Graphite Colour Paint

[kesawi]

We're looking at a new car for my partner and our two colour options are either Graphite or Silver. She likes graphite as it looks better (which I agree with), but we suspect silver will hide dirt and swirls based on experience with my current car. Being a daily drive, the car will not be getting regular attention.

I'd appreciate some feedback on experience with graphite paint colour that anyone can offer. Does it also get warm like black vehicles?

[Kornercarver]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

I have a Silverstone 350Z. I think it would be similar to your "graphite" color. I haven't had any problems with swirling or the car looking "dirty". Here is a picture:



It gets warm but I don't think it gets as hot as black. Of course, the color might not be as dark as the graphite you are describing.

[Andrew C.]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

To be honest I think that graphite would hide dirt better because it is darker than the silver and so dirt blends in better. I have a graphite color truck and dirt barely shows up on it when it gets somewhat dirty and swirls are not very noticeable. Go with graphite (it doesn't get hot like black)

[William_F]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

My PT Cruiser is graphite. It seems to be a nice balance between being able to get the deep wet reelcetions of a very drak color, but it doesn't show dirt and swirls nearly as bad.

As for heat, I live in Texas where the summers can be brutal and I haven't had much trouble with the interior getting excessively hot. Of course, I have dark tint and a sun shade to help out. I think the tint is what makes the difference. My wife's truck is white, and untinted and I swear my car stays cooler inside.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

I also have a graphite, or battleship grey Nissan. I find that the color is great to eork with. Does not show much dirt, and gives good looks when cleaned up. I would go with the darker Grey.

[tcope1]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

I think my truck might be more of a graphite color then silver. Both colors are _very_ good. Both will probably have some flake in them. I find that this metallic flake makes it very difficult to see any small scratches on the paint. The graphic is going to be a little darker so it will show some more depth then silver. Personally I'd pick a color I liked for the looks more so then for what shows scratches.

[kesawi]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

The vehicle we're looking at is a little darker than what you've both shown. An example in graphite is at the following site:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=150774.msg3234493#msg3234493

The paint is labelled as a mica rather than metallic, but it does seem to have the same reflective flakes as a metallic. Couldn't see too many swirls on the car we had a look at in the dealer's lot, but then this dealer gets his demo stock professionally detailed regularly.

Probably will go with graphite for how it looks.

[tcope1]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

but then this dealer gets his demo stock professionally detailed regularly.

Huh oh....

[kesawi]

Re: Graphite Colour Paint

Huh oh....

When I was browsing at the yard, there was a mobile detailer working on one of the vehicles that had just come into stock for display in the yard. It was hard to find a swirl on anything there.