Car Thread

[robert.]

Is yours black? I have a 1995 Cobra in black. That car was beautiful for the first 2 days. From then on i could not keep it clean. Clean water made it look dirty.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Is yours black? I have a 1995 Cobra in black. That car was beautiful for the first 2 days. From then on i could not keep it clean. Clean water made it look dirty.

Interesting and something I always wondered about - similar problems with the all white car my wife used to own, now daughter's car -- seems impossible to keep clean.

[E7]

Black is bad, white is worse by far (I have owned both). Silver is the best for hiding dirt, for you guys who wash them every six years whether they need it or not!

[HONDO74]

I was typing a reply to this when a Tornado hit just south of where I live at just before 7pm. It took out a bunch of power poles and telephone lines. Just one of the perils of living in tornado alley. Just got the electric back on about 20 minutes ago. Phones are still out...

The first black car I owned was a 59 Chevy Impala. I swore that I would never own another one.

If you washed the car and tried to wipe it dry it looked like crap.I went through gallons of turtle wax liquid. Basically had to wax it every time I washed it so it looked descent.

And yes the Shelby is BLACK. But it does have silver strips.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

I prefer black cars. My wife and I have two, at present, a Benz GL and an E-class sedan. Both are black, inside and outside.

I am not sure why, but all I have to do to keep them clean is put them out in the rain. A good storm will clean everything off and leave nothing spotty, when I let them drip-dry in the garage. This seems especially true of the 2018 GL, acquired last November, which is the one I use personally and is the one we go out in the most often.

My theory is that the GL, like the ML I had previously, seems to have some kind of "coating" over the entire car which makes it so easily kept nice. For example, our pastor, who goes out in it every Sunday with us, is given to commenting on how clean it always looks. He is under the impression that I spend considerable time washing it. I have not washed it once since driving it out of the dealership last November.

When I had the ML, the only time I had to wash it was during trips Upstate NY for recreational travel on that dirt-road, Brakehill Road, I've mentioned previously. On those occasions, the ML would get completely covered in dust. After such a romp, I'd take it directly to a drive-in-and-wash-it-yourself carwash, into one of those open-ended stalls, requiring a handful of quarters to operate a hose. Standing back a bit, a good blast from that jet-nozzle sprayer was all that was needed, except for the wheels which required me to swab them down and rinse them. By the time I finished with the wheels, I was always able to dry the entire vehicle with a couple towels, giving special attention to the windows, of course. The whole procedure didn't seem to take even one hour, perhaps.

Of course, when the GL and the E go in for servicing, the dealership washes them nicely.

That is how I keep my black Benz vehicles clean and shiny. As I said, the GL, in particular, seems to be coated with something, or perhaps it is the paint quality itself which requires no washing by-hand by me, and that is the main reason I absolutely will not take it into an automatic carwash, for fear it would abuse the shine.

That's my black car story.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I am not sure why, but all I have to do to keep them clean is put them out in the rain. A good storm will clean everything off and leave nothing spotty, when I let them drip-dry in the garage.

NJ rain is highly acidic and corrosive.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Hhmmm, never considered that. What is its relevance to my customary way of cleaning our black cars

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hhmmm, never considered that. What is its relevance to my customary way of cleaning our black cars

When it rains, go check the pH of the water?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Hhmmm, never considered that. What is its relevance to my customary way of cleaning our black cars

When it rains, go check the pH of the water?

OK. I'll run right out. Does it matter if it's lightninging?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Hhmmm, never considered that. What is its relevance to my customary way of cleaning our black cars

When it rains, go check the pH of the water?

OK. I'll run right out. Does it matter if it's lightninging?

To whom? To you want to or not get electrocuted by the lightning........the lightning is probably indifferent.

Wait. You actually have a pH meter?

[MurphOnMillerAve]

[up148]

Absolute bear to keep clean. Never wash in sunshine. We have well only and full of minerals....never seen any other water spot a car so bad.

BH

[sleepmac]

BH, beautiful!

Dan Weinhold
Lancaster, PA

[up148]

Thank you! The learning curve has been steep and expensive. Not exactly like dealing in trains.

BH

[HONDO74]

UP148
We need more pictures and details on the Vette. What year, engine, tranny and anything else.