About ToRepaint, Need Pro Suggestions On Which Shade of White

J

josh99ta

New member
I didn't know exactly where to post this but I wanted the absolutely most professional advice since you guys get up close and personal with these finishes...



I have a 1996 Integra GS-R that I just picked up as a daily driver. Its a few different colors with new panels here and there and it'll be going in for paint at the end of the month. I am wanting to paint it white as I've had white cars before and know how low maintenance they are to daily drive compared to darker colored cars. I was considering a factory Acura color like Championship White, Taffeta White, or Premium White Pearl but none of them seem to be the exact shade I'm looking for (or the pictures online aren't very telling). I'm looking for the most pure, bright white I can get and if it glows and looks wet thats a big plus too (I may need to go with a little pearl for this but I dont want it to be too pearly as it's a sportier car). I'm also considering Lexus Starfire Pearl or Crystal White. I'm very open to suggestions and if you guys have pictures of white cars you've detailed or input on what the best looking shade of white you've seen is please let me know.



Also, this is my first post. I'm 24 years old from Nashville, TN and have been an avid Zaino user for over six years now. I've also dabbled in some of Meguiar's line and Tropicare's line. Carnuba is foreign stuff to me as my cars aren't garage kept and I need durability first and foremost. Look forward to contributing and learning a lot from these forums (although I may have a tough time contributing as I'm a photographer on the side and my job there is to cut down on reflections in the paint on cars so I'm always :wall when it comes to photographing detail jobs on cars).



Sorry for the long winded intro and question but its a big decision as this car will be my daily driver for a long time to come and I want to do this paint job once and do it right. Thanks a ton for any help.
 
That's a toughy. If you want bright white then you don't want a pearl, but IMO pearl white is much more attractive and appealing to the eyes.



As far as weight is conserned, I don't think that's an issue, it's not like it's a pro race car and it's not like the paint will add that much weight, I doubt there's any difference in solid to metallic colors anyways. If you're really worried about wieght then you should strip it down to the metal, no clear, paint or primer.:D



Anyways, I vote for pearl white.



Welcome to the forum btw.

Josh
 
I saw where your mix up was Josh and corrected it. I was stating that I didn't want it to be too heavy on the pearl. Obviously paint and weight aren't a real concern but I just wasn't clear in my original post.



I do like BMW's Alpine White and I also like the Honda Grand Prix White for pure whites.



For pearls I like the Lexus Starfire Pearl and Crystal White. I'd like to get a VERY mild pearl if I can find one but its a fine line (Cadillac has way too much pearl in their shades of white pearl paint and I'd never want anything like that on this kind of car).



Its in the pro forum because I figured pros know the ins and outs of the paint they detail more than amateurs and may be more attentive towards the slight variations in the shades of white from different manufacturers. If any of you pro guys have detailed a white car before and just been blown away by the finish, depth, clarity, etc of the white paint what was the manufacturer's name for the color of the car or what type of car and year was it so I can search out the exact shade of white.
 
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To be honest, it's not really the color or manufacturer of the paint, it's all in the clear coat finish.



Some cars come out horribly orange peeled and some cars come out with no orange peel at all. This is due to the way they finish down the clear.



Some paint shops that do quality work will spay and clear the car then go back and sand out the orange peel leaving it perfectly smooth and with a perfect mirror like reflection.



That is what makes a car's paint look deeper or more glossy then another's paint with the same color.



Typically it's your solid colors that have more depth and better reflection over your metallic or pearl paints which give off less reflection and don't look at deep do to the flake in it.



If you want depth go with a solid white, any shade so long as it's solid.



White is not a good reflective color so I said to go with a pearl since it's more appealing on white.
 
I like the Lexus white. It has a blue pearl metallic in it which gives it depth. I think it would be a really good choice because it would give you a difference in color when it is really clean.



It will look really good when it is dirty because it is white, but when you have it really clean, you will see another dimension in the paint.



I wouldn't go with Championship White specifically because it is a Type R color and you don't have a Type R. That is one of those colors that Honda really cherishes and holds in esteem for those specific cars.



I know because I have one. ha ha ha.



Jon
 
x2 for BMW Alpine White



I also like the Audi/VW Candy White. It has a slight pearl in it (i believe) and is a very sharp color.



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Pearl/metallics in white are almost always THREE stage finishes. Acura for sure. More expensive to apply, and impossible to touchup. The metallic fields just don't align...



IMHO, the most important part of a repaint is the sanding/polishing.



Refinish paint systems are chemically different from factory finishes and never look quite right.



Pay for additional clear.



Good Luck!



Jim
 
I really like the Lexus tri-coat, but I wouldn't recommend it unless you've seen the shop shoot that color before. I've seen some nightmares with pearl/metallic white before - I'd go for basic Spies white (more money, but I like their quality). Spend the money for more clear and more sanding over a pearl or flake.
 
I believe a non-metallic, non-pearl WHITE will look the wettest when treated properly....



here are 2 of my favourite... All these cars are treated with Z-CS



Mazda White (sorry dont know its 'marketed name)

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and another vote for BMW's Alpine White



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btw... I am a HUGE fan of White paint... .it rocks!
 
josh99ta said:
I saw where your mix up was Josh and corrected it. I was stating that I didn't want it to be too heavy on the pearl. Obviously paint and weight aren't a real concern but I just wasn't clear in my original post.



I do like BMW's Alpine White and I also like the Honda Grand Prix White for pure whites.



For pearls I like the Lexus Starfire Pearl and Crystal White. I'd like to get a VERY mild pearl if I can find one but its a fine line (Cadillac has way too much pearl in their shades of white pearl paint and I'd never want anything like that on this kind of car).



Its in the pro forum because I figured pros know the ins and outs of the paint they detail more than amateurs and may be more attentive towards the slight variations in the shades of white from different manufacturers. If any of you pro guys have detailed a white car before and just been blown away by the finish, depth, clarity, etc of the white paint what was the manufacturer's name for the color of the car or what type of car and year was it so I can search out the exact shade of white.
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The 2007 acura tl had one of the prettiest pearl whites I had seen as it appeared to almost be a metallic white. Very rich color.
 
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