WRB BRZ AND WRX
 

I saw WRB BRZ(2016) and WRX STI(2015) today side by side (they were parked next to each other) and although their paint color supposed to be the same (K7X iirc) they look really different. BRZ was light shade whereas WRX STI was more depth and darker. Neither of them weren't 13-14 for sure so it wasn't 02C paint code. wonder why is that? is it because the shape of the car makes it paint color different even though the paint code is the same? just curious here.

Any number of things could make them look different. Lighting, amount of clear coat, time sat in the sun (they are different age), and the possibility of a partial re-spray.


Paint codes tend to be pretty accurate. But World Rally Blue 2 Tricoat (K7X) paint is a special paint application process consisting of three different layers of paint. It gives the vehicle a milky pearl effect. This effect can make the color change in the light.

I park next to a WRX pretty regularly and have noticed the same thing, the WRX looks darker.

I should've taken the picture so that I can upload it here for you guys to see. They were parked next to each other in open space parking lot with direct sun light hitting towards to them at around 12:30pm. I agree with all the factors you mentioned but the color difference was very noticeable to the point where I think they were two different blue. But yeah ... one might've been did some clear coat or something ... who knows.

Having spent many years at a paint shop; if paint looks different in perfect lighting conditions. IT IS.


If they are actually the same paint code, that is weird.

now I am all worried about the shop color matching my front end properly

I've actually notice the same and never really thought much into it. I just assumed the paint codes were not the same. it's actually noticeable enough to me that I don't need to see the cars side by side. The WRX just appears to be darker. Notice the same with older subies but they could have faded a bit due to age.:iono:

Isn't yours the 02C? Its got pearl in it, but a good shop should be able match it no problem. The Tricoat K7X is harder to blend.

it is, I just saw in another thread that the older paint was the PITA to match. I will bring it up with them beforehand

It is true. And paint lays down on plastic bumpers differently than the metal car. This is why they often look like different colors. A good painter will be able to mix the paint and spray it on so that it looks the same though. It's really more of an art than a science. (though if you don't follow the science of mixing paint correctly you will not be making any "art")

Not WRB, but my GBS BRZ looked like a much different shade than a friend’s GBS FR-S after I polished mine. His hadn’t been touched since new other than usual washing and waxing.

i'm pretty sure 2016 is when the color change came in. So a 2016 BRZ and a 2015 WRX SHOULD have a different color code. But ive been wrong before

They look very similar to me. Not sure what year the sti is but my brz is a 17.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a9ea0dc8b1.jpg

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk