Should I go with Black?

I have a last-chance to go with whatever color I want on my car under construction. Originally, I had chosen Red (i.e., Signal Red, or something with a slight orange tint), but since I had owned a black-on-black 914 years ago, I feel a bit of nostalgia for the old roller skate.

I had read a couple of posts previously that black is a difficult color to keep clean. I never had problems with the 914 (very small car) and, but there may be an issue with new black cars whose paint seems to become scratchy-looking in the sunlight after it has been on the road awhile. I would have no problem keeping the car clean and waxed to preserve the finish. Does anybody have any thoughts, positive or negative, regarding black paint's getting scratched, fading, or any other issue, such as Speedster owners just not caring much for black? My wife likes red....she says the car is easier to see.

Barry; you hit it on the nail. Black was an original color on Speedsters too; as you say it will need more preparation before spraying. These cars are small and easy to keep so I guess it's up to your gut feeling. Enjoy your new ride!

I love my black VS. The car is small enough that keeping it clean is relatively easy. Also keep in mind, black is easier to touch up the rock chips on the front.

Barry,

More than happy with my black speedster.

Its not any everyday car, so I don't mind that its harder to keep clean

As others have said, it is more difficult to paint the car as black is very telling on the quality of the prep work.

Goes great with tan hood/interior :)

Simon

How can you go wrong with black. As for dirt, that is not allowed on my speedy. It gets wiped down daily in the garage and only taken out on super clean days (and we get a lot of them in Northern California).

I think black is the ultimate original color.

I heard several times at Knotts 2005, "red is the new black." You have to bite the bullet and make your own decision. If you like it, that's good enough. About taste, there is no dispute.
Hoss
ps. personally, I thought John Leader's JPS speedster was one classy rig in its dark gray color, but that's just my opinion.

I agree with you John H. These cars have to suit the owner's taste. I think dark grey looks beautiful on a car. Black looks fantastic too.

If you ask me, I like the lines on the Speedster so much that I like them in ANY color....

Silver with black interior and top is quite original and sharp.

The pink Speedster from the Carlyle show proves they look good in any color......nothing personal against the owner of that car, but it takes balls to paint your car PINK.....any car.....

Listen to your wife. When she says that red cars/speedsters are easier to see, she is really indicating that she is concerned with safety. I guess it depends on whether or not you want your wife to ride with you, and to feel secure when you are out in the car, and not put up a fuss everytime you take the car out.

A happy wife/husband can make your life and your speedster ownership a lot more enjoyable.

And...a bitching one will make your life miserable...just talking from experience.....

I have a wife who refuses to ride in my speedster with out the top up. So I just removed the top. Problem solved. Its my toy and I don't like driving with the top up.

Happy wife- happy life.

Hey Barry, I thought your car was due to be delivered at the end of September, what happened? I'm learning that a dark color is a little harder to take care of, I like the comment about dirt "It's not allowed" LOL!

Pat

Black. Your body work must be excellent or it will look terrible. But a good body with black paint, mmmm.... nothing better. There are more challenges to keeping it clean. Use a California car duster and Meguir's quick detail in between. Black is easy to touch up, easy to panel match the color in case of an "incident." No mica or metallics to match etc. I would definately go with a base-coat clear coat. Make sure you use a good quality clear coat. We've found that there are some "clears" that are really sort of dirty colored. You can actually see it when you poor it into the pot. The good ones are clear like glass. With the same exact base coat, the cars will be different shades of black. We painted a pontiac firebird with the same basecoat we used on the spyder but the owner provided a different "clear" that was not the same clarity as ours. These two cars, painted in the same barn by the same painter (steve) under the same weather etc., are NOT the same color. Ours is a glossy onyx black and the pontiac is black but with a faint brown tint to it. angela

Hi Ray'

How goes it? Take any nice trips lately? I met Bob Kelley and his new Solstice up at Crater Lake last week, nice day, nice drive and nice car but think I'll keep my Speedy!

Maybe the reason your wife won't ride with you is the hard tonneau you have over the right hand seat, kind of hard for her to get in there, LOL. Just kidding. Know what you mean as Barb won't ride with me much either. She says the car is too tiny for her. She is used to the big van she drives. I'll stick with Speedy!

