Wanderlust

Category: Features

  • Market Find: BMW Individual i8 Roadster in Fire Orange

    Market Find: BMW Individual i8 Roadster in Fire Orange

    What: 2019 BMW i8 Roadster
    Color: Fire Orange (feuerorange; non-metallic UNI; U94; BMW)
    VIN: WBY2Z6C52K7D77174
    Mileage: 220
    Price at Time of this Writing: N/A, Auction
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Mecum Kissimmee Auction, Kissimmee, FL
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    A BMW i8 is already a rare and quirky thing. Now, throw in BMW Individual Fire Orange paint and matching leather segmentation and stitching and you have a truly unique thing indeed. We found the car posted by Evan Lerner on the BMW Individual market & discussion Group on Facebook where he shared that the car is from the Michael Fox collection, a collector who has had “a few special (BMW) Individual cars in the past,” including an Austin Yellow M2.

    The car goes on the block on January 18, so check it out soon.

  • Market Find: 2018 Audi exclusive Graphite Blue Metallic S4 Sedan

    Market Find: 2018 Audi exclusive Graphite Blue Metallic S4 Sedan

    What: 2018 Audi S4 sedan
    Color: Audi exclusive Graphite Blue Metallic (graphitblau; metallic UNI; M5G / A7; Porsche)
    VIN: WUAC4AF45JA142578
    Mileage: 60,604 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: $32,500
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: Pictured below
    Location: Wichita, KS
    Facebook Marketplace listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    The Audi S4 is a damn fine sports sedan, and we feel it represents a fairly good value in the used car market- even when Audi exclusive paint has been applied. What’s more compelling for this particular example is that of the roughly 80 pre-approved Audi exclusive hues available to customers in 2018, Graphite Blue Metallic was not one of them. The original Tailor at Walter’s Audi in Riverside, CA who spec’d this car worked with Audi exclusive directly to get this Porsche-specific color approved, and the result was well worth the effort. Graphite Blue Metallic is quite subtle in nature (see darker images below) as a vibrant grey with hints of blue, putting it somewhere between Nardo Grey and Kemora Grey in the Tailored Driver color spectrum.

  • Market Find: 2023 BMW Individual Fire Orange III M4 Competition

    Market Find: 2023 BMW Individual Fire Orange III M4 Competition

    What: 2023 BMW M4 Competition
    Color: BMW Individual Fire Orange III (fuerorangeiii; non-metallic uni; P7E; BMW)
    VIN: WBS43AZ04PCM81308
    Mileage: 6,829 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: $84,900
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Sam Lehman Jeep, Champaign, IL
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    BMW’s Fire Orange made quite the impact when it was applied to the North American market-specific M3 Lime Rock Edition and RoW-only M3 GTS during the E9X generation, as it was just as in-your-face as the four-liter V8 shoved between it’s front fenders. In the time since, Fire Orange has had a few iterations (now on its third) and take rate seems to be somewhat slim. I suppose we can’t really blame potential buyers for not selecting P7E as their BMW Individual (option code 490) hue of choice when Tailoring a nearly $100,000 M3 or M4, but we have to assume quite a few give it some real thought. With that, we say be bold, enjoy someone else’s depreciation, and take the plunge.

  • EU Market Find: Viola Hong Kong Ferrari 512 TR

    EU Market Find: Viola Hong Kong Ferrari 512 TR

    What: 1994 Ferrari 512 TR
    Color: Viola Hong Kong (violahongkong; metallic UNI; 0155 / 0167; Ferrari)
    Chassis Number: N/A
    Mileage: 66,500 km, 41,321 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: €199,900
    CarFax: N/A
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Autohaus Blöchl GmbH, Osterhofen, Germany
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    We’re not sure about 1994, but in 2025 Viola Hong Kong has become recently popular as an extra range Tailor Made option. This two layer metallic is said to price in around as a $33,000 option. Back in 1994, it likely wasn’t that expensive though custom paint from the factory was exceedingly more rare. So, finding a 512 TR in that color was remarkable. Then, reading over the listing we noticed that it was painted this color in 2023.

    Was it originally this color? The dealer doesn’t list that, though they do mention that they’re in the process of acquiring a certificate from Ferrari Classiche. So, follow up on that should you inquire, but a translation of the German listing seems to suggest it may have been a 2023 color change. If so, at least it was done with an OEM Ferrari color.

