How much of a pain?

[Zach]

How much of a pain is it to own a black car? I am still contemplating blue vs. black, but I'm just looking for a bit of insight. I'll be taking my Z06 out for at least 10 miles of driving (or so) a day...how often will I be washing it to keep her looking good?

[c5inparadise]

I had a black truck and regretted having a black truck after 6 mos. I will never by a dark coloured vehicle again. Maintaining the paint was a nightmare. I traded my truck in for my artic white vette!!

[Zach]

Hmm....I wonder if blue would require a considerable amount of less work to maintain than a black car.

[MADN3SS]

I loved my black Camaro SS, but damn, it was hard to take care of. Obviously looks better at night, but you can see all the flaws during the day.
Personally, I would go with blue if those are the two options.

[c5inparadise]

I would guess to a lesser degree blue is not as difficult to maintain as black.

[exile]

No doubt about it, black is the hardest color to maintain, but a washed, polished, and waxed black paint job looks better than most. With black, red, or blue, there is a lot of reflection and the beautiful lines of the Corvette really come alive. The look is liquid, nothing prettier. The lighter colors are easier to maintain , but don't have the reflectivity and depth of darker colors. It's a tradeoff I don't subscribe too. Look, a dirty car is a dirty car, no matter the color. I enjoy keeping my cars, old CJ7 included, looking good and knowing they're clean. Both are red but if they were white or another light color, I'd still want them clean and waxed. That way I know the paint is protected and looking good. Zach, if you're like me you will see the least amount of dirty and road film on your beautiful Corvette and want to clean it up ASAP. Both black or blue are gorgeous..........Tom

[Rich Z]

Well, I have the Electron Blue, and get a LOT of compliments on the color. Blue is just a real eye catcher, it seems.

But there are some negatives, such as I am sure you would see in a black finish as well. Rock chips on the hood are white and will drive you crazy. If you drive at all, you are going to get rock chips. I tried touch up paint on a couple of them and it looks like crap. Best thing I found to use was a blue colored fine tipped magic marker. It's not perfect, of course, but it does cover up the white chip marks very well.

I have a black Jeep Wrangler and the finish looked GREAT after washing and waxing it. But 15 minutes later, you can glaringly see the dust that has settled on it.

Bear in mind that you will see flaws and dust and stuff more easily then anyone else looking at your car. Most other people will see the TOTAL picture.

But honestly, there are few ways to spend your time more pleasurably then washing and waxing your Corvette........

[FourG63 97GST]

this is my first black car, yea its a pain. you basically cant touch it or else it leaves fingerprints and smudges. luckily there's a car wash at my work so I run it through everyday/otherday.

but when its clean, its sex on wheels
but It will have to be cleaned atleast once a week. oh and dont park by sprinklers

[Rich Z]

Yeah man. One of the WORST things you can do is to get water on the finish and then have the sun beat down on it. Every bead of water becomes a magnifying lens that can burn an etch into your finish. Park your car outside and a sudden shower comes through in the early afternoon (like happens many summer days in Florida) and then the sun pops out, blazing away, 15 minutes later and you are screwed. Not to mention water sprinklers that come on at certain times of the day.

So between the burned etches and the mineral residue left from the evaporating water, it can leave you with a major mess on your hands.

[Z06 Rocket]

Both tough colors, but I chose blue. It's my 2nd blue vette. The C4 I recently sold was Admiral blue. I had a black p/u truck in years past. Looks awesome when clean, and even better with blacked out windows and tire gel on the wheels, but what a PAIN!