Paint scratches ridiculously easy on black truck

Not for my Tacoma (I don't baby my trucks) but my wife bought a new BMW X1 this year and unlike SE Toyota we actually had the option of whether to have them apply the Simonize coating for $800. I did a lot of reading on it and decided to go a different direction not for the cost but because there were better options for the money. I researched the detailers in my area and found the one rated the best (the guy who everyone takes their Ferraris, Porsches, and Teslas to). The first thing he asked was what color it was, and his first response was "thank God its not black."

 

So... Is that mean coating wouldnt help much?

 

No, coating can help a lot. it means two things:

1.Before applying the coating there is a lot more paint correction (which is a fancy term for removing all the surface imperfections) to do because even the slightest swirl marks are going to show up on the black paint. Detailers hate black cars because there is so much work involved in getting them to look right.
2.To keep any car in optimum condition you need to hand wash using the right techniques and products to keep from marking the surface, but for BLACK cars it is even more critical to baby the surface. The ceramic coatings are much harder than just wax and resist scratches, but are nothing is completely scratch proof, especially if you wash it wrong and introduce micro scratches yourself.

Black is always going to show any imperfections more than other colors and takes more work. The reflective properties that make black look so beautiful when perfect are the same properties that make any imperfection more obvious.

 

Thanks! I guess Im spending that 1K on ceramic coating!jk
no, not kidding.... actually it is 1K im spending... In fact they usually costs 2K normally.lmao
I bet its much cheaper in the states

 

Man I am really about to do the same thing. If I can find a Quicksand OR Manual trans with p & t I'm trading. I have owned black cars before that the paint held up better then this, one was a trail jeep. This black paint just sucks.

 

Everyone needs to buy a black car in their lives, so they stop buying black cars in the future...we don't listen to reason or others. We just have to learn by doing. It's a stupid human thing...

 

You guys have inspired me, I am going to wash my truck this morning and wax the shit out of it

 

Done mine Thursday and put a coat of paint sealant on it for the winter.

 

Yeah bro I feel you. I felt the same way.. I'd take a loss.. Atleast I would be happy in the end

 

I investigated it. They quoted me $2500, which included color correction. Not in my budget.

 

You will hear varying quotes from the hundreds to several thousand. My detailer does opti-coat 2.0 for around $600 including paint correction. He does a higher level of Optimum branded coating that runs around $1500. The material is more expensive but the labor is also higher. You can get into double that amount for some types of coatings that require multiple applications and have higher materials cost.

 

Did they tell you what type of ceramic coating they were using? Did they offer any options? I have certainly seen some situation and coatings where this type of cost was justified, but there are also many sub-$1000 solutions.

 

I got a glass type coating on my truck at a detail shop after I picked mine up. 10 months later still is glossy and water just beads off of it. Cost me 500

 

I washed/waxed it this morning, I can still see swirls/scratches up close but honestly I don't care. As long as the paint "integrity" holds up over
time and I don't get that oxidation mess you see with toyotas and Hondas I am happy

 

Amen Brother I'm with you!

 

Modesta BC-04

 

I guess you are right about that.LMAO

 

That is a very high end coating that is normally applied to luxury vehicles. The material cost is a bit more and because it is thicker it is more difficult to apply, which drives up the labor cost. Also if he has to do a lot of paint correction that will add to the labor. I've not seen it in person but the pictures that I have seen of it applied are amazing.

That being said, it is not the option that I would choose for a truck.

 

Well... Good... What would you recommend?

I am only aware of one small area that needs correction - it had a scuff near the driver's door handle when I bought it new in late July.

 

Just me but I would not spend thousands on paint correction and ceramic coating. No matter how careful you are with the finish and how much you baby it you are going to be fighting a losing battle with black. I would keep it cleaned, polished and waxed for as long as possible and as much as possible and spend the thousands later when it needs a new paint finish. I love my Black and I work hard at keeping it looking good even with my OCD trait but I can except some micro scratches along as it's clean, polished and waxed cruising down the road. No regrets. $.02