Although personal taste is the most significant factor when deciding the right color for your new car, there are many other factors to consider. Some colors do not age well, some are difficult to preserve, some are difficult to keep clean, and some are expensive. Although the final color choice will be down to personal taste, it is important to consider some of these other factors.
When buying a new car, it is pretty easy to be overwhelmed by the abundance of beautiful colors available. Not only that, but most manufacturers also often have a variety of shades of each color. This can make selecting the right color exceedingly tricky.
Today we’re going to break down two of the most popular color choices for Ford F-150 owners. Those two colors are Abyss Grey vs. LeadFoot Grey.
Abyss Grey vs LeadFoot Grey Comparison
In 2019 Ford dropped several colors from the available shades for the Ford F-150. In their place, Ford introduced a choice of new colors. These new colors included two new grey shades, Abyss Grey and LeadFoot Grey.
Like us, you are probably wondering why they introduced two grey shades, especially since, at first glance, they are so similar. In truth, there are some significant differences between the two colors, and we will find those out below.
As you can see from the photo, Abyss Grey is slightly metallic and much darker than LeadFoot. In contrast, LeadFoot is a lighter shade with a more matt look. Of course, the vehicle is finished with a shiny clear coat, but the paint has no metallic elements and is much more neutral looking.
So, as we can see, even though Abyss Grey and LeadFoot Grey look similar, there are some considerable differences. Those differences will become even more apparent as we do an in-depth analysis of each paint color.
Leadfoot Grey
We will start with Leadfoot Grey, as it is the most popular of the grey shades available for the Ford F-150. Leadfoot Grey was introduced in 2019 as a replacement for the old Ford Lithium Grey color.
The main complaint with the Ford Lithium grey was that vehicles looked almost black when less natural light was available. Ford has fixed this complaint by lightening the color by several shades.
Leadfoot Grey has several benefits. Firstly, and most importantly for some climates, being a non-metallic paint, it does not absorb as much heat from sunlight. This helps to keep the whole vehicle cooler both inside and out.
The matte look of the paint helps to hide dirt, dust, scratches, and swirl marks. If you are using your Ford F-150 for its intended purpose, this can be beneficial. The consensus from Ford owners is that a Ford F-150 covered in LeadFoot Grey looks stylish and formal.
Of course, there are a few minor shortcomings for Leadfoot Grey paint. The first is about people’s opinion of the paint. Some people consider this shade of paint to be boring and lacking sparkle. Although that is a matter of personal opinion, you should be the judge of the color yourself.
The next is that the paint is quite expensive, and the color is challenging to mix. If at some point, you require some parts of the vehicle to be resprayed or touched up, it isn’t easy to match the color exactly.
Abyss Grey
The next most popular grey shade is Abyss Grey. Abyss Grey will give your Ford F-150 a shiny metallic exterior that will sparkle in the sunlight. This shade is more popular with users who run their vehicles on roads most of the time. Abyss Grey is much cheaper than LeadFoot Grey, but being metallic, marks and scratches will be much more visible.
Some benefits of Abyss Grey paint are that it offers excellent protection from sunlight. This means that the UV rays will not damage or fade the paintwork over time. Being metallic, the paint adds a touch of class to your Ford F150.
Also, the color is cheap and extremely easy to mix, meaning that any touch-ups or resprays needed will be easy and won’t require the entire vehicle to be re-sprayed.
As with any paint color, there are a couple of drawbacks. Some people think this paint shade is too shiny and improper for a vehicle such as the Ford F-150. As we mentioned earlier, being a metallic paint makes scratches show up much more quickly.
Also, being metallic, it absorbs much more heat from the sunlight, although the paint will not react and fade over time with UV rays.
Maintenance
Maintaining a vehicle’s paintwork can be quite a daunting task. Luckily grey is one of the easiest colors to care for. Whether you pick Abyss Grey or LeadFoot Grey, there should not be much-required maintenance. Of course, picking the metallic shade of Abyss Grey will require more regular upkeep than LeadFoot Grey.
If you are willing to spend more time looking after your vehicle’s exterior, you should be OK to pick the slightly darker metallic shade of grey. If you would rather have a less stressful experience with less paint maintenance, go for the lighter LeadFoot Grey.
Is there one best color?
Unfortunately, the answer to that question is “no”. Each buyer has a distinct set of criteria for selecting a car color. For some, practical considerations are the most important criteria. For some, the price may be the most crucial factor, and for others, it may be important not to stand out.
If you are someone who wants a car that does not require frequent washing, metallic paint is undoubtedly the color for you. Most people prefer to choose the car’s color, guided by their taste. Others try to select the car’s color according to Feng Shui and horoscopes or to study the influence of color.
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Why grey?
People who study psychology state that materialists and practical people choose the color grey. After all, gray cars do not require special care. Dirt and scratches are less visible on them.
The potential owner of a gray car can be described as one who does not want to attract too much attention. These people are careful when making decisions and thoroughly consider all the facts. Gray is regarded as a neutral color for a reason.
How to select a paint color for your new car
When you’re getting a new car, one of the most important choices you’ll make is what color to paint it. The right color can express your personality, set the tone for the interior, and help keep the car looking new for years to come. But with so many options available, how do you choose the perfect paint color for your new car?
One place to start is by considering the colors that are popular currently. If you want your car to look up-to-date, choosing a trendy color is an excellent way to achieve that. However, remember that popular colors often go out of style just as quickly as they come in.
So if you’re not someone who likes to change cars frequently, you may want to stick with a classic color that will never go out of style.
Another thing to consider is the climate where you live. If you live in a hot climate, choosing a light color like white or silver can help keep your car cooler. And if you live in a cold environment, selecting a dark color like black can help your car retain heat.
Finally, think about your personal preferences. What colors do you like? What colors look good on you? When you drive your car, you should feel proud and happy with its appearance. So choosing a paint color that you love is essential.
Considering these factors, you can narrow your choices and select the perfect paint color for your new car.
In conclusion
Making a decision in the battle of LeadFoot Grey Vs Abyss Grey will not be easy. Both shades of grey have their advantages and minor disadvantages. Both are going to look great on your new Ford F-150.
If you spend a lot of your time in the countryside and off-road, choosing LeadFoot Grey may be the better choice as it is durable and does not readily show marks, dirt, and scratches.
If you are going to be driving your Ford F-150 mainly in town and want a shade of grey that is a little more sophisticated, then Abyss Grey may be the choice for you.
It is worth remembering that something seen as a drawback to one person may be an advantage to another. At the end of the day, the only person whose opinion matters is yours.
You will be the one that has to drive your vehicle every day, and you will be the one that has to look at it. So, when deciding on a paint color, you should take other people’s opinions with a grain of salt.

My name is Lucas Williams, from Belmont, California. A retired auto technician, I have garnered an ample amount of proficiency and background in the vehicle industry. More about me here.