mikerocks974

so youre saying you went black and did go back?

BlackjackMulligan

This was my situation too. I had a BB 2004 A4 Cab, and after a couple of years with it, SWORE that I would never get black again. The swirl marks were a killer. Since then I had a few different color cars and when I bought my 135i Cab I went to the dealer and saw a Jet Black over Coral Red one and fell in love. Now I'm dealing with the black all over again and I SWEAR I will never.....well anyway.

Someone had a good point previous, if you are OCD about your car then don't go black. There's no question about it. It's not just a matter of cleaning it more often, it's a matter of HOW you clean it....no automatic car washes, have to be very careful when handwashing it to not introduce scratches and swirls to the paint. Oh by the way, don't ever park near sprinklers because you will get hard water spots that will have to be buffed out. Lighter colors don't have any of the above issues.

So if you're willing to spend an hour or more per week washing it yourself with the two bucket method, polishing and sealing it at least twice a year, then I say go for it! Or if you are not OCD and only want it to look good from 5 feet away, go for it. Otherwise, look at a lighter color and go easy on yourself

trigoe

i think the OCD thing is very important. I'm not and don't go actively looking for swirl marks, which you simply do NOT see unless you are up close and looking. I am more concerned about the overall appearance from a normal viewing distance. Normal being the operative word here.

Actually, to be completely honest, I'm 1000 percent more concerned with the interior and that was much more important to me in making any decision than the paint. I'll be seeing the interior all the time for hours and hours, the exterior only when I'm leaving/coming.

BlackjackMulligan

This is true and to be honest, 99% of the population would look at a relatively clean black car and say that it looks very sharp, and 1% (me) would look at it and not be able to get by the buffer trails and holograms in direct sunlight. Ahh, OCD sucks lol.

Hobbes

Because the lines of the car don't photograph that well on dark colors. Black looks fantastic in person, but the details blur together when photographed. Silver allows for subtle shading that highlights a car's lines.

As for swirls, I am careful about how I wash my car (only 2-bucket method, never been through a car wash), and I have the equipment and know-how to polish my car. So you don't see much in the way of swirls on my car.

I realize not everybody wants to put that much work into maintaining their car, but to me it is worth it.

tubi

Will Phantom Black make any difference?

BTW, how do you guys keep your black cars clean during winter if you live in the snow belt?

okwiater

Not sure if Phantom Black will help, but I doubt it. I plan to keep my car in the garage if it's snowing outside and take the Highlander instead.

Hobbes

For one, I live with longer wash intervals. It's the winter, and most folks have dirty cars.

I happen to be truly dedicated, and I hand wash my car in the winter. I wait for a nice sunny day, fill my buckets with warm water, and hook up a hose that has been stored inside to maintain flexibility. It really isn't that bad. My climate allows for this, since it is not too terribly cold here, but obviously this requires temps above freezing, or the water will freeze on the car. Like I said, I am dedicated.

Also, while there are none around here, many folks have true touchless car washes near them for the occasional cleaning. They're not the best for frequent washings due to the use of strong cleaning agents, but are okay for occasional washings in the winter.

Others don't mind taking their cars through a standard car wash, although I would never do so.

trigoe

Wash it. Road salt makes EVERY car look like garbage. Even if you bought a color called "road salt" it would still suck when it inevitably gets road salt on it. Just the way it is.

NS2000X

I love my Brilliant Black B6 A4. Six and a half years old now, and it has swirls for sure. It also had a rear bumper re-paint when someone bumped me in a parking lot - easy colour match.

I say get your first choice colour. Then, no matter how often you wash it, on that day you do, you will be starring at a clean car in the exact colour you really wanted.

We are lucky, or unlucky because I'm sure it is environmentally driven, to have a large number of touch-less car washes in Ottawa, Ontario. I wash my car once a month in the winter at one of these. At the start, and end of the winter I'll wash my car by hand any day over -5C (~22F).

But sometimes it snows so frequently here, washing is pointless, as it will be covered in salt again within 5 minutes of driving.

I'll probably go Deep Sea or Sprint Blue if I go the S4 route. Not because black was too much work, but just for a change.