Easiest car colours to maintain?

OK I'll be looking for a fun car in the future but since I'll be anal on how the paint looks I want some opinions from you all regarding the colour.



Specifically regarding marring and swirl marks (dirt I can handle since it will be washed often). Just want something that wouldn't be high maintenance like black.



Silver is out since that is the colour of my daily driver and I don't like white and black is out for obvious reasons. The car will probably be either a 350Z, G35 coupe or the new Mustang. So with the choice of cars my colour choice would be like this:



Yellow(Mustang)

Gray(all)

Blue(all)

Red (all)

Burgandy(Mustang)

Dark Green(Mustang)

Burnt Orange(350Z)



Now for those of you who are bored can you indulge me by ranking from best to worst the cars that better hide swirl marks, marring, spider webs, scratches etc....



My last 2 cars were silver so I can't go by previous experience. I would think yellow and gray would be best but I want your opinions. This car would not see winter and be garaged most of the time and would be waxed regularly. Your opinion really matters because I will probably be basing my decision on your input and this is my midlife crises car so I don't want to get a colour I'm going to regret.:doh
 
I would go with Dark Shadow Grey (dark graphite) or Red on the stang. Yellow and burgundy looks disgusting IMHO and the blue is just about black so you will get lots of swirls. You better shop quick on the stang, so you have your choice of colors, they are no longer shipping new ones out to dealers.



I like the cobalt blue on the Z's
 
that Burnt Orange on the 350Z is one of the greatest colors evarr!!

so nice...

plus i think it would hide dirt like silver would, and light enough when clean to hide imperfections.



-Chad.
 
Anything metallic is easier to maintain in my book. My green metallic truck looks really nice with just a coat of wax, where as the black Trans Am really needs attention. For my next daily driver I'm definately going with a dark gray metallic. It looks so sharp, but the metallic makes swirl marks so much harder to see than black or red.
 
Dan,



If you're going to stck with Klasse as your sealant, then go with blue. Klasse looks incredible on blue. No doubt about it! I think swirls would be equally visible on all colours you have mentioned. Anything dark, metallic or not, will show swirls. Silver is in a league of it's own when it comes to swirl hiding. No other colour can match it, IMHO.



Bill.
 
Bill, I'll probably experiment with carnaubas mainly (SG will get a try for sure at the very least as a base) because I won't be particularly concerned with durability as I would be waxing monthly or so. I'm so tempted to go with silver as it looks great on almost every car and almost trouble free but I figure I need a contrast in the driveway). You did mention something awhile back somewhere about SG\green not being a good combo. What didn't appeal to you about it as opposed to blue.



I thought this might turn into a colour popularity contest. I value your opinions on that as well as the maintenance comments. Keep it coming Autopians.
 
Clear coated silver metallic



I used to take care of a very authentic A.C. Cobra for a gentleman that builds A.C. Cobra replicas. I buffed his black Cobra out about every 6 months or more often for about 6 years.



(He loved having a show car finish, but he thrashed is Cobra)



After paying me about the 5th or 6th time to remove the scratches and restore the finish, he asked me what color to paint his car that the scratches wouldn't show up so he wouldn't have to have a private detailer on his payroll. (Cary had absolutely no talent to touch his own finish, sorry Cary).



I told him silver metallic.



Mike
 
Grey, silver or tan. All the color of dirt so even when your car is dirty it won't look bad. Plus, any scratches won't be as noticable.
 
Scottwax said:
Grey, silver or tan. All the color of dirt so even when your car is dirty it won't look bad. Plus, any scratches won't be as noticable.



I think that's a paint chip color code...



Dirt Color 4778659DP



:D :D :D



MIke
 
Burgundy looks disgusting? I disagree ;)



Lexdet1.jpg




Lexdet4.jpg




I think that the right shade of burgundy can be one of the best looking colors on a car.



I agree with the idea that anything metallic helps to hide swirls. My dad's LS is a color called Flint Mica which is a dark dark grey with all kinds of weird color specks. Good and dark but the pearl and metallic hides marrs. Even metallic black helps. I take care of a new BMW 530i with black paint that has a very slight metallic to it that even helps a lot.
 
A medium blue metallic. The color will still pop when you do it right, but will hide dirt like a silver to a degree. I'm also fond of the silvery greens which are out of fashion at the time.
 
I would get the color that you think really looks good on the model of car that decide to buy, and not worry about swirls showing. The car won't see winter, and will obviously be very well cared for. Just try to avoid any damage, and deal with if needed. For a daily driver/winter car this would be more of a concern, but for a "mid-life crisis car" get what you really want and take good care of it.
 
I agree with Steve. Not a daily driver, not seeing winter, probably not even seeing rain?!?!?!?!



JET BLACK!!!!! NO QUESTION!!!!
 
The blue 350Z is quite a thing to look at. I often spot one coming the other way on the interstate from a couple of miles away and that color just stands out. Then it's a long eager wait trying to figure out what car it is (is it a Porsche or BMW, nah they don't have that color...). By the time it passes by, I am in awe of just how it commandeered my attention. Get that and Klasse it. Bill North rocks!
 
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