is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

[davey g-force]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

At some point, you find a practical balance between what is realistically achievable, how much work you’re willing to put into it, and what level of quality is acceptable to you.

^^Well said!

Nothing owns you like a black vehicle and nothing gives you more satisfaction than seeing it glisten in the sun...it's the epitome of the love hate relationship....

^^Couldn't agree more!

So many wise words said about black cars here. I put a LOT of effort and care into the appearance of my black dd and as much as I strive for perfection, I'd say it's consistently at 90%-95%.

...Mind you, it looks better than 90% of the dd's and 99% of the black dd's out there, and that itself is extremely satisfying.

[chtorr]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

I don't think perfection is possible for a daily driver. I do think a good compromise though is to follow the excellent article in the "sticky" section at the top of the page which gives a wash and wax regimen for daily drivers. I've settled on paint cleaning and waxing every two months with washes every one to two weeks. That is doable for someone who's fairly busy and will keep your vehicle looking better than 90% of other cars on the road. But perfection? No. Something you can still be proud of? Yes.

[sixty7mustang22]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

Trying for perfection will only make you INSANE!!!!!!

Exactly. I use to be that way. I strived for perfection and was always disapointed. Never happy. then, I got married and I started caring less. THEN, I had a baby. I realized that trying to have a perfect daily with a family is impossible. I do keep my vehicle well maintained, but I don't strive for perfection anymore. If I did, I would go insane.

[3Fitty]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

Call it the lawyer in me but the first step would be to define "perfect". Dictionary.com give the following, in part:

1.	conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.

2.	excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.

3.	exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.

4.	entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.

5.	accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.

6.	thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.

7.	pure or unmixed: perfect yellow.

8.	unqualified; absolute: He has perfect control over his followers.

9.	expert; accomplished; proficient.

10.	unmitigated; out-and-out; of an extreme degree: He made a perfect fool of himself.

So, depending on how YOU define "pefect", I suppose anything is possible, but the I define "perfect", I think I'd have to agree with The Other PC.

[Wheelman]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

You only drive to your neighbours house and back right?

Since mine is fairly new, so far so good. But I know one day, the swirls will be there. 3 months free and counting!

[mongo]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

Perfect no but perfect to to you in a usable applation of methods and products to produce said accomplishments.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

I strive for perfection and I hit around 90%. For me all the work I put into it is a labor of love. My family and neighbors think I'm nuts.

Blueline is right, a black car owns you.

The first time I read Al's signature line above, I thought he was losing it. Now I just nod my head and say to myself "so true, so true."

Mike

Really? Cuz I thought I spied a tiny, light scratch on your Camry at the last TNOG...

To answer the question, the level of perfection is inherent to your level of perception. If you were to perfectly polish your car in a hermetically sealed clean room where no contaminant could exist - the moment you drove out onto the street, your finish is already being marred by tiny pollutants and abrasive airborne elements that we cannot avoid. But at what level could you detect the imperfections? And at what level would they begin to bother you?

I drive a navy blue sedan that was polished 6 months ago and while the finish could now use a light touch up polishing, the paint imperfections are not yet at a level that it bothers me aesthetically. Remember, there will be a constant balance between perfection verses what is best for your paint.

[the_invisible]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

On the topic of perfection, I see that many people place their emphasis on their paint, but very little on their chassis maintenance and the mechanical aspects of their cars.

What's the point of having a perfect paint surface when the car's chassis is rusted.
What's the point of driving a clean car when the suspension is not being taken care of by the driver going over speed bumps at 30km/h.

I live in one of the cleaner cities in North America, so I am able to maintain my car at meticulous condition between polishes. I can get away with longer polish intervals than people living in California.

