Pearl or Metallic?

[GreenTea]

is there white metallic color on Mazda 5?
i'm just about to buy one. and i'm looking at white ones.
i went to local dealer today and they had few white ones on the lot, but they all say "metallic paint $105.00".
do they have two different whites? metallic white and snowflake white pearl?
or is it just dealer putting wroing information on the window sticker?
thanks,
GreenTea

 

[coolmazda5]

is there white metallic color on Mazda 5?
i'm just about to buy one. and i'm looking at white ones.
i went to local dealer today and they had few white ones on the lot, but they all say "metallic paint $105.00".
do they have two different whites? metallic white and snowflake white pearl?
or is it just dealer putting wroing information on the window sticker?
thanks,
GreenTea

Pearl Paint - Whitewater Pearl seems to be the one.

From Mazda Japan:
"If the special body color Snow Flake White Pearl Mica is selected, the price increases by 31,500 yen (tax included)"


The labeling is made and printed locally by the dealers it seems. It gets very creative. I still recall that mine said something like "Special Edition" for the Popular Package and something like "Exterior Protection Package" for some ugly homemade door scratch/dent protection plastics.

 

[jandree22]

Well I have Whitewater Pearl. It does have a mild Pearl effect to it, especially on the hood when it's clean and the sun hits it right. But the paint is also metallic... has little speckles in it. I love the color, because it gives you the pearl effect while being bright white (unlike other manufacturers' white pearl that has a yellowish eggnog-like color).

 

[Brian MP5T]

Pearl FTW

 

[HotRodSaint]

Whitewater Pearl Mica is arguably the best looking color available on the Mazda5.

The only reason I didn't get it, is because there were no 5 Speed Tourings available in that color. Of the 3 in California that I could find, 2 were True Silver Metallic and the 3rd was Galaxy Grey Mica.

The Mica effect on the Galaxy Grey made the surface appear milky in certain lighting. An effect I don't particularly care for.

 

[HotRodSaint]

The labeling is made and printed locally by the dealers it seems.

Not in the US. The "factory" window sticker is required by federal law to be printed by the factory.

Dealers do add addendum stickers when they add additional equipment.

 

[HotRodSaint]

i went to local dealer today and they had few white ones on the lot, but they all say "metallic paint $105.00".

On the US factory window sticker, the exterior color is listed on the top left hand side, right below the model information. I'm sure Canada is very similar.

The options section listing Whitewater Pearl Mica as a 'metalic paint' is probably the default listing for special paint.

But Mica paint does have an effect similar to that of a Metallic paint.

 

[coolmazda5]

Not in the US. The "factory" window sticker is required by federal law to be printed by the factory.

Dealers do add addendum stickers when they add additional equipment.

Addendum it was then. Whatever the dealer sticked in there didn't work to upsell anyway. We knew exactly what the options and trims were available (cheers2).

Now, note that I got mine in July 2005, meaning it was one of the very first MZ5s around. When I tested drive mine it had just being unloaded from the trailer truck, was dirty and not even the radio was activated. However, the color was right and, after shopping around several dealers, this was the only 5MT we had seen so, being in the US, I thought it was so unique that I didn't want to let go .

In addition it was the last day of the month, so I know they needed to sell as much as they could that day to meet the monthly quota so it made the negotiation more flexible (yes)

 

[GreenTea]

so i guess this "White Metallic" is in fact "Snowflake White Pearl"?
it does have little metallic to it, and i can see little speckles in it too. you guys call it "Whitewater Pearl" in US, eh?

Originally Posted by HotRodSaint
Not in the US. The "factory" window sticker is required by federal law to be printed by the factory.

window sticker is made by each dealer. sales guy i was talking to said front reception lady makes them and print them out.

 

[coolmazda5]

you guys call it "Whitewater Pearl" in US, eh

He he, you reminded me of my good buddy from Windsor ONT

Can-eh-dians also call it similar. I think the issue here is that the dealer is (beer)

Check in here:
http://www.mazda.ca/eng/getin/mazdamaker/engnChoose.asp?ModelID=18

Now, for a change in Mexico is:
"Aguablanca Perlado Mica"

Oh, come on, same thing (silly). Go and buy it, you'll love it!

