What are your thoughts on black? I've never owned a black car, but always wanted one. I have intended to buy black a couple of times before but always allowed myself to be talked out of it by folks saying it will always look dirty, it will always be hot, etc. I have noticed that in some black cars there are swirl marks from buffing. But, I have always thought that a true sports car looks best in Black. It is between Silverstone and Black for me and my heart says Black, but my mind says probably Silverstone. Anyone have any insight or comments?

 

I've had two black cars that were bought brand new. I am very **** about my car's appearance. The first one got swirl marks in it from a buffer (I did this myself not being careful) and it bothered me ever since. I was more careful with the second one and never damaged it but I noticed that I was washing it more often then my other cars. Black can be kept nice but it takes a lot of TLC.

 

RJ,

As a current black car owner and a current Silverstone orderer, I'd say, go with the black.

Not because I don't like the silverstone, but because it doesn't look like there have been as many black cars ordered. One less silverstone is a good thing!!

Plus, what people say about black cars looking dirty is true, if you don't keep them clean. I'm assuming with the Z, you're going to keep it clean, so that won't be an issue. After seeing pictures of the black, part of me wished I had gone that route.

Go with what you want. If you've always wanted a black car and you're planning to give it the attention it deserves, go for it!!

Just my thoughts, I could be wrong, it's happened before.

Dave

 

I agree that black is a great color for sports cars. Black gives it a more aggressive and stylish look. However, i feel that silverstone brings out the beautiful lines of the car. As i read in one of the magazines "Nissan created a simple design for the 350z and has left lighting and the door handles to bring out the details of the car" something along those lines. I believe that silverstone will allow lighting to achieve this better than black would. My opinion.

 

Obviously, this is a personal preference on what color you like the best.

I have had, and always had, black vehicles. To me (and this is an opinion) black looks the richest of all colors. It also stands up to the test of time. Styles come and go. Black never loses its appeal even when other color changes do.

Many people post saying how much harder it is to take care of a black car. I have never seen why. I always keep my cars washed frequently. This would be true with black or any other color.

As far as showing dirt more than other colors... I don't believe it. All cars show when they are dirty. A white car is actually more revealing because of the contrast that shows up. Black, white, silverstone, etc., they will all show the dirt.

In the end, I think the Z looks incredible in any color. Anything you choose will look awesome and require about the same care.

Go with what you think looks the best and forget the rest.

 

I have a white car now . . . never again. I don't know if it is the color or substandard paint or what. But it is always dirty and impossible to get clean. A power wash will only get it clean for about 2 weeks after waxing, then you have to hand wash every inch to get it clean. Black obviously wouldn't show this problem so much, but I know they can look dusty . . I live in windy Oklahoma. Still, I agree that it looks more agressive. Harley enthusiasts, of which my Dad is one, believe that black bikes are actually faster. His is blue and he sometimes wishes it were black. I also like the way black makes the car almost monochromatic, where there are only two real color contrasts, aluminum and black. It is simple and sweet, but still thinking . . .

 

I have to disagree with you, Black and maybe white will show dirt more, silverstone is a grey shade and dirt will blend in more. If you don't plan to wash the car every week but are bothered about showing dirt I think silverstone is the way to go. That is one of the reasons I picked it.

 

my wife will only own black cars. Even when dirty, from 5 - 10 feet away, they look great.

 

I'd never own another black car. It looks good for about five minutes after you wash it, and the tiny scratches and swirls that are inevitable will have you hiding from direct sunlight so you don't have to see them. It also tends to hide the form and shape of the car in flat lighting. Black sucks.

 

The other night a friend of mine who is a graphic artist was working on creating a new design for my numbers for racing. He had pulled up a really great picture of black Z and had the numbers done up in a brushed silver to match the door handle and rims. Took my breath away. I actually questioned whether I should have ordered the black.

 

Currently owned:

Accord - Dark Blue
Saturn - Green
Blazer - Black
MB E320 - Silver

All cars get dirty, even the ones displayed in museums. The difference is in how dirty the cars get. Does it really matter that the car is dirty but doesn't look as dirty as it really is?

