2010 Black prone to scratches?

I also own a Black V. The only thing I will ever use on my car is Meguiars Swirl X....I promise you that nothing works better for removing swirl marks and fine scratches...My car is like a mirror.

 

Use MEGUIARS SWIRL X......It does wonders

 

I own a black car now, and I've owned black colored vehicles in the past.

I hate it when people say, "Black get's dirtier".

No, a black vehicle doesn't get dirtier in any enviroment than a differently colored counterpart. It just "shows" the dirt easier. One thing about a black vehicle? When it looks clean? It's REALLY clean. You wash a black vehicle...you'll know it if you miss a spot.

As far as Toyota Prius "Black"? I would guess it comes with all the drawbacks of any Black colored vehicle. But I don't see where the clear coat, which is the top layer surface above the paint, would be any different than the clear coat on any other color. So my guess is it's not that black is chipping or scratching in any given situation MORE than another color would chip or scratch, only that it shows those swirls and scratches and chips more readily.

I like the look of a clean well kept black vehicle. And I admit I enjoy the whole upkeep process...usually I find washing and waxing relaxing and actually enjoy it. But if you own black...you just have to pay the price, which means imperfections will become visible more readily.

As I become older, I think my next vehicle will probably NOT be black. I love the color but it does take more dedication to maintain a clean look.

 

You're still living with the same paint except it's not black to make those scratches obvious. They all have a special scratch resistant paint that makes polishing to remove scratches extra difficult.

The only thing that would really bother me is swirl marks but I keep them at bay by using proper washing techniques and Zaino Z5. A previous poster mentioned using Meguiars Swirl X. I was checking out some Lexus at a Toyota/Lexus dealer while my car was being serviced and was shocked at how much swirl marks were on brand new, never sold black cars (due to improper washing/prep techniques).

The black Prius IS clear-coated.

 

I have my 1 year service coming up in a couple of weeks, I am going to ask the dealer to have a look at the car and see if they have any suggestions. I love the car but these scratches bother me...

 

Black isn't just a color choice, it is a part time job.

Some good points in this thread.

Not all black paint is exactly the same, so comparing a black Prius, to a black BMW for example is oranges and tangerines. Black paints have varying degrees and colors of metal flake, etc. So it is a different color of black. Some show scratches more than others. Want to feel like your Prius is easy to care for? Try a flat black car for a while.

Softer paints will scratch easier. It is true that some are much softer than others. My 2009 Subaru Forester has some of the softest paint I have had on a car.

 

One thing nobody has touched on, is that the car is polished and waxed at the dealer before delivery. Usually...the dealer royaly screws up the paint when they do this, but they use thick filling glazes that hide imperfections before they deliver the car to you.

As you wash the car, the glazes wear away exposing the surface marring underneath. Makes it seem like something is scratching the car when in reality, the make up over the scratches the dealer put there is simply wearing away...

 

Great point.

I always tell the dealer to not wash or detail my new cars when I take delivery. And to not wash my car when it's in for service (I also put a "do not wash car" sign on the dash).

Anybody who's ever seen the dirty rags and buckets of dirty water the car wash guys use knows why.

 

So do I...

 

I also don't let the dealer wash my cars. It just creates more work for me if they do.

 

They're just going to laugh at you as you have a black car. You can minimize them yourself by using Meguiars Swirl X as another poster suggested and at least three coats of Zaino Z5 Pro. I don't recommend using a glaze as it won't last at all and, as SW03ES said, if your dealer just corrects the problem by using a glaze the scratches will come right back after you wash the car.

 

Yeah don't let the dealer "correct" the problem, they'll just ultimately make it worse.

When you have black and want it to look great you MUST learn the proper technique for washing, and you MUST use good soaps, towels, and sponges etc. No carwashes.

 

True. My dealership has a "Courtesy Wash" with any service. I always specifically state...No Thanks...Do Not Wash It.

With a Black vehicle? I don't want anyone to blame but myself.

 

My 2G Magnetic Gray was a scratch magnet. Most of the short hairline scratches was on the front fender behind the VentureShield plastic. When I carpooled the cup behind the door handle the passenger used also got heavily scratched. White primer & dark colors make it look worse. The silver on my 3G doesn't have these scratches. The cup's were eliminated because I no longer carpool & had VentureShield placed in the cups.

 

Actually, it probably has the same amount of surface damage, it's just that metallic silver does a great job of not showing it.

 

I had a little black Honda Civic Si (1994 - 1997) and it had some kind of coating added to it as an aftermarket thing (I had it done but forget what it was exactly). Anyway, aside from being a black car and showing dirt faster, it washed beautifully and didn't show scratches in the time I had it. It was eventually totaled in a 5 car pileup on the freeway (someone else's fault), but I wonder what the paint was on that vehicle because it held up well in the 5 years I had the car.

 

Sounds like your car may have had one of the dealer aftermarket coatings using teflon; sometimes marketed as "Teflon Tough Shine". These coatings cost the dealer about $20, but usually retail for $150 - $300 per application; good grief, what a rip!

I recall other threads regarding the Prius' soft paint application. I know my Prius (Barcelona Red) is prone to nicking down to the white primer just from bug splats. I'm constantly checking the front end for this issue. I wish I could find a plastic clear coat for the front end that cost less than $500. Someone on another thread, said to put "saran wrap" across the front when travelling long distances. I think I'm going to try it.

I don't think Prius' chipping problem is unique to black or any other color, though a dirt is more visible with black and other dark colors.

tom

 

I've owned/leased 8 black cars over the past 30 years.

The worst for scratches was a 1980 WV Scirocco that had very soft non-clear coated paint (very thin, too). No amount of polishing helped: the paint came right up on the cloth.

Best was a 1977 Trans Am (Smokey and the Bandit Edition). A little Liquid Ebony a couple times a year followed by Simonize paste wax and it looked great.

Since the advent of water-borne (environmentally friendly) paints the coatings have been getting thinner and the clear coats getting "harder" yet more delicate and more easily scratched.(a body shop guy tried to expain that one to me- didn't work).

Basically, micro scratches are a way of life today and the best we can do is choose less revealing colors (light), spend lots of time trying to fight off the inevitable (or cover it temporarily using filler glaze), or just live with it.

I remember reading a few years back that Nissan was working on a coating that would "self-heal" under strong sunlight or heat lamps-anything short of a scratch down to primer. It would retain these properties for about 3 years after initial cure, and then revert to a "normal" paint.

It was to have been used on the premium Nissans and the Infinitis.
Haven't heard much about it since....

 

Related- how does the blue version hold up? Trying to decide between silver, Blue and grey. I'll be leasing- so want to make sure it looks decent when the lease is up

 

Its not just BLACK.. I've got the GREY prius.. was washing it and must have made contact with the end of the hose pipe.. EEEKKK! The next thing I know I'm responsible for a scratch so deep I can see the metal work below the paint surface.. the touchup paint I got with the car better be good.. I'm waiting for a sunny day and going to buy a very very thin hand brush.. might even practice on a paper pad a few time before applying.. Only have the car two weeks..

Yep.. just as gutted as your thinking I'm a twit.. if not more..