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Thread: Should I buy a black car?

  1. #1
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Should I buy a black car?

    I have never owned a black car, and as I am in the process of buying a new car, black is obviously a colour option. It isn't a flat black, but a lovely metallic with two different colour flecks.

    My main concern is my OCD for keeping a car clean, and have had a good read of this
    http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.ph...ighlight=clean
    most of which I do anyway.

    Would you choose black, have you owned it, would you buy it again?
    How easy is it to keep clean compared to other colours?

    I know that silver cars (don't like them myself) and greys (presently own a mid grey) are easiest to clean, but I fancy a change, and as mentioned black is new to me.

    The other colour I like is a metallic red, which is very nice too.

    Any opinions welcomed

  2. #2
    Master
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    You may or may not be aware, but Batman drove a black car. I drive a black car, so IMO black is goooooooood;)

  3. #3
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    If you are good at cleaning, then there is no real problem. I've had good results with Scotts Safegard. It goes on like a polish/wax but has good staying power so it's relatively easy to keep clean.

    Only issue is black shows up stone chips worse than other colours.

  4. #4
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    My last 3 car were black. Now driving an off white one. Nuff said.

    To be honest it depends on whether you have a garage. If not avoid black - even metallic.

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  5. #5
    Master -Ally-'s Avatar
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    I bought a brand new black car in March and it was my first black one. I don't think it is as bad as many make out if you take basic precautions when washing. Any scratch I've picked up I've easily polished out.

    When a metallic black is clean it looks stunning, go for it I say.

  6. #6
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Andyg View Post
    To be honest it depends on whether you have a garage. If not avoid black - even metallic.
    Unless my car is being driven, or is parked elsewhere, it is always in my garage :-)

  7. #7
    Craftsman Jackwibble's Avatar
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    They show every blemish if you have OCD then black will keep you high for as long as you own it if that idea floats your boat go for it if your looking for a cure get the metallic red.

  8. #8
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nealywheelie View Post
    You may or may not be aware, but Batman drove a black car. I drive a black car, so IMO black is goooooooood;)
    Are you Batman? Lol

  9. #9
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jackwibble View Post
    They show every blemish if you have OCD then black will keep you high for as long as you own it if that idea floats your boat go for it if your looking for a cure get the metallic red.
    Black was sounding promising until now Jack!

  10. #10
    Grand Master Andyg's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewcregan View Post
    Black was sounding promising until now Jack!

    I also have OCD - hence the change in colour. The stop chips are the worst as the primer is never black. The best colour is whatever the primer is .

    Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
    Friedrich Nietzsche


  11. #11
    Master
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    All of my cars have been black, but they are always garaged and fortunately I do have the time to wash the car at least once a week, I am OCD with my cars.

    Black is a very hard colour to live with in all honesty.

  12. #12
    Grand Master number2's Avatar
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    My answer would be no never.
    "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."

    'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.

  13. #13
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Andy, black must have been ok to have 3 on the run previously?

  14. #14
    Master
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    Depends on the car I think. Black is easy enough to look after if you have OCD, but some cars just don't look right in black. Bigger cars / 4x4s suit black better to my eyes anyway

  15. #15
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by demonloop View Post
    Depends on the car I think. Black is easy enough to look after if you have OCD, but some cars just don't look right in black. Bigger cars / 4x4s suit black better to my eyes anyway
    It is going on a 4x4/SUV.

  16. #16
    Master kungfugerbil's Avatar
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    Yes, as long as you're not a complete muppet who puts it through a machine wash.

    Black cars when looked after are awesome.

  17. #17
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kungfugerbil View Post
    Yes, as long as you're not a complete muppet who puts it through a machine wash.

    Black cars when looked after are awesome.
    Lol. Thanks for that!
    Never used a machine wash in 20 years of motoring.

  18. #18
    I have a 'flat' black Audi A3 which I think really suits it.
    It always looks filthy, but in fairness I never clean it!
    I have the opposite of OCD when it comes to cars.

  19. #19
    Master kungfugerbil's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewcregan View Post
    Lol. Thanks for that!
    Never used a machine wash in 20 years of motoring.
    I wasn't suggesting you were a muppet...