I sure hope that with all the passion and concern I've seen exhibited in a lot of posts regarding the Z car that the car staying dirty would not be an issue. So if it gets dirty, get it washed; and be careful in the process to avoid those swirl marks, etc.

 

The thing I think most people against black cars have is not that it looks dirtier when it is dirty but that you apparently can clean it and then a couple of hours later it can be completely dusty and look like it needs to be washed again. With lighter colors, this isn't usually any problem at all because the dust is so fine it can't be seen on a light surface. I'm trying to decide whether I care about this or not. I don't think I do after consideration of all of the good comments.

 

I love black cars.

If you take good care, black looks the best (to me...). The best reflection and contrast. I don't have swirls problem at all with new paint sealant, neither. Since I started using that, I use no wax so it doesn't attract dust that much.

Hard to see the dirt, means hard to see the subtle reflection and line on the surface. It's a big trade off. Anyway, car wash takes only 30 mins... I do it only every two weeks or so though

 

In my opinion BLACK is the only way to go when purchasing a sports car. True that it does get dirty a bit faster, but if your buying a Z, then you can afford the time & $$$. The other colors Sunset Lemans, Daytona Blue, etc... are too flashy for me. They are too trendy. And as for Silver, Chrome, there are just too many silver vehicles out there. And you could spend a full day washing the car but at the end of it all, it doesnt stand out. Wash and wax a black car and it looks magnificant and you can tell that you spent time and effort on it.

 

Yes! Looks chic, classy and sometimes mean!!

 

As much as I like my black vehicle right now, I will never own a black car again. There is just so much you have to do to keep it clean! A clean black car looks sweet! But in no time at all, dust becomes very visible on it and I find myself spending WAY MORE time than before on trying to keep it clean. And I hate dirty cars, drives me nuts. Black cars are a LOT of work. And once it rains, as it does so much here in Vancouver in the winter, you're nice clean car is all gone.

As much as I agree with someone above about not going with Silverstone cause that's what I ordered, lol, I have to recommend going with that color. It will stand the test of time, its not some turquoise or teal color or that nice lime green that people got suckered on that old Honda del Sol!!

On thing that attracts me to silver based cars is that they really hide dirt. One reason I bought Silverstone color (besides just how damn cool it looks) is that if you're really short on time, you can always just clean the wheels and dress the tires and it looks clean for the time being!

 

I initially had pre-ordered a chrome silver Z (most logical choice at the time, since the only pics available were those of the chrome silver), but changed my order later to black, although it probably means that I'll be getting the car at a later date.

Below are the pros/cons for getting a black Z in comparison with silver:

Pros:
(+) all true sports cars look awesome in black;
(+) black is less flashy and more stealth, therefore less noticeable to the eyes of the police;
(+) there are way too many silver cars on the road nowadays;
(+) silver is "in" now, but may not be the "in" colour a few years down the road. Black looks hot, ALWAYS;
(+) chicks dig black ;
(+) the Z has many unconventional angles, the black smoothes them out, providing softer edges, yet more aggressive look;
(+) black Z is more unique, as most have ordered silver based colours;
(+) the black Z simply looks amazing! (so do other colours)

Cons:
(-) black gets dirty faster than most other colours;
(-) black shows swirls, dings, etc.;
(-) there are more pictures of the silver cars available, so you get a better idea of what you are getting (this is somewhat a moot point in view of the fast approaching unveiling of the car);
(-) the metallic doorhandles look better on the silver cars;
(-) silver is popular now, hence it is easier to sell the car.

After having seen the recent pictures of the black Z, I have no hesitation that I made the right choice. Go with your gut instinct.

 

I love the way black looks on cars. Nothing like a nice shiny new black paint job. Unfortunately the maintenance is a lot more than I want any more. It's just me but I will never ever own another black car, ever. I will love to admire yours though sitting next to my Daytona Z car. You do all the work, that's just fine with me.