Bruce

Barry, not sure how flexible you are on color choice, but I really like the Seal Gray that Porsche shoots on their current model. Looks great with a cinnamon color interior.

http://www11.porsche.com/usa/models/

Build a Boxster on Porsches' website, and it will give you an idea of the colors on a convertible.

Also, you can always use this handy site:

http://www.retromotorcompany.co.uk/selecta/ps.htm

Hoss got it half right; Ruby Red was the new black.
Black can be more work to keep up.

The last four of five P-cars and the replicar have been black. They do show dirt and smudges when allowed and as was pointed out, without good prep before paint, the abnormalities of the molds can show.

I'd have nothing but a black speedster or any other car for that matter. Everything looks better in black.

The majority of the visibility red provides is unwanted.
(read ticket-me)

Thanks Paul. I stand corrected. About the tickets, it's still about speeding and agressive or wreckless driving, isn't it? I'm still clean on my red car, ticket wise, but then I drive like an old geezer anyway;-)

Sarah had a BLACK Alfa Romeo a number of years back when she was entering her midlife crisis and managed to bag two, count them, two tickets in Illinois. Both times, the cop complimented her on what a nice car it was. Yep, black is beautiful all right. I like it too, but it's just not for me.
Hoss

My best friend came over today and pulled up in his brand new Infiniti G35... black as night. It was clean as a whistle and seemed to shimmer. The black is absolutely beautiful (when clean). Most of us do not allow dirt to sit on our speedys anyway. The chrome strip down the side looks incredible on a black speedy. Justin makes a good point, the seal gray on the Porsches is stunning.

Pat, the September due date was just a fantasy. I am a great procrastinator, and the due date has been moved up due to my not being able to make up my mind on the exact shade of red, so I am at least a month behind. The interior colors are a slam-dunk: BMW saddle vinyl doors, dash and seats; Solid tan in Veteranco German square-weave; tan top, boot and tonneau. I will most likely go with Signal Red for the paint color. Love the black, but wife likes red, so, why not?

Anyway, car will be finished sometime before Christmas. My mind has kind of zoned out in the interim due to taking care of my mother (96), her financial affairs, caregivers, house, yard, etc., plus other business, plus some home remodeling. It has been a wild year. It was probably a blessing that the builder has been so patient. The body and frame are finished and ready for paint. Then, wires, tires and finish. Frankly, I was blown away that anyone even remembered I had mentioned the September delivery date. You've got a steel-trap memory, Pat.

BTW: Hoss, how do you manage to keep your super-tall hat on when you drive with the top down?

black is the classic color for the automobile, How can you go wrong?... what was that song? "black cars look better in the..."

Re: Black- Nothing looks better, if it's well applied and cared for. Nothing looks worse if you have problems with either one. I love black, but I like to drive and wrench more than wax and buff. I did silver.

Bottom line? If you have to ask, it probably isn't for you...

I debated black vs. silver. Black is less forgiving on flaws. I went with black and love it. Sometimes, I wish I did silver though.

I am planning to buy a black speedster sometime. Maybe it's the whole Dylan Mckay 90210 thing??

I really think black and silver are very classy looking colors.. and obviously Silver is easyier to see in the dark. I am always concerned for those folks that do NOT see us driving by. But BLACK is "It" man if your body is fine then your paint is awesome.. When I worked for a paint company many a time would someone walk in and want his drive painted black, but I had to prove tothem to go with a lighter color based on the quality of their bodywork. Basically I said right now your car is a piece of Sh*&, and after I sprayed it black it would be a shiny piece of sh*&! Prep your bod folks, then take care of it with Maguires.. 100% caruba NO polythurthene (Sorry) LOL... Leaves no swirals or runs in waxing...

I'm with you David, Meguiar's is great.

Oh man, I did not even know they came in other colors! That is the very last time I listen to anything a used car salesman has to say, first the babe stuff, now this.........Where will it end??!!!

Just kidding- Black is my first pick, BUT it can drive you nuts keeping it clean! If you are not a neat freak I'd go with another selection, if you are maybe we can start a black Speedster club and KEEP ALL THE NONBLACK SPEEDSTERS OUT!!!

Once again, I am just kidding......I do not want to start anything here;-)