Help me pick a nice grey for my Mx-5

[Malibu Q]

I'm not the biggest fan of metallic and mica paints on sporty cars. They were introduced in the 1950's on luxury cars and quickly filtered down to virtually all models. Nowadays it's much harder to find cars in nice solid colors. Most models only have one or two solids, the rest are metallic or micas. I don't mind them on cars which are not sporty, where their main selling point is luxury, but not so much on my Mx-5.
I've been thinking about painting an Mx-5 in grey for a while now. Painting the Malibu wasn't a great option, as I would have had to do the engine bay, trunk, etc. Too much work for too little reward. The Silverstone I've just recently acquired is nice enough for now, but it has a few flaws. It's got some door dings from the supermarket and a mismatched LF fender. It seems ideal for the job.

Soo, I've been attempting to come up with the 'right' grey and it's a lot harder than I thought. There's no solid grey cars driving around where I live, so that option was out. So I decided to look at the color chip selector for Valspar Paints, which is the brand I've been using the most lately.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/15903015954_e01fe66b03_o.jpg

It is very difficult (impossible) to tell what the color looks like from the small chips, so I have been buying samples of the colors I like the look of, and painting old fenders to get a better look at them. I've done nine so far, but three have been rejected, so I have six for us to choose from. Every day I look at them, they look different with the changing weather, I just don't know. I never realized it would be this difficult.

Could you have a look at these samples and imagine how they would look on an Mx-5. Most of these photographs were taken in the rain. Hoping to run the pictured alloy wheel on the new car so I've sat it against the fenders to try and find a complimentary shade. I haven't put them on the car yet as it's brakes appear to be made of rust, and spew brown dust everywhere.
Would love some feedback on which (if any) of these colors that you like.

Basaltgrau
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8566/15903018214_c559016500_o.jpg

Eisengrau
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/15903018044_0f01462795_o.jpg

Schiefergrau
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7440/16524558232_55e860589c_o.jpg

Umbragrau
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7293/16338134370_de9b583fa6_o.jpg

Velvet Grey
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8650/16337899038_7fec2ebd01_o.jpg

Verkehrsgrau
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/16523893171_a21144d6c5_o.jpg

Cloudy day
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8680/16499581266_71b92ccce8_o.jpg

In the sun
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7413/16339327629_0fdc838f0b_o.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/16523910191_628a4c9b63_o.jpg

If you can think of another nice solid grey, maybe you cold mention that.
Thanks.

[kung fu jesus]

With the exception of maybe umbragrau, the rest appear to be tinted hues and variations. That isn't uncommon. I don't understand if you want a flat grey (sans mica) like the car already has or a stylized grey based from a color. Have you tried or considered Pantone colors? Matching paint to a Pantone color chip may be interesting.

[Malibu Q]

The car is Silverstone metallic at present.
After a gloss non metallic grey. In Australian English solid colors have no metallic or mica ingredients. Like Classic Red and Sunburst Yellow. Flat grey would be with a lower gloss level. That's not what I'm looking for.
I've heard of Pantone colors but not really aware of what they are or if my auto paint shop has formulas for them.

[BlitzWing]

with that wheel i think Eisengrau would look great with some red side stripes

[kung fu jesus]

Pantone is a company that standardized color systems for virtually every industry that uses color.

http://www.pantone-colours.com/

http://www.ralcolor.com/

http://www.federalstandardcolor.com/

Keep in mind that photos, images and even monitors have effects that alter the way each of us views the colors, so as you click on those links realized a 'non-corrected' monitor' may be a little off.

Businesses that use them should have the physical chips and charts. What companies sell are past colors or promote 'current' colors that reflect market research and consumer trends.

[Malibu Q]

Thanks kfj. That's great information. I didn't know the importance of RAL colors until now. The color chip book I have been using is mainly RAL

Basaltgrau RAL7012
Eisengrau RAL7011
Schiefergrau RAL7015
Umbragrau RAL7022
Verkehrsgrau RAL7043

The only one without a RAL number is Velvet Grey 00A13 which is a British Standard color.

[MightyM]

This was my first Miata... I had it painted in Flanelgrau. Its a VW or Audi color. I was looking for a solid grey but had some real small color chips to see the actual color so I didnt know it was going to turn out looking like it did. When it was done and painted I absolutely loved the color. Its a very natural color for the Miata IMO.
http://i.imgur.com/0tT4XYq.jpg

[Rogue]

Audi TT grey was a color I always thought would look good on a NA……See! ;)

I shoot PPG, and my paint lady can match any color by shooting a Prophet and mixing it in my choice of paint.
although I usually use an existing paint code incase of repairs down the road.
http://www.ppgaccess.com.au/Prophet-II-Spectrophotometer.html

Shooting some Shinsen Titanium on a NA right now…..between coats.

[MightyM]

Thats exatly what that was... PPG paint!
http://i.imgur.com/vQT4qh5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/7gHPbes.jpg

[Malibu Q]

Thanks for the responses.
MightyM, I love the look of your Flanelgrau NA.
It's beautiful. Totally convinced now about painting in solid grey.
It's lighter than what I am looking for though.
Planning on installing a Pit Crew Racing nose on this car later.
Pit Crews look better to my eye in darker colors.

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn244/philrob37/MX5silverpitcrew4.jpg

I googled Flanelgrau and found it as a Kombi color in the UK

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZgfTkl8T_s/USo8q2_efXI/AAAAAAAAEYI/7pzaW3fdgyU/s1600/IMG_7291+RT+sml.jpg

Also found Kombi's come in this color, Pure Grey

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NTMzWDgwMA==/z/oNkAAOSwuMFUmYUv/$_86.JPG

May be one to paint a sample of.

Rogue, my paint supplier has one of those gadgets. I think they call it a spectrum analyser. I've been talking with them and they state that they can also tint around any color and save the formula in their custom mixes for later use. Rather go with a standard mix though which will be easier to match, especially if they go out of business or I move. You never know.

kfj, you've set me on a good path. I googled RAL codes which came up with this site.
http://www.e-paint.co.uk/RAL_Colourchart.asp
When you click on a color it shows a list of similar colors, Mainly in RAL, British Standard, Federal Standard and Pantone.
If I can't find the right color with all that information, I'm just confused.

[Rogue]

I sure like that Pure Grey!

[Phatmiata]

if you are doing the Red interior swap on the car then I would use something other than a flat gray, it just seems so boring. Dont get me wrong, it looks great with black interiors as they are low key, but with a fancy interior like the red version I would do some fancy paint to match, if you want darker then go with the metallic silver color from the last gen mazdaspeed3

just my .02 cents

http://www.gerardlozano.com/mazda/vinyl12.jpg

[KAL]

That Pitcrew gray is awesome!

[Rogue]

but with a fancy interior like the red version I would do some fancy paint to match, if you want darker then go with the metallic silver color from the last gen mazdaspeed3]

Darker! I'm going with Sparkling Graphite with red interior on my ex95M.
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/4958/sge01.jpg

[Phatmiata]

^^ THIS ^^ :slayer:

[Airbrush1]

Best nonmetallic grey I've seen comes on the release series scions ( not sure which series) I'll do a google search. I've painted a couple and they really look nice all cleaned up

Edit: color code is 1h5 cement grey