What Color? Why?

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by jaykay

What do I need to know about microfiber black and the quest for perfection?

Jay, what year is your car? What condition is your paint in? All my black cars started new and I learned along the way. I'm still learning new tricks even now.

- Even Microfiber can cloud or scratch if paint rubbed too hard, especially on bumpers. Never use very much pressure.
- Avoid parking in sun, I'm lucky I can park in garage at home and at work.
- Wash at least once a week even if it doesn't look dirty. Always after a rain.
- Never wash when paint is hot, I like to wash early in morning in shade or at night. Dry with microfiber, I hate shams but some like them.
- Wax often, every other wash if you want, it helps prevent scratching during washing. Or if you want to use a easy spray on and wipe wax you can do it each wash...but it isn't the same as the liquid wax.
- When waxing, wax with a wet foam applicator, keep it very wet (dip in water and ring out), it helps prevent pressure and scratching. Remember there is a trade off to waxing...the bad is you are touching the car, the good is it protects for the next wash so wax gently.
- Wipe the wax off with microfiber gently, if you have wet waxed then you won't have to apply a lot of pressure.
- Avoid even brushless car washes, especially when it is hot, most have drying agents in them and if you don't dry it immediately it will spot the car and it won't come off without a cleaner-wax. There are times I use the free one at the dealership but only when there is a lot of sand and salt on the car and I want to get it off. I often try to then wash it asap the nice thing is the brushless wash will get a lot of crud off that could scratch the car while you are washing it by hand.
- I have switch from microfiber mits to just rags since the mits sometime hold on to stuff that can scratch. I rinse the rag in a separate bucket and I never wash the underside by the doors and fenders until I'm all done, there is too much road spray and sand there and it will get on your rag and could scratch.
- Once car is dry, now you can wash your wheels, or you can do them first but never with the same water.

Note all this works well on a new car that you want to keep looking new for years. My Benz is a daily driver so I can't avoid some wear. Remember even wiping the car once with road grime on it after driving in the rain can scratch and cause cobwebs. Having that constant layer of wax will help protect as you wipe away the dirt. Always pre-rinse well.

If you have an older car...whole other story, I'm only good with a random-orbital it worked very well on my 2000 'S' Red, the trick is to use compounds that break down at lower speeds and heat...I was amazed at how many of the older scratches can be removed.

Here is how the Benz looks after 2 years, and the Box after I worked the paint for over twenty hours:

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

My Boxster S is the funnest car I have ever driven & I used to test drive new cars for a living. The last 3 cars I have owned have been Yellow with black interior & top. Yellow is bright & cheery to me & it seems to invoke a emotional response from everyone that sees it, babys to elderly. Especially guys in big trucks.

My sentiments exactly !

[PhilNotHill]

Originally Posted by WhipE350

Jay, what year is your car? What condition is your paint in? All my black cars started new and I learned along the way. I'm still learning new tricks even now.

- Even Microfiber can cloud or scratch if paint rubbed too hard, especially on bumpers. Never use very much pressure.
- Avoid parking in sun, I'm lucky I can park in garage at home and at work.
- Wash at least once a week even if it doesn't look dirty. Always after a rain.
- Never wash when paint is hot, I like to wash early in morning in shade or at night. Dry with microfiber, I hate shams but some like them.
- Wax often, every other wash if you want, it helps prevent scratching during washing. Or if you want to use a easy spray on and wipe wax you can do it each wash...but it isn't the same as the liquid wax.
- When waxing, wax with a wet foam applicator, keep it very wet (dip in water and ring out), it helps prevent pressure and scratching. Remember there is a trade off to waxing...the bad is you are touching the car, the good is it protects for the next wash so wax gently.
- Wipe the wax off with microfiber gently, if you have wet waxed then you won't have to apply a lot of pressure.
- Avoid even brushless car washes, especially when it is hot, most have drying agents in them and if you don't dry it immediately it will spot the car and it won't come off without a cleaner-wax. There are times I use the free one at the dealership but only when there is a lot of sand and salt on the car and I want to get it off. I often try to then wash it asap the nice thing is the brushless wash will get a lot of crud off that could scratch the car while you are washing it by hand.
- I have switch from microfiber mits to just rags since the mits sometime hold on to stuff that can scratch. I rinse the rag in a separate bucket and I never wash the underside by the doors and fenders until I'm all done, there is too much road spray and sand there and it will get on your rag and could scratch.
- Once car is dry, now you can wash your wheels, or you can do them first but never with the same water.

Note all this works well on a new car that you want to keep looking new for years. My Benz is a daily driver so I can't avoid some wear. Remember even wiping the car once with road grime on it after driving in the rain can scratch and cause cobwebs. Having that constant layer of wax will help protect as you wipe away the dirt. Always pre-rinse well.

If you have an older car...whole other story, I'm only good with a random-orbital it worked very well on my 2000 'S' Red, the trick is to use compounds that break down at lower speeds and heat...I was amazed at how many of the older scratches can be removed.

Here is how the Benz looks after 2 years, and the Box after I worked the paint for over twenty hours:

Very nice. Your hard work has paid off. You should be proud. I would be. Congrats.

[stephen wilson]

I have a Black '06, and have been struggling with keeping the paint unblemished. I've started using spray wax before drying. I didn't do that once and put 2 long scratches on the hood, luckily they seem to be very light marks. I've been considering blowing the car dry instead of using a micro-fibre. Does anybody use that method?

[jaykay]

Thanks for this all very good information. Your cars are amazing the work shows. Mine is a 2000 so there are challenges. I will try and get a picture in my signature for all....anybody know how to do this?
.

Originally Posted by WhipE350

Jay, what year is your car? What condition is your paint in? All my black cars started new and I learned along the way. I'm still learning new tricks even now.

- Even Microfiber can cloud or scratch if paint rubbed too hard, especially on bumpers. Never use very much pressure.
- Avoid parking in sun, I'm lucky I can park in garage at home and at work.
- Wash at least once a week even if it doesn't look dirty. Always after a rain.
- Never wash when paint is hot, I like to wash early in morning in shade or at night. Dry with microfiber, I hate shams but some like them.
- Wax often, every other wash if you want, it helps prevent scratching during washing. Or if you want to use a easy spray on and wipe wax you can do it each wash...but it isn't the same as the liquid wax.
- When waxing, wax with a wet foam applicator, keep it very wet (dip in water and ring out), it helps prevent pressure and scratching. Remember there is a trade off to waxing...the bad is you are touching the car, the good is it protects for the next wash so wax gently.
- Wipe the wax off with microfiber gently, if you have wet waxed then you won't have to apply a lot of pressure.
- Avoid even brushless car washes, especially when it is hot, most have drying agents in them and if you don't dry it immediately it will spot the car and it won't come off without a cleaner-wax. There are times I use the free one at the dealership but only when there is a lot of sand and salt on the car and I want to get it off. I often try to then wash it asap the nice thing is the brushless wash will get a lot of crud off that could scratch the car while you are washing it by hand.
- I have switch from microfiber mits to just rags since the mits sometime hold on to stuff that can scratch. I rinse the rag in a separate bucket and I never wash the underside by the doors and fenders until I'm all done, there is too much road spray and sand there and it will get on your rag and could scratch.
- Once car is dry, now you can wash your wheels, or you can do them first but never with the same water.

Note all this works well on a new car that you want to keep looking new for years. My Benz is a daily driver so I can't avoid some wear. Remember even wiping the car once with road grime on it after driving in the rain can scratch and cause cobwebs. Having that constant layer of wax will help protect as you wipe away the dirt. Always pre-rinse well.

If you have an older car...whole other story, I'm only good with a random-orbital it worked very well on my 2000 'S' Red, the trick is to use compounds that break down at lower speeds and heat...I was amazed at how many of the older scratches can be removed.

Here is how the Benz looks after 2 years, and the Box after I worked the paint for over twenty hours:

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

I have a Black '06, and have been struggling with keeping the paint unblemished. I've started using spray wax before drying. I didn't do that once and put 2 long scratches on the hood, luckily they seem to be very light marks. I've been considering blowing the car dry instead of using a micro-fibre. Does anybody use that method?

I get a professional to clean up the paint and apply a paint sealer that takes the place of wax. I might wax over it from time to time.

I find the paint is fragile and prone to chips just about everywhere. I may start waxing to get some layers of protection on there from now on.

[husker boxster]

My first brand new car was a red 1989 Probe GT Turbo. I'd owned some very low mileage used cars before that, but this was my first new car. I was so proud. Until every Probe I saw was also red. Kind of hard to stand out in the crowd. At that point I decided to buy cars with different / distinguishable colors.

I may have to spend a little extra to get the less popular color because of the lack of supply, but I'm willing to do it. To me the extra money I spend at purchase time is well worth the years of satisfaction of having a color I like. And I figure if I'm spending big bucks on a car, why not get a color you like?

The three Porsches I've owned were Lapis Blue, and Orange and Carmon Red. Maybe I'm a narcissist, but I like to be a little bit different.

[jaykay]

...okay here is a quick snap

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by stephen wilson

I have a Black '06, and have been struggling with keeping the paint unblemished. I've started using spray wax before drying. I didn't do that once and put 2 long scratches on the hood, luckily they seem to be very light marks. I've been considering blowing the car dry instead of using a micro-fibre. Does anybody use that method?

Funny you should ask, the Benz has a lot of water holding areas that like to drip after washing...in fact I use an electric leaf blower to pre-dry it and the brakes...I still use microfiber towels to finish drying though, even if you don't have a great layer of wax and dry gently they should never scratch your car. Terry cloth will scratch, don't use it. I have about 15 large microfiber towels and keep them clean. When you wash them use a clear/free liquid detergent so that you don't leave a film on the car when drying.

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by jaykay

...okay here is a quick snap

Jay, your paint from what I can tell in that pictures seems to be well polished. Gotta get you a better camera . Are you pleased with the finish in a low winter sun or in a high bright spring or summer sun?

I remember when I first got my car (it's a 2000 also) the paint was actually in great condition but had a lot of scratches from improper washing and drying. Since I hadn't done a lot of buffing I started with a 2 foam random orbital pads using a gentle compound and then a polish and of course finished with a hand wax. Took me about 12 hours and the car looked awesome. Basically the process had rounded all the edges of the scratches so they weren't obvious without looking at it just right...however my car enthusiast friends notices them. I bit the bullet and went with a medium cut working it long enough to break the beads down. It was so scary, the car turned a cloudy white! I then went to a fine cut, the repeated the other two steps I had done previously...the difference was simply amazing...I got so good at it if there was a tough spot I could come back and do it again.
I have noticed after several washings that I'm starting to see a small amount of cobwebs in the bright high spring sun. I'm now working on mastering getting rid of the cobwebs with polish...I haven't determined yet if now I'm only hiding the cobwebs or actually eliminating them.
Well I've blabbed on long enough...this is how anal perfectionists spend free time. It is nice though at the couple of events I've gone to folks have noticed how nice it looks. I've got a long way to go to get the point I would use a rotary buffer like those show cars...but then I don't want to strip off so much paint that I lose uv protection.

[jaykay]

..yeah cell phone. I will post some better shots when I get them. Yes the finish is not bad but I think it is a little dull and needs to pop more, more depth of shine. High sun can make it look dull.

you are a braver man than I. I have not worked up the courage to clay/polish black yet....one day

Okay we've hijacked this thread a bit I think

[WhipE350]

Phil doesn't care

[smcgeary]

Zanzibar red for my S. Really looks like a burnt orange. At first I wasn't completely sure but the color grows on me more every day (going on six years now). Haven't seen another one in person yet.

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by smcgeary

Zanzibar red for my S. Really looks like a burnt orange. At first I wasn't completely sure but the color grows on me more every day (going on six years now). Haven't seen another one in person yet.

Got a pic, I've not seen that color.

[WhipE350]

Originally Posted by r9i8c7k

Guards Red - because it's my favorite car color. Eye catching I guess...

Black Interior - for contrast and wear & tear reasons.

Chrome Rims - because my wife told me too... seriously....she really did...and I did what she told me too...best advice I ever took...who knew chrome rims were an aphrodisiac for women?

Where did you get these rims, I'm not a chrome guy but these are really nice. Does the Porsche center cap/crest fit them?

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

Guards Red twice over for sure. With beige interior looks best in my eye.

[Tobz]

Speed yellow, the Boxster is one of a few cars that can pull it off really well

Plus IMO it looks newer for some reason?

[jbs986]

Originally Posted by thstone

Arctic Silver - Avoids cops, hides dust/dirt, matches my BMW's.

+1, My car is a 99 W/61K miles and looks show room new.