Some makes offer say 1or 2 std colour £0, metallic say £500 & special finish paint £800/£1,000.

I cannot see any maker in the UK pricing a car with all paint finishes as an extra as the maker could not sell a car unpainted - it would just rust away.

Although, I know in Northern Ireland, not so long ago, a new house could be bought unpainted internally as standard. Bare walls & woodwork.

My plan is always to try & buy a model with the options already standard & avoid the "options list" like the plague.

If it is metallic & in stock you can often blag that "for free" as they would rather sell a car in stock than order a std colour as a factory order.

"My plan is always to try & buy a model with the options already standard & avoid the "options list" like the plague."

That's very good advice for several reasons, not least that extras don't get included in any discount offered. It's a particular issue if you want to buy a BMW, where a lot of things standard oin other makes are extra (including, unforgivably, lumbar support).