(drive)

 

[GreenTea]

I think the issue here is that the dealer is (beer)

maybe they will base the numbers from that sticker price. that means i already got pearl paint for free.(alright)
i will let you guys know what dealer says. i'm planing to go back there today or tomorrow.
i might be a new Mazda5 owner this weekend.(nana)

 

[JimboNC]

Pearl, Mica, and Metallic -- which is what? I'm not sure what Pearl is, Honda and Toyota use this term. Mazda uses the other two: Mica is a metallic powder mixed with the clear coat and sprayed on top of flat color. Metallic is a metal flake or powder mixed with the base color paint, then it gets a clear coat. This "special" white paint may be a combination of the two to make the white glisten more since white doesn't have highlights like darker colors. I'll bet it's a pain to match in repairing.

 

[jandree22]

The Pearl in "Whitewater Pearl" gives a two toned effect in certain angles of sunlight. The pure bright white will fade in with a softer warm white. And I take back what I said earlier about the metallic paint... it is indeed Mica, which does seem to be a pseudo-metallic effect.

 

[GreenTea]

The Pearl in "Whitewater Pearl" gives a two toned effect in certain angles of sunlight. The pure bright white will fade in with a softer warm white. And I take back what I said earlier about the metallic paint... it is indeed Mica, which does seem to be a pseudo-metallic effect.

i'm getting confused here...(confused)
so, is that mean there are two different whites? and the ones i've been seeing with little speckles in it is NOT pearl?(help)

 

[HotRodSaint]

so, is that mean there are two different whites?

Japan does appear to offer have two whites. But Canada only lists one.

And the one white 'colour' (or 'couleur') that you can currently buy in Canada is called 'Snowflake White Pearl' (or 'Blanc Neige Perlee').

Personally, I think the 'Blanc Neige Perlee' looks much better than the 'Snowflake White Pearl' or the 'Whitewater Pearl Mica'.

 

[HotRodSaint]

My color is called 'True Silver Metallic' in the USA. But Canada calls their silver 'Platinum Silver Metallic'.

And Europe lists two silvers, 'Platinum Silver' and 'Sunlight Silver'.

So what silver do I have?

I have the one the USA calls 'True Silver Metallic', which is the only silver available in the USA if you want a silver Mazda5.

(Which is most likely the one called 'Platinum Silver' in other markets.)

 

[HotRodSaint]

Now, for a change in Mexico is:
"Aguablanca Perlado Mica"

Hmmm...I wonder what 'Plata Autentico Metalico' looks like? (scratch)

 

[GreenTea]

Japan does appear to offer have two whites. But Canada only lists one.

And the one white 'colour' (or 'couleur') that you can currently buy in Canada is called 'Snowflake White Pearl' (or 'Blanc Neige Perlee').

ok... that's what i was thinking. well, i think i just needed someone to say that again to make me feel better(yes).

Personally, I think the 'Blanc Neige Perlee' looks much better than the 'Snowflake White Pearl' or the 'Whitewater Pearl Mica'.

so, i just have to stay away from 'Snowflake White pearl' and go with 'Blanc Neige Perlee', but that's only when they don't have 'Whitewater Pearl Mica', RIGHT?

 

[jandree22]

Blanc Neige Perlee = JDM (I guess?)
Whitewater Pearl Mica = USDM

Snowflake White Pearl = CDM <-- THIS is you. Order this one. Unless you want to go out of your way to import another 'shade' from Japan or US. No matter which one you pick, it's white... aka vanilla, plain, no-color... doesn't make a big difference anyway. Just go to the dealer and ask for the White one... I think he'll know what you're talking about. (wink)

 

[coolmazda5]

Hmmm...I wonder what 'Plata Autentico Metalico' looks like? (scratch)

That translates into "True Metallic Silver" so, this is the same as... OK OK, I give up, no more guesswork

LOL. Do you know what would be funny? While we are all here debating colors among American English, Canadian English, Canadian French and Mexican Spanish (NAFTA at last) and possibly, somewhere back there in Japan, Mazda did just hire some clueless Japanese high school interns to translate these very same color names from Japanese to each foreign market language using a $2 dictionary so, consistency may be close to null

Intern A: "How does DeepSpace9 Cloudy Sky Metallic Blue as a color for the Mazda3 sound to you?"


Intern B: "Awesome, but who really cares? Just write it down and hurry up, class starts at 3PM"

(lol2)

GreenTea, don't forget to post those pics of the "Whatever White" MZ5 when purchased!