially on roofs. But I’ve had a bit more luck with automotive reds, at least the newer ones. Some brands (Mazda’s Soul Red comes to mind) use multi-layer paint with special clear coats that actually hold up better than the old-school stuff. Not perfect, but it seems like tech is catching up a bit.

That said, I do agree with this:

“UV just eats them up.”

South-facing panels still take a beating no matter what. If you’re set on red, regular waxing and parking in the shade helps more than people think. It’s not a cure-all, but it slows down the fade for sure.