    I could perhaps have phrased it better :)

  20. #20
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kungfugerbil View Post
    I wasn't suggesting you were a muppet...

    I could perhaps have phrased it better :)
    It's ok bud, no worries ;-)

  21. #21
    Master itsgotournameonit's Avatar
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    Andrew I would recommend black for a 4x4 I have a Freelander that is mainly used for transporting the dogs to Longleat forest. I have only had it washed twice this year.


    Oh that's not helping you is it

  22. #22
    Craftsman
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    Nothing more rewarding than a shiny black car, when it's freshly cleaned it makes it all worth it.
    As long as you don't live in the North of Scotland and have heavily salted roads, AH,,,,,

  23. #23
    never again for me....I'm not quite ocd and have a range of polishers and products to 1/2 fill a shed.Just hate the swirlies/cobwebs you get.
    looks fantastic when "right" of course, its just that it's not a colour, it's a part time job!

  24. #24
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ASK3L View Post
    Nothing more rewarding than a shiny black car, when it's freshly cleaned it makes it all worth it.
    As long as you don't live in the North of Scotland and have heavily salted roads, AH,,,,,
    Goddammit! Lol

    Actually, living in the sticks (and on a single track road) means our roads are often untreated.
    Hence the 4x4! :-)

  25. #25
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Does it being a metallic black, not a flat black make any difference?

  26. #26
    Nearly everyone I know who has bought a black car soon vows "never again".

    Then, usually they go out and



















    Buy another black car! Twats, me included coz that's exactly what I did.

    If cleaning cars gives you pleasure, go for it, black cars, well, looked after black cars,look fantastic after a good clean and polish. Then half an hour later when the dust has settled on it, and the local bird population has re-enacted the Dambusters raid on it, you can clean and polish it all over again!

    Now I best go clean the car.

  27. #27
    Both my cars are black, nothing looks better than a freshly washed black car. Unfortunately all other times it does look dirty.

  28. #28
    Master itsgotournameonit's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewcregan View Post
    Does it being a metallic black, not a flat black make any difference?

    Yes,Metallic black will show all the dirt,marks and scratches. I don't suppose you have Polish car cleaning centers with you yet ?

  29. #29
    Master
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    Hi mate, I'm equally OCD and had a black range rover sport for 6 years; prior to that I had a black Beemer for 5. Yes, they show every mark and are a bugger to keep clean but they do look superb when polished and shiny!

    I do like metallic grey though or a nice shiny Ferrari red.....

  30. #30
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    I have to confess that I do enjoy washing a car, but polishing one is always too much effort.

  31. #31
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by itsgotournameonit View Post
    I don't suppose you have Polish car cleaning centers with you yet ?
    Dude, my nearest TGI Fridays is 2.5 hours drive away, what do you think?! Lol ;-)

  32. #32
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewcregan View Post
    I have to confess that I do enjoy washing a car, but polishing one is always too much effort.
    I don't find it too bad. Sometimes wash, wax, then gloss finish it, which means going round the car a few times! Only problem is it's usually either too wet or too much in direct sun. Finding a suitable day is a nightmare.

  33. #33
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christian View Post
    I don't find it too bad. Sometimes wash, wax, then gloss finish it, which means going round the car a few times! Only problem is it's usually either too wet or too much in direct sun. Finding a suitable day is a nightmare.
    Very useful, thank you.
    We get plenty of dry and cloudy days, so no problem here.

  34. #34
    Master Gruntfuttock's Avatar
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    Black cars always look dirty to me, mainly because they are! Especially the fashion for 'black everything' cars. Cars with black interiors are like an oven when they've been in the sun all day.

  35. #35
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gruntfuttock View Post
    Black cars always look dirty to me, mainly because they are! Especially the fashion for 'black everything' cars. Cars with black interiors are like an oven when they've been in the sun all day.
    I guess all cars are equally dirty, it just depends how the dirt shows against the colour.
    Being too hot in the North of Scotland is an infrequent experience I can assure you ;-)

  36. #36
    Master Christian's Avatar
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    Mine after just a hand wash and dry:


  37. #37
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Christian View Post
    Mine after just a hand wash and dry:

    That looks awesome. Good job Christian

  38. #38
    Craftsman
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    What brand your looking at?

