Am I nuts to want a black one?

[The Electric Me]

You might check out The Prius Drive Through Videos. They have chosen a Black Prius. Will give you a good idea how it will look with useage and no cleaning.

[DianneWhitmire]

You are nuts to get a black car, based on how you describe yourselves.

Nuts.

My last black car was... well, MY last black car! And, I work where we wash our buyers cars for free, mine too, and I still wouldn't get one!

[Jon S]

black is high maintenance... when taken care, it looks awesome... but it shows every single swirl, scratch, flaw or dust particle. You need to use a very good wax to maintain it's looks. do NOT use wax/cleaners unless necessary. plus you HAVE to wash the car in a shady area, otherwise the soap/water dries and leaves waterspots or the car waxes will leave streaks...

I am still waiting for my Prius IV (and it ain't black!!!)...

[Salsawonder]

Originally Posted by john1701a

My 2010 Prius is both.

The silver body looks clean all throughout the summer, even if it is dirty.

The black glass roof almost always looks dirty... from up close, where every spot & streak is quite obvious. Fortunately, from a distance it still looks pretty nice.
.

I agree with John. I had a beautiful black Tacoma extra cab 2001, never clean, minutes after you washed it it was dusty. I think that dings also show less on the lighter colors. I don't mind rinsing mine off now and again.

[stream]

Originally Posted by Dondoh

Are we nuts to get a black car?

In a word--yes.

Black is the most high maintenance color. It looks great right after detailing...for a few minutes. Then every bit of dust, dirt, fingerprint, etc. shows--and it shows all the swirl marks.

I had a medium gray BMW (anthracite gray) 10 years ago and it actually wasn't bad at all. I haven't seen the new Prius gray in person to see how dark it is, but it will certainly be better than black.

You may want to do yourselves a favor, and get a sliver car.

[32kcolors]

Life's too short. Just get the color you like.

[The Electric Me]

Wow, I'm begining to doubt my own sanity. My black truck didn't seem all that difficult to keep looking good most of the time. Of course I did keep it waxed and maybe it has to do with the rain in Oregon? A good hard rain was often like a self cleaning.

It was years ago, maybe I just have forgotten how hard it was to keep clean? Damn, now I leaning towards Gray. I just can't go with White or Silver or Red or Blue for that matter.

[qbee42]

I have a black 2006, and it still looks great. I'm not the fussiest of people about car washing, but having a black car has prompted me to wash it a bit more often, maybe even as much as three times a summer.

Get what you like and stop worrying.

Tom

[dmvp]

Originally Posted by Dondoh

My wife and I, after an exhaustive process, have decided to get a Prius II.
The colors we like are black or possibly gray.

Here's the thing...
We've never owned a black car.
My wife has never put a sponge on a car in her life.
I wash the cars in a spray bay carwash (with the pressure washing wand thingy) every once in a while -- well to be honest, very rarely.

Are we nuts to get a black car? And if so would gray be much better?
I suspect I may not care if the car looks terrific, just as I don't care if my current maroon Ford truck looks good.

Am I wrong? Will black force me into a life of car-washing drudgery?

You're only nuts if you think the black will stay clean. If you don't care if your car is dirty looking then you should get whatever color you want to get.

I think the Winter Gray would be a little bit better at hiding dirt, etc. It's got a bit of a blue tint to it.

If you want your car to look clean at all times, and you get a black one, then yes...it will force you into a life of car-washing drudgery.

[Dondoh]

I love this site. Post a simple question, get a pile of reasonable responses.
Thanks to all.
Really.
After reviewing all the arguments... it's lookin' like Winter Gray here in NC...