At the end of this week I will probably be ordering a Buick Regal GS. At this point the only option I am not sure about is the color. The three options I am considering are Smoky Gray Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, and White Diamond Tricoat. Does anyone have any experience with any of these GM paints? I am looking for some feedback so please give me your opinion.
Help me choose a paint color
- Thread starter Goldfever
- Start date
Accumulator
Well-known member
Goldfever- IIRC, that Carbon Black Metallic is the same as the Granite Metallic I had on the Yukon. While kinda cool looking, I found that paint to be the biggest PIA of any I've ever had, and that includes "straight" blacks! Hard to spot marring when working on it, but that "can't see it" marring shows up when you think it's all finished. The metallic "hid" marring only at the wrong times.
Light flaws were simply *awful* to see; e.g., it took two of us, working hard at just the right time of day, to spot super-light holograms. And some "seriously corrected" areas looked just a *little* different in certain light, sorta like "is it a little more metallic there now or not, I can't quite tell...".
All in all, my least favorite paint to live with, ever. On of the big reasons why I sold it was the hassle of keeping it perfect, and if it weren't perfect I just couldn't stand how it looked.
That Tri-coat White would probably be impossible to touch up.
Of the three, I'd go with the Smoky Gray Metallic.
Light flaws were simply *awful* to see; e.g., it took two of us, working hard at just the right time of day, to spot super-light holograms. And some "seriously corrected" areas looked just a *little* different in certain light, sorta like "is it a little more metallic there now or not, I can't quite tell...".
All in all, my least favorite paint to live with, ever. On of the big reasons why I sold it was the hassle of keeping it perfect, and if it weren't perfect I just couldn't stand how it looked.
That Tri-coat White would probably be impossible to touch up.
Of the three, I'd go with the Smoky Gray Metallic.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
It is pretty much up to you.
When ever I chose a color I took into consideration a few things regarding the enviorment in which the vehicle was going to spend most of it's time.
When I lived in SoCal, usually went with a dark color, usually black.
Same when I lived in Cincinnati, urban enviorment, no dirt or gravel roads, etc.
I also had my Tech Center with it's training bays, so I could easily wash it, or the plus of having our ValuGard Auto Processing Center and could just have them walk over, get the car, take it over to that facility and wash it.
Now that I am retired and live in a more rual area, lots of friends live in the country, went to a silver color scheme.
Reason was simple, doesn't show the dust, rock chips don't show as easily, etc.
Next one will be some tone of white.
Easy to touch up and shows even less of the dust, etc.
No desire to be washing the vehicle everyday either.
Grumpy
When ever I chose a color I took into consideration a few things regarding the enviorment in which the vehicle was going to spend most of it's time.
When I lived in SoCal, usually went with a dark color, usually black.
Same when I lived in Cincinnati, urban enviorment, no dirt or gravel roads, etc.
I also had my Tech Center with it's training bays, so I could easily wash it, or the plus of having our ValuGard Auto Processing Center and could just have them walk over, get the car, take it over to that facility and wash it.
Now that I am retired and live in a more rual area, lots of friends live in the country, went to a silver color scheme.
Reason was simple, doesn't show the dust, rock chips don't show as easily, etc.
Next one will be some tone of white.
Easy to touch up and shows even less of the dust, etc.
No desire to be washing the vehicle everyday either.
Grumpy
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham- Any idea why the paint on my Yukon ('04) was "sticky" in the sense that it was incredibly tough to remove polishing oils? I mean...IPA, PrepWash, you name it I struggled with it! Simply drove me crazy. And no, not any repainted areas, 100% OE.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Not really, so many variables.
Things happen in an assembly plants paint kitchen that it's hard to pin-point unless you are there, and can take a hard look at some data from that day's production.
Have seen a similar condition on some Ford products in the late 90's.
Was due to the floor supervisor getting ready to retire and for that last week the bake oven for the clear was operating about 20F less than required, he didn't care, was drunk every afternoon after "lunch".
If he was to have made the correction, he would have had to shut down the line, which is a real bear, and do a lot of paperwork, so just let it go.
Result, about 1,400 vehicles went out to dealers and the resulting warranty costs were huge.
Was called in on another issue at another manufactuer's paint kitchen, seems the that sort of the same thing happened, but this time was due to the vehicles getting only one pass of the clear, rather than the two required.
That went on for two weeks, the guy had done his 30 years, sat in front of the control panel for the atomizing bells that applied the clear, didn't care, was drunk, came back from lunch, put his feet up and took a nap, for two weeks.
Tim caught what was going on one day, and when I looked at the clear consumption usage, the numbers told the tale.
People are the weakess link in any modern production plant these days, just like a 100 years ago.
Grumpy
Things happen in an assembly plants paint kitchen that it's hard to pin-point unless you are there, and can take a hard look at some data from that day's production.
Have seen a similar condition on some Ford products in the late 90's.
Was due to the floor supervisor getting ready to retire and for that last week the bake oven for the clear was operating about 20F less than required, he didn't care, was drunk every afternoon after "lunch".
If he was to have made the correction, he would have had to shut down the line, which is a real bear, and do a lot of paperwork, so just let it go.
Result, about 1,400 vehicles went out to dealers and the resulting warranty costs were huge.
Was called in on another issue at another manufactuer's paint kitchen, seems the that sort of the same thing happened, but this time was due to the vehicles getting only one pass of the clear, rather than the two required.
That went on for two weeks, the guy had done his 30 years, sat in front of the control panel for the atomizing bells that applied the clear, didn't care, was drunk, came back from lunch, put his feet up and took a nap, for two weeks.
Tim caught what was going on one day, and when I looked at the clear consumption usage, the numbers told the tale.
People are the weakess link in any modern production plant these days, just like a 100 years ago.
Grumpy
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ron Ketcham said:
Well, it's always worth asking
That vehicle had nice thick/hard/otherwise normal paint, but sheesh the way it soaked up oils!
And I hear you on how silver and white can stay nice without constant upkeep. Funny, but my white Crown Vic (LSP is FK1000P) hardly ever needs washed, woulda expected dirt to really show on it, but nope. And most of the time when it is dirty, a good hard rain gets it looking OK.
Ron Ketcham
Active member
My partner in Grumpy's Garage has a 2006 Dodge Charger, metallic red.
He was complaining about it always looked dirty, etc. Doesn't drive it much, mostly just sets in his driveway. (was in the hands of his ex-wife until the settlement was hammered out)
So, about 15 months ago we detailed it out and I applied the ValuGard paint sealant (same as we make for Chrysler's Master Shield, one time Saturn,) etc.
A year and half later he is still raving about how everytime it rains, the car is "clean", etc.
Told him the other day that it will continue to do so for a few months or longer, since he doesn't subject it to the harsh cleaners of the "wave a wand" or drive through carwashes.
Also told him we should apply another coat before the snow starts to blow and all the mag cloride hits the road.
FK1000P is great for supplying the same "basic' long term protection, just harder to work with and is basically good for 6 months to a year on average.
Grumpy
He was complaining about it always looked dirty, etc. Doesn't drive it much, mostly just sets in his driveway. (was in the hands of his ex-wife until the settlement was hammered out)
So, about 15 months ago we detailed it out and I applied the ValuGard paint sealant (same as we make for Chrysler's Master Shield, one time Saturn,) etc.
A year and half later he is still raving about how everytime it rains, the car is "clean", etc.
Told him the other day that it will continue to do so for a few months or longer, since he doesn't subject it to the harsh cleaners of the "wave a wand" or drive through carwashes.
Also told him we should apply another coat before the snow starts to blow and all the mag cloride hits the road.
FK1000P is great for supplying the same "basic' long term protection, just harder to work with and is basically good for 6 months to a year on average.
Grumpy
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
Accumulator said:
I think the Black Granite Metallic they're now using is a bit different than what you would have had on an '04. Don't quote me on this, but I seem to remember it being a new shade that debuted in '07.
Not as bad as you might expect... Cadillacs have been using White Diamond for years and it's less than terrible to touch up IME.
I agree with you -- for the lines of that car, the Smoky Gray looks best out of the ones they offer. If I had my druthers (and if GM would come to their senses and broaden the color palette offerings) though, I'd have Crystal Red:
C. Charles Hahn
CCH Auto Appearance, LLC
Goldfever said:
Do any dealers near you have a GS on the ground yet? I was looking earlier and the closest ones to me are 40+ miles away so far. I've been anxious to get my hands on one for a test drive.
smfrycruzr
New member
I vote white
dschribs
Active member
Sweet car. After checking out some pics on line, from a pure visual perspective, the smoky gray metallic is hard to beat.
Dan
Well-known member
Ron said:
Is the master shield the same as this stuff:
http://www.valugard.net/store/p-23-one-step-polish-sealant.aspx
Ron Ketcham
Active member
Same product, just private label for Chrysler.
Not available to individuals, dealers only.
Unless they changed their policy.
At one time, they would sell a case of the ValuGard sealant to detailers, but there are issues to address regarding the warranty aspect.
Grumpy
Not available to individuals, dealers only.
Unless they changed their policy.
At one time, they would sell a case of the ValuGard sealant to detailers, but there are issues to address regarding the warranty aspect.
Grumpy
lostdaytomorrow
New member
Awesome choice, you will love it when it's time popping. It will turn a lot of heads being well polished and lsped.