  39. #39
    Grand Master andrewcregan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mac83 View Post
    What brand your looking at?

  40. #40
    Master westy's Avatar
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    After many years of avoiding them, I bought my first black car about 15 months ago.
    Previously had mainly lighter coloured metallic's.
    When it's clean, it looks great but that doesn't seem to last long.
    Two bucket wash, careful drying and McQuiers Quik detailer are a must (or equivalent).
    If you don't like cleaning cars, I'd avoid.
    Swirlies, stone chips, bird sh*te, all need attention (again, if you're that way inclined).
    However, my wife has a silver car, one bucket and a hosepipe + twenty minutes later it looks great.
    Humphh!!



  41. #41
    Master
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    Go for it. I'm currently awaiting delivery of a black Subaru WRX Sti. My present car is a black Subaru WRX.
    About 3 times a year I treat it to a "Prestige Valet" using a local firm. It comes back absolutely pristine.

    Winter time can be a pain in the butt, you're in Scotland too so you know the amount of salt that gets laid down.
    Invest in a good pressure washer.

    maseman

  42. #42
    Craftsman
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    This is my 7 year old black car. I gave it a polish with a DA when I bought it 5 years ago and have just been keeping on top of it with the two bucket method for washing and a coat of wax every 3 or 4 months. There are some very light swirls starting to show now, but I had a black rental C class last week with 6,000km on the clock and it had more!



    Edit:

    And a picture from when I first polished it:



    Last edited by Enda; 3rd July 2014 at 23:12. Reason: More pics

  43. #43
    Master ingenioren's Avatar
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    Have had several black X5s., they are not that bad at all, go for it - if nothing else, they give an incitement to keep clean, the dirt on any colour will be there, but less visible

    I think you'll find metallic red will be worth less come resale...

  44. #44
    Grand Master mart broad's Avatar
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    As many know I have just retired from 49yrs as Funeral Director and over the years owned quite a few black "cars" in my retirement I now have a silver car and a white car nough said
    I FEEL LIKE I'M DIAGONALLY PARKED IN A PARALLEL UNIVERSE

  45. #45
    Master
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    As said a couple of posts above, whilst the metallic red might look nice, come resale/trade-in time, it'll be less desirable.
    There's a reason silver is referred to as "resale silver" – it's easy to shift.
    Personally, I think the Evoque you're looking at will only look good in either black or white, and would be the easier two colours to move on, when the time comes.

  46. #46
    Master AM94's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by andrewcregan View Post
    It is going on a 4x4/SUV.
    I have a metallic black SUV and have had metallic black sports cars.

    My OCD is selective - I don't mind my black SUV getting grubby; after all, that is their purpose. However, I used to like keeping my black sports car clean. I just replaced the black sports car with another colour (a dark metallic but not black) and the only reason I didn't go with black again was because I wanted a change.

    IMHO, there are enough cheap hand car washes across the UK to make it easy, convenient and not particularly expensive to keep a black car looking clean. If you start to get annoyed with the small marks on the paint surface, a good detailer will machine polish them off and the paint will come up looking like new. Do this every 12-18 months (or longer) and you'll have nothing to fuss about.

  47. #47
    Blacks good as long as the interior is not black as well IMO

  48. #48
    Master
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    Owned a number of black cars and never never never again.(Mild OCD)

    There is so much choice on colour and currently have a nice metallic grey for me and a girly light blue for Mrs mjc1216.

  49. #49
    Craftsman Jackwibble's Avatar
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    Perhaps people could post you pictures of dirty black cars (double entendre) then you would have a better idea of your OCD issue rather than spotlessly clean black cars which are obviously OCD less for you as it where.

  50. #50
    I've always had a softspot for black cars

    They do take a bit more looking after though, less though than the current vogue for white cars though

    This is from a couple of years ago and looked awesome in black


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