[Altersys]

So I'm trying to decide between these two colors. The wife loves the Steel Gray and would be very happy with me if I got it. We already have a Black Mica Protege5.

My concerns are that the Steel Gray may look like a "faded black" and not a natural and clean-looking new color. My concern with the black, however is that it will require constant care to look halfway decent and will swirl very easily. Would the steel gray require a significantly smaller amount of care to look clean as the black (ie, silver can be pretty dirty and still "look" clean)? I'd love to hear from anyone who's had experience with either color on these cars. I've owned a black car before and I love the look of a clean black car... it's just regal! Then again, I do plan on keeping this car for the long-term (6+ years) and it will be a daily driver here in California (lots of dust, very little rain during the summer).

I guess I'm just looking for comments on either color to help me decide, as I know this is a subjective issue. So rant/rave away, please!

thanks,
-Alt

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

I'd go for the gray. Still quite a bit more work to keep it tidy than say, a silver one (like mine); but definitely easier than black.

Black is beautiful, but getting those swirles in the clear paint is unfortunately just a matter of time. Not much time either by my experience...:sarc And once they're there it's really not that beautiful anymore. Just my two cents.

The reason I chose silver was very much this maintenance thing. And also I likey the fact that, as you say yourself, it can look clean while it really is rather dirty.

 

[Altersys]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Thanks for your reply

Are swirls a problem in gray though? I know it's easier to clean than black, but I wonder if it is as impervious to the elements as silver is (in appearance)?

thanks,
-Alt

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Yes, grey is very forgiving to the dirt also, just like silver. Swirls could become a problem on dark grey though. But you have to see the car IRL before you can guess if it's a problem with that nuance or not.

All dark colors have the swirl problem. It's because scratches in clear paint actually appear white, and if they are on a dark bottom...yeah, you've figured.:sarc

 

[Altersys]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Grrr, I don't want to be forced into buying a silver car just because I'm going to have it for a long time though Everyone here has a silver car, it's like a plague!

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Yeah, but it's a nice plague!!!

 

[Kincaid]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Mine will be Onyx Black. A nice high-content pearl coat, claybar and wax three times a year, and it'll b perfect. And of course some high-quality care in between.

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Wax on. Wax off. Wax on. Wax off.

:sarc

 

[Altersys]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Where will you get the clear coat from? Just curious as I didn't think of this... might be a good idea. Do aftermarket clear coats really protect the paint well?

If I get black, I'll probably be investing in Zaino Brothers products too...

-Alt

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Yes, they are great. I let a car care shop put on a paint treatment. Makes the surface very smooth and strong. But my car is silver, so you'd benefit even more from one...

 

[Altersys]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Hmmm... I may look into this. Thing is, I really LOVE black cars but like you said, they look best when they are "perfect"... as soon as the swirls set in, it's just not the same anymore. Perhaps a combination of a durable clear coat treatment and Zaino's is the trick

Still have to check out a Steel Gray in person to see if I can stomach the color. If so, that is probably what I'll end up getting as my wife loves it (in pictures at least).

-Alt

 

[Steve 6er]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Yes, anything for the wife... Mine got to choose color on our old 626 -99 (dark blue metallic); so I got to choose this time. Silver is much more practical. (And it's a nice color too).

An idea for you: make sure you see the car in both sunlight and on a cloudy day. It may look nice in direct sunlight, but a bit dark when the light isn't so strong. That's how Titanium looked to me. Great in sunshine, but almost non-metallic gray on a cloudy day. (Wow, that rimed!)

 

[Altersys]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Thanks for the tips man! I also would like to see both cars side-by-side to eliminate psychological side-efffects of visual memory (or lack thereof).

I've asked my dealer to alert me when both a black and steel gray model hit their shelves at the same time... hopefully that's not too far off!

thanks again,
-Alt

 

[Driver6]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

QUOTE

Originally posted by Steve 6er


            Yes, anything for the wife... Mine got to choose color on our old 626 -99 (dark blue metallic); so I got to choose this time. Silver is much more practical. (And it's a nice color too).

An idea for you: make sure you see the car in both sunlight and on a cloudy day. It may look nice in direct sunlight, but a bit dark when the light isn't so strong. That's how Titanium looked to me. Great in sunshine, but almost non-metallic gray on a cloudy day. (Wow, that rimed!)[/b]

That's why I took the titanium grey! The silver has a greenish, pearly shine on an overcast or rainy day. I quite didn't like that. On a sunny day it's nice though

 

[[email protected]]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

this is what titanium grey look like under the sun

 

[ChoppaBoy]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

nice, that pic looks like the u.s. glacier silver, anybody have good pics of the 'steel gray'?

 

[ojdidit]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Here's a few of mine, not too good though.

M6s Steel Gray

 

[Gecko_2k2]

Reading Topic: Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Wow! I was having a very hard time trying to choose a color for my future M6 but those pics just sold me on the steel gray! Does it always look that good?

 

[ojdidit]

Reading Topic: Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

Yes, just washed it this weekend and will get some more pics up soon.

 

[Boston6]

Replying to Topic 'Steel Gray vs Onyx Black'

QUOTE

Originally posted by ChoppaBoy


            nice, that pic looks like the u.s. glacier silver, anybody have good pics of the 'steel gray'?[/b]

That is the steel gray. I've got glacier and it's so light that it's almost white.