Opinions on Black please
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 134
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From: New York
Opinions on Black please
I recently owned and sold a 2002 Black Vette and now may get a Porsche. The vette was impossible to keep clean and I swore I would never get another black car again. But the 996 looks so nice in Black.
Can you folks who have Black let me know what you think of the color and how difficult it is to maintain. Perhaps it was the quality (or lack of) of the paint job on the Vette that made it difficult to keep looking nice.
Thanks <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
Can you folks who have Black let me know what you think of the color and how difficult it is to maintain. Perhaps it was the quality (or lack of) of the paint job on the Vette that made it difficult to keep looking nice.
Thanks <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: San Francisco Bay area
Never owned a black car, but my last Carrera was ocean blue (very dark metallic blue) and it was a nightmare to keep clean. Looked wonderful right after waxing, but 5 minutes later--dusty, showed every scratch, swirl mark and fingerprint. Current Carrera is seal grey, which is a beautiful color, has alot of depth, but is very low maintenance. And looks wonderful after a wash/wax.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 241
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From: Gold Country
But my 996 is about the easiest car to wash that I've ever owned, particularly w/ Carrera 18's...
Hell, I spent more time washing the wheels on my M5 than I did washing the rest of the (now seemingly huge) car!
Or take the metallic-paint money you saved over the silver or grey and get it handwashed once a week for a year.
Or take the money and buy another cool option!
Or take your wife away for the weekend with the savings, drink some wine, splat some bugs...I'm sure she'll offer to wash it when you get home.
Or...
Hell, I spent more time washing the wheels on my M5 than I did washing the rest of the (now seemingly huge) car!
Or take the metallic-paint money you saved over the silver or grey and get it handwashed once a week for a year.
Or take the money and buy another cool option!
Or take your wife away for the weekend with the savings, drink some wine, splat some bugs...I'm sure she'll offer to wash it when you get home.
Or...
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 537
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From: Westhampton Beach, N.Y.
I've always been a big black fan but I really do enjoy many other colors.
When choosing colors for my C4-S I considered almost all and eventually narrowed it down. I considered silver and meridian but silver/grey is just too popular right now. Guards Red looked pretty nice but was afraid of too much attention and sometimes red looks "dead" in some light. But when I walked into the showroom and saw the triple black C4-S I knew it was the one. Black/Black is a little cliche for vette's, Porsche's etc. but it looks so good.
Yes it's the hardest to keep clean but IMHO it looks best. That's the price you pay I guess.
When choosing colors for my C4-S I considered almost all and eventually narrowed it down. I considered silver and meridian but silver/grey is just too popular right now. Guards Red looked pretty nice but was afraid of too much attention and sometimes red looks "dead" in some light. But when I walked into the showroom and saw the triple black C4-S I knew it was the one. Black/Black is a little cliche for vette's, Porsche's etc. but it looks so good.
Yes it's the hardest to keep clean but IMHO it looks best. That's the price you pay I guess.
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From: MA
If you have to have a clean looking car, forget black. My last two 911s have been black and they are an absolute pain to keep clean. Plus you see every little scratch and nick. Do look great when they are clean, though!
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Nashville
I have had 5 black cars and always swear that I won't get another one. That is, until I see one on the showroom floor! As everyone said, and you know, they look great but are more work. Beyond looking great, another benefit of black is that it is easy to match the paint if anything should happen. Metallics, especially silver, are impossible. Good luck.
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Really depends on how much you enjoy washing the car, as it seems you personally really like black. Black, or any dark color is high maintenance and is a trade off. Right now, I have both midnite blue metallic and black. And looking back would buy same colors again. Next car probably would be Artic silver, or seal gray, probably more for a change, less maintenance, and does not show rock chips as bad.
Great to have choices.
Great to have choices.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 345
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From: Bay Area, CA
Ran down the freeway in the sun this morning with a spotless black '99 C2, have to say he looked really, really great.
At least black is easier than Ocean Blue, I have the same experience as Poursha. Really truly looks dirtier than black with absolutely minimal amount of dirt or dust, actually shows swirls better to boot. Like from 100 feet away.
Car cover helps a lot, California Car Duster helps, 3M Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Colors.
At least black is easier than Ocean Blue, I have the same experience as Poursha. Really truly looks dirtier than black with absolutely minimal amount of dirt or dust, actually shows swirls better to boot. Like from 100 feet away.
Car cover helps a lot, California Car Duster helps, 3M Swirl Mark Remover for Dark Colors.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 384
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From: FL & NJ
I have an '02 996 black on black. My last car was a BMW 540i 6 speed (Black). IMO, nothing looks better then black when it's clean but you definatly have to work at keepiong it clean. I don't mind it a bit. The P-car is not my primary car. My primary car is a tahoe z71 (White). IF you go with a black 996 Get yourself a california duster, some spray wax to remove the water spots when you're done washing and if you want to go crazy, top it off with some pinnacle Souvern. That stuff is amazing on black cars. Don't know what I would do without it. I think teh little bit of TLC is worth it. Good luck with your decision.