    This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.

  • Market Find: 2022 Porsche Paint to Sample Slate Grey 718 Spyder

    Market Find: 2022 Porsche Paint to Sample Slate Grey 718 Spyder

    What: 2022 Porsche 718 Spyder
    Color: Paint to Sample Slate Grey (schiefergrau; non-metallic UNI; 615; Y97; Porsche)
    VIN: WP0CC2A85NS235221
    Mileage: 4,499
    Price at Time of this Writing: $137,888
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Pittsburgh, PA
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    At this point, I think it’s legally required to mention that Porsche’s Paint to Sample Slate Grey was Steve McQueen’s favorite color any time the hue is seen or spoken about. Cliché, sure, but also for good reason- the so-called King of Cool reigned during one of the more fondly-remembered eras in pop culture history, and of all the wild pastels, he put his money on Grey. Like true coolness, Slate Grey is a color that is just as in vogue today as it was then, and here we see it applied to what could also be argued as the Porsche brand’s coolest product, the 718 Spyder. On the inside, we see extended Bordeaux Red leather with Black race-tex inserts, 18-way seats, and a PDK gearbox. Subtle, comfortable, and effortlessly cool.

  • Market Find: 2021 Audi exclusive Kemora Grey Metallic S7 sportback

    Market Find: 2021 Audi exclusive Kemora Grey Metallic S7 sportback

    What: 2021 Audi S7 sportback
    Color: Audi exclusive Kemora Grey Metallic (metallic-UNI; LX7F; Audi)
    VIN: WAUSFBF27MN047608
    Mileage: 49,470 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: $58,991
    CarFax: Link
    iPacket: Link
    Location: Audi North Houston, Texas
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    First offered on the Audi RS 3, Audi exclusive Kemora Grey Metallic is a modernized take on the incredibly popular Nardo Grey, with a hint of cyan added for good measure. It’s the kind of subtle Grey we’re sort of surprised wasn’t offered by Audi in the US as a series option on more models, but thankfully we’ve seen that numerous Tailors have rectified this issue via posts on many different social media platforms. So while this may be the first example of Kemora to have found it’s way to Tailored Driver via Market Finds, we certainly do not expect it to be the last.

  • Market Find: 2018 Porsche Paint to Sample Meteor Grey Metallic 911 GT3

    Market Find: 2018 Porsche Paint to Sample Meteor Grey Metallic 911 GT3

    What: 2018 Porsche 911 GT3
    Color: Paint to Sample Meteor Grey Metallic (meteorgraumetallic; metallic UNI; M7W/9Q; Porsche)
    VIN: WP0AC2A98JS175171
    Mileage: 2,003
    Price at Time of this Writing: $215,995
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Orlando, FL
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    At the offices of Tailored Driver, we love to put ourselves in the shoes of our Market Find’s original Tailors and try to imagine how conversations went while curating and submitting each order. With this Paint to Sample Meteor Grey Metallic 991-generation GT3, we’d assume that a 997-generation GT3 owner walked into the Porsche dealer in Plano, TX after being told that the then-new 2018 model would be available with three pedals for what was assumed to be the last time. “Great!” they said, “Order it just like my 997 and let me know when to pick it up.” You see, Meteor Grey Metallic was a fairly common standard color during the 997 years if GT3, as were Carbon brakes and Leather seats with Race-Tex accents. In other words, this exact spec, minus the black wheels, massively updated tech, and the benefits a new generation present. If we’re right, and we think we may be, this is an extremely cool example of forward-dating a proven formula to achieve a surprisingly unique Tailored Driver.

  • Market Find: 2016 RS 7 performance in Nogaro Blue at Audi Naples

    Market Find: 2016 RS 7 performance in Nogaro Blue at Audi Naples

    What: 2016 Audi RS 7 performance
    Color: Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue (nogaroblau; pearl effect UNI; Z5M; Audi)
    VIN: WUAWRAFC1GN905449
    Mileage: 22,900 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: $69,240
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Audi Naples, Naples, FL
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Our friend Sam Brandes from Audi Wilmington told us recently that he’s seeing a renaissance for the C7 RS 7 Sportback. According to Sam, he’s moved several over the last few weeks and he’s buying any good examples he can find for his dealership’s inventory in order to satiate this market desire. In the vein of C7 RS 7s then, we’re not sure there are many specs that are more desirable than an RS 7 performance painted Audi exclusive Nogaro Blue. Bonus points for low mileage and condition.

