I'm getting closer to ordering a 2006 V6 Sport. I've gone through all the options and combinations, and now it's time to choose a color. Unfortunately, the color I like best (Nautical Blue Metallic) is unavailable on the Sport. Does Toyota ever change color availability in the middle of a production year? One salesman I dealt with thought he had seen something about additional colors becoming available, but no one has any additional information.

I guess my second choice is Shadow Mica. I don't prefer black or white (although 4Runners in those colors look sharp). I think the 4Runner looks great in Galactic Gray, but I'm not choosing it because it's too popular, and thus too common.

I don't want to hold out too long for a vehicle, but if I knew additional colors were going to be produced, I might wait a couple of months. So, has anyone seen color changes during a production year?

SALSA!!!

Koz

I ALWAY'S buy Black vehicles !! BUT this time I swithed to the Galactica Gray and love it.

It is popular but I sure get alot of compliment's. And I honestly don't see that many around here.

I like the Shoadow Mica too. but not very common around here.

Initially, I was leaning towards Galactica Gray, but I didn't like the way it looked (almost purple) in certain lighting conditions.

I really liked the 4Runner in stratosphere mica and black, but didn't want a dark color (with the constant care that's required).

I've started to see more 4Runners in Salsa Red, and it looks great, but I was afraid that I'd grow tired of the color.

So, my two choices were white or silver. I went with white since 1) I think I've seen more silver 4Runners in my area than any other color; and 2) solid, non-metallic colors are (supposedly) easier to maintain and repair.

However, if Shadow Mica had been available last year, there's a good chance I would've went with that instead.

I think I'll be happy with Galactic Gray or Shadow Mica, with Galactic Gray being easier to keep looking sharp. But does anyone know for sure about new colors becoming available during a production year, or are the colors set in stone for each year?

I would say it's rare that a manufacturer would change color availability mid-year (unless there is some sort of supply issue or they launch a mid-year "special edition"). In 2003, Toyota did make a mid-year adjustment to the colors, but, if I remember correctly, they did not add any new colors.

The change was due to the mid-year color-keyed cladding revision. They dropped red and green and made white available across all three trims (SR5, Sport and Limited).

A non metallic color is easier to touch up if body/paint work is needed. However a good paint shop will have no problem matching on a newer vehicle that has not had sun/fade damage.

As for maint. & keeping looking good the metallic's are the best , The shadaow Mica might be an exceptin due to it's almost black looking with a tinge of brown in certain lighting. The Galactia Gray , Titanium Silver would be the easiest to keep looking nice with minimal work.

Like I stated before about black , I've alway's had it and since I'm into detailing and care appearance care , it was just getting to be to much to keep up with. It show's every little flaw , micro scratch , waterspot ect....I'm very pleased with my new color GG and can keep it looking super good with a minimal amout of effort. The black does look great when all detailed out , but keeping it that was is the problem.

I was going to get black, but for the extra work and care put into it, I went with a different color. Shadow and Galactic were two colors I considered, but I knew I would be keeping the 4R for a long time and I thought I might get tired of those two quickly. Shadow and Galactic are two very great colors, actually all the colors offered are great. I got silver, and it's my third current Toyota that's also silver. Although each one is a different shade and very noticeable when next to each other. I know silver is a color that everyone has nowadays and my truck doesn't stand out anymore than the next car. Oh wells.

About repairs... yes, silver and beige are the two hardest colors to paint. The body shop I've spoken to about repainting my Camry's bumper said it's harder to paint, but technology has gotten the paint matching very close. Some shops with the paint code can adjust for fade through the computer and others have scanners that can adjust for fade and actually determine the manufacture and paint code. I had my bumper replaced on my 13 yr. old beige Mazda and the color came out exactly.

Your mileage will vary with each shop and maybe even each visit, depending on the painter and how close they can get the paint to match. (I had one shop paint our 1990 light blue Toyota truck, each time the paint came out a different shade. By the time we sold it there was at least 4 different shades.) But in the end just go with a color that makes you happy and hope you'll never need to visit a body shop.

Toyota doesn't really change their colors mid-year, usually new colors come out with a new generation or mid-cycle when it gets a facelift.

Good luck!

dealers have output sheets that they get from toyota that show exactly what combos toyota is producing for the period, and then what % of that output they will have access to. the dealers should be able to show you this sheet and tell you for certain what will be available.
FWIW I had a Titanium 2003 and i loved the color, it was EASY to take care of, i never had to get it painted though.
I just bought a nautical blue ltd. all i can say is that the color is perfect, it is not as bright as what the web sight shows, its a DARK metallic blue, close to black. I saw an SR5 with this color in a delaership and it had a dealer applied interior package they labeled "altitude Edition", it was 2 tone leather, cool but not factory leather seats (power, heated etc)

I like Shadow Mica. That's what I have and it's not that hard to keep clean. Just a quick dusting with a California Duster each morning knocks off the dust. It's got such a heavy metallic coat that it hides the dirt better than black. I get comments on the color quite a bit. It's a different color... but not too outside the box to make it a tacky color 3 years from now.

I agree, the blue is awesome. My wife has a blue corolla S in that color and I couldn't get the same color as her.