In the philosophical viewpoint, one must understand the reality of paint works. Despite having a clean swirl free surface, your paint job is far from "perfect". It may be perfect in terms of appearance. Every time you clean and polish the surface of your paint, you are shaving away a thin layer of clear coat from your paint, creating an optical illusion that your paint is in good condition. In reality, you are not improving the condition of the clear coat, you are only making it look better by possibly taking life away from it. Philosophically, by cleaning and polishing a paint surface, you are moving away from perfection.

I know I may have used the word "perfect" to describe the condition of my black daily driver. That was not correct. It may look like it is in perfect condition, but in reality its paint condition is far from perfect. By cleaning and polishing my car, I am only creating an optical illusion of making it look perfect.

[spyghost]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a "swirl free" daily driven black car?

maybe there is has been a bit of confusion on the "technical definition of perfect."

let me reword it to a more realistic one... "swirl free" i hope this helps...

is it really possible to maintain a "swirl free" daily driven black car?

i agree about what has been previously said about taking some of the clear coat away to level out the swirls, light scratches and other clear coat deformities...

next question now comes...

will the clear coat eventually be gone due to detailing? what i mean is repeated cycles of clay, cleaner and polish?

[TKDDAD]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a "swirl free" daily driven black car?

maybe there is has been a bit of confusion on the "technical definition of perfect."

let me reword it to a more realistic one... "swirl free" i hope this helps...

is it really possible to maintain a "swirl free" daily driven black car?

i agree about what has been previously said about taking some of the clear coat away to level out the swirls, light scratches and other clear coat deformities...

next question now comes...

will the clear coat eventually be gone due to detailing? what i mean is repeated cycles of clay, cleaner and polish?

Based soley on my experience with Meguiars products, YES. I have a black 2007 Sonata. 15,000 swirl free miles...clay, #80, NXT2.0 twice a year; once in Spring and just before winter..in between, wash with Gold Class, two bucket method, MF mitt. Waffle towels to dry. Quik Detail inbetween washes and Quik Wax once a month. ALL with Supreme Shine MF...During the winter, only touchless wash bays to get most of the salt off...when I can, I use a hose hooked up to the faucet inside the house to run warm water outside..only when it's dry and above freezing...
Can you remove clear coat ??...gosh, I hope I don't own the car that long...I think you'd really have to try...use Ultimate compound every day or something crazy like that...

So, the short answer is Yes...but it takes effort..like anything else worth doing......

[xsuki000]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

there is nothing more i regret than getting a black car. It is impossible to keep clean. I get dust on it within seconds of washing it.

[Blueline]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

there is nothing more i regret than getting a black car. It is impossible to keep clean. I get dust on it within seconds of washing it.

I agree, but doesn't it look absolutely fantastic for those first few seconds?
My next car will not be black, but silver like my Father's. He washes it with dish soap and dries it off with an old windshield wiper blade, and it seems to shine as well as mine. I am sure close up it probably has swirls, scratches, paint chips, etc. but totally unnoticeable unless one really is looking for imperfections. He goes golfing on Saturdays..I wash and detail. Dad owns a silver car, a black car owns me.

[SVT Lightning]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

there is nothing more i regret than getting a black car. It is impossible to keep clean. I get dust on it within seconds of washing it.

I think just the opposite......nothing beats the look of a Black car freshly detailed. And besides, the dust is only noticeable up close! Black looks great from 20 feet away....even when it is dirty. Polished Black paint still keeps it's depth and gloss. On the other hand, it also looks the WORST when it is not kept almost defect free.

[thescreensavers]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

I try to wash my car weekly and wax it every 2 months. I polished it back in June and its still pretty good.

I drive 62 miles back and forth to and from school, and while at school its in the sun and exposed to the elements, at my house its in the garage.

[indigo s10]

Re: is it really possible to maintain a perfect daily driven black car?

Perfect, no. Looking excellent, definately. I have an 05 Z71 that is not only daily driven, and stored outside(no garage or carport0 but I like outdoors sports(fishing, hunting, atv's) also. Here's the worst vs. the best for my truck.
Worst

winter

clean