    In the case of this RS 7 that’s just entered inventory at Audi Naples, there’s a premium for the low mileage of 22,900. From our perspective, that’s either collector grade miles or it’s about as new as you’re going to find in this market should you be a Zuckerman and want to buy the ultimate vintage example then drive it because that’s what one does with great cars.

    Other notable equipment includes a sport exhaust from the factory by Akrapović. At the time, Audi had invested in the Slovenian manufacturer of titanium exhaust systems, and Akrapović was developing race exhausts for the RS 5 DTM and R18 e-tron quattro LMP1 Le Mans racer. The tie-in offered the ultimate credibility to the purveyor of ultimate titanium exhausts. In period, Audi did offer S6 and S7 exhausts from the dealer and built to Audi spec, though the exhaust on this car is believed to be an Akrapović exhaust sold via their own Akrapović retailers.

    If you’re seeking the ultimate specification C7 RS 7, we’re not sure you can do better than this one. Yes, you’ll find them cheaper, but we doubt you’ll find one this nice.

  • Market Find: Mislabeled Suzuka Grey Audi RS 6 Avant in SC

    Market Find: Mislabeled Suzuka Grey Audi RS 6 Avant in SC

    What: 2024 Audi RS 6 performance
    Color: Audi exclusive Suzuka Grey Pearl (suzukagrau, pearl effect UNI; LY7F / M1 ; Audi)
    VIN: WUA1DBF28RN904811
    Mileage: 5,018 miles
    Price at Time of this Writing: $133,700
    CarFax: Link
    Window Sticker: N/A
    Location: Benson Ford, Easley, SC
    Dealer listing: Link

    Why we love it:

    Unless you look closely, Suzuka Grey is virtually white. It’s also slightly on the cool side of the grey spectrum, as is Glacier White Metallic from the standard palette of the RS 6 Avant. So, when a 5K mile RS 6 Avant pops up at a Ford dealership, you’d forgive them for mislabeling the car. We found this car auto-listed (probably due to vIN) as Audi exclusive paint on a major listing site, and followed it through to the dealer site to find more information. While there, we found its listings where it’s mislableled as Glacier White while also listing its VIN. Since we suspected it was Suzuka Grey, we ran the VING and found it confirmed it is indeed Suzuka Grey.

    As Audi exclusive colors go, Suzuka is a subtle one. Rather than an eye-searing attention getter, it’s more of an if-you-know-you-know shade that dates back to the B7 RS 4 Avant. Since that time, it’s been present in other RS models like the B8 RS 5 and Mk2 TT RS.

    From the looks of it, the dealer is pricing it like pretty competitively for its age and mileage of RS 6 performance, making it an excellent if-you-know-you-know opportunity for buyers. If you’re interested, go see it in person as these photos are low-resolution and not great.

  • Color Focus: Audi Suzuka Grey – LY7F

    Color Focus: Audi Suzuka Grey – LY7F

    CODE: LY7F / M1

    TYPE: Pearl Effect

    CONTENT ARCHIVE: Suzuka Grey

    SUMMARY:

    So far as we can tell, Suzuka Grey Pearl Effect (SuzukaGrau; pearl effect; LY7F / M1 ; Audi) first started appearing on quattro GmbH company cars at the Audi factory facilities in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm during the early B7 RS 4 days. Typically paired with black optics, it’s been mostly an RS model only offering here and there over the years, most recently being a model year color palette offering on the RS e-tron GT.

    Likely named for the Suzuka Circuit, a 3.6-mile road course located in Suzuka City, Mia Prefecture Japan. The track is home to F1’s Japanese Grand Prix amongst other races, and it’s operated by Honda Mobilityland, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Company.

    As greys go, Suzuka Grey is so light that it is often mistaken for white. Look closely though and you’ll find it’s slightly darker than white and slightly cooler than a desaturated grey of equivalent brightness. In as much, it’s a subtle shade that leaves most guessing thanks to a strong if-you-know-you-know quotient. Its strong association with Audi RS cars also gives it an extra level of performance cred… at least in Audi circles.

    RELATED LINKS:

    VIDEO REFERENCE:

    PHOTO REFERENCE: