Considering a car purchase this year and i've never owned a black car. I always hear the horror stories about keeping it clean etc and i'm a huge freak when it comes to clean cars. I'm very anal about keeping things detailed and spotless. My previous car was pearl yellow and while it had something like 20 coats of zaino on it it was hard to see swirls in the paint if they were there.

I guess what I am asking is if I ended up buying a black car are they really the ownership nightmare I have heard they can be?

Lets say I pay to get it professionally paint corrected and I have them put a sealant like Zaino or the like on it... is there anything that can be done to avoid swirling in the paint? Or am I just going to have to get it re-detailed every other week so I can live with myself?

I've heard always use microfibers - never rub in a circular direction (go N, S, E, W) but are the swirls an eventuality regardless? Maybe spotless car wash garden hose adapter + leafblower to avoid marring in the drying process?

Or easier yet... buy a white car instead?

 

Yes, swirl remover cream and a foam pad will take them out (using a machine polisher)

 

Regardless of what washing technique you use and what you use to wash your car, you're going to have some light scratches if there's contact with the car. I've even had uber-soft microfibers right out of the package lightly scratch a ceramic finish. I use a leaf-blower too, but regardless of how hard it blows I still have to go over the car in some spots with a MF to finish up. I'm sure there's people out there that will say they can wash a car scratch-free, but I don't think it's 100% true. They can greatly reduce the amount of scratches during the wash process, but 100% is just not possible if there's contact with the car, especially if you wash it outside. Buy yourself a DA, read the detailing forums and polish the car yourself every couple of months... that's the money-saver !

 

Forget it.

My bike is black, I just cleaned it up over the weekend ... a day later I was going nuts with the dust and how not-so-clean-anymore it looked. And it's a bike!

 

Try a sealant and after each time you wash it, hit it with a QD that's anti-static... might help reduce dust bunnies.

 

Yeah I think anti-static will be my friend ... what's a QD?

Does wax act as a sealant? I used some wax I had around ... did a great job despite the lack of polishing. But it looks like such a dust magnet ... whoa.

 

This is honest, sage and great advice. There is just no possible way to avoid light scratches and some swirling. Bottom line: If you touch the car, it will happen.

 

Yes, in a sense as it "seals" but sealants are purely synthetic and waxes are synthetic/natural and sometimes all natural less the solvents (Migliore or Victoria). Sealants tend to last much longer than waxes, as well. Some waxes like Megs NXT will help to fill light scratches (Dodo Supernatural also does a very nice job, but it's much more expensive) but sealants (none that I've seen at least) won't. I think your best combo would be:

Megs NXT first, let it cure for 24 hours (it's a wax/sealant to fill light scratches), followed by OptiSeal. Opti-Seal is awesome stuff and very easy to use. A QD means "Quick Detailer". I use Optimum. It's used to aid in drying, repel dust, etc. and also highlights the wax that's already on the surface.

Hope that helps!

 

I agree with what has been said. Use good washing techniques (no circle motions, only go over the same spot ONCE, etc.). And, stay consistent with your waxing and detailing. If you do those things, and avoid drive through car washes, it will look pretty good.

I know this is completely subjective, but IMO, if you're worried about every last swirl and imperfection, you're not enjoying your car for its real intent.

 

Cheers Dana, it's a hard fact